Amstrad User Group
Amstrad User Group
The Amstrad Portable Personal Computer PPC 512 and 640.
The PPC 512 and 640 are, as can be seen from the photo below, closely related computers. As with the Amstrad PCW 8256 and 8512 the light-coloured machine is the lighter brother of the darker machine: basically the same machine but more memory. The PPC 512 only has 512 kilobytes of memory, the PPC 640 has, indeed, 640 kilobytes of memory. Besides that, the 640 also has a 2.400 baud per second PC2000 modem built-in.
Both computers date from 1988 and were not really innovating machines, except for the pricing perhaps. They are (supposed to be) portable computers based on the Intel 8086/80888 processor, the usual chip for an IBM PC/XT compatible computer.
One of the savings in expenses, reason why Amstrad could market these machines at a sharp price, is clear from the power supply. Because the PPC does not have an expensive battery system but a large compartment for 10 standard type C alkaline batteries. Pretty heavy for the computer but cheap (for Amstrad at least): the advice from Amstrad not to use rechargeable batteries can be considered remarkable. These would give insufficient voltage and become empty too soon. Perhaps outdated for the modern rechargeable batteries. Naturally, the PPC will warn when the power is running low and the computer does not have a hard disc but a disc drive is also heavy on electricity. Besides batteries, the PPC's can be fed with an adapter that is supplied and an optional car adapter (for the cigarette lighter as found in most cars).
Both models lack a hard disc and come in both an S or D version, which are the designations for a computer with either one or two 3.5" 720 kilobytes disc drives.
The computers are localised, which means there are different implementations for different countries: I have a German PPC 512 with a German QWERTZ keyboard and German software.
The photograph shows the two disc drive of the PPC 512, just above the handle of the computer. As Amstrad made the PPC a compatible clone, it should be possible to fit a hard disc (not an IDE type, though).
But the effort and expenses involved are just too high to do that. You should value this computer for nostalgic reasons or for very light duties only (see further on).
Displayed here is the back of the machine with the location of the ports. These ports comprise one serial and one parallel port.
Plus the expansion options: two ISA expansion ports, a connection for an external monitor, a strange looking power connector for an external monitor, the connector for the battery or mains-adapter and an empty port for the PPC 512 where, in the PPC 640, the modem is housed.
All these ports are hidden behind an elongated panel that needs to be folder down before the port because visible and accessible.
A connection for an external keyboard is not fitted, for obvious reasons: the PPC comes with a full sized keyboard.
The front of the PCC with the lid (keyboard at the same time) still folded and with a 3.5" disc inserted half into drive A (to the right, just visible over the handle of the machine). These photographs also clearly show the real size of the PPC portables: the width of a full-size keyboard with a thickness of about 10 centimetres.
You unlock the lid from this position at the sides: then you fold the keyboard towards you and you can then boot the PPC.
A PPC with the lid folded open (left) which then shows the keyboard, a full grown 102-AT version: rare on a portable, especially since it actually is a PC/XT. The LCD screen is still folded down in the left picture but you can put it up (visible in the right picture). The quality of the LCD screen is only moderate and I would not like to use it on a day to day basis. But you have to consider that the design and technology date back from 1988 and since then a lot of improvements have been made to the LCD technology. And you can connect an external CGA or MDA monitor so you can fold the LCD screen down and switch it off. The power connector for the external monitor is of a completely unknown (to me) type, though.
The PPC is fully PC-compatible and MS Dos version 3.3 came with it. Amstrad also supplied a program named PPC Organizer, an integrated package featuring the usual software like a database, a word processor, calculator and agenda program. The picture, although of low quality, shows the German version, the English software can be downloaded from Amstrad's Home Page (the unofficial pages from Cliff Lawson - opens in new window).
The PPC 640 has, besides PPC Organizer, also the Mirror II communication program for the built-in modem (this can be loaded from the Unofficial Amstrad Pages as well). There are no (known) compatibility problems with other PC's and you probably could live with the millennium bug (and you could patch MS Dos after all). Today's use of a PPC will probably be restricted to the PPC Organizer that came with the machine (dy-hard users) and you would be able to use, for instance, WordPerfect 5.1 and a scaled down version of Lotus 1-2-3. Simple (BASIC) games are possible as well.
I will gather and present a few utilities to fix the millennium and date problems in MS Dos.
The PPC comes in a grey nylon carrying bag that stores the computer and all accessories with some space left for other peripheral equipment or discs.
You can only carry the computer in a vertical position: the weight of the PPC is quite low (a bit over five kilo) especially considering the date of production. This changes of course when you carry a full load of 10 C batteries but I would not recommend using the PPC with batteries anyway: way too expensive.
The deviating shape of the portable does not allow you to switch easily to another bag. And the one supplied with the machine is not precisely a luxurious version, designed to last you a life time.
I would have preferred a more sturdy bag and perhaps Amstrad also came to that conclusion because most carrying bags that came after the PPC (with the exception of the NC-series) like the ALT 286 and 386-SX are of a substantial better quality.
Questions about the PPC 512 and 640 via the contact form
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