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Good morning guys, and welcome back to the ValorosoIT channel. It's a channel dedicated to retrocomputers and vintage electronics. Today we're talking about this Philips NMS8280, which is a computer that I purchased way back in 2021, when I went to buy a huge batch of computers and I had already made a video of that batch of computers, I'll leave you the link so you can go and watch it again. Among the various computers purchased there was also this Philips. It is a computer from 1987. In fact, it is strange that, in 1987, they could still build computers with the Z80, therefore an 8-bit processor, when in reality there were processors like the Motorola 68000, which was used for example in the Amiga, and was 16-bit or 32-bit depending on the version of the 68000 processor, or even the Intel 386 which had already been on the market for a couple of annetti. However, this computer still had its reason for existing, as it was mainly used as a video editor, titler, etc.
Let's see some features, then we open it, do the unboxing and see if we turn it on, so we can find out if it works. The computer was sold to me with its original packaging, even if it is slightly worn. The features, as I was saying, are not the best for that period, but compared to a standard MSX1, given that this is the 2, it was already a step forward. For example it had 256 KB of RAM, 64 of ROM. Well, interesting is the possibility of digitizing video images and super... super... in position... It also had the titler function, therefore the possibility of pasting texts over the images. With 512 colors, a high resolution of up to 512 x 212 pixels, etc. etc. And he already had a 3 1/2 inch floppy disk drive already inside the computer. Well, we know that the MSX standard has a very powerful BASIC inside, and I had already made a video on the MSX BASIC. Even though that video I made was about MSX version 1, while this one is already version 2.
So, let's find the mouse first. Here is the keyboard.
We have to try to bring out all these things a little. Because there are a few manuals: MSX2 Basic, MSX DOS, some applications, this one is a little bent, the mouse manual. What is this? Ah, a disk with the software. Other Video Graphics manual. So, the floppy disk software we saw earlier. Let's put the manuals here. Let's try to remove the computer. Ah, there are lots of other disks here, pins, more disks back here, and the power cord. So, the computer is upside down, so it needs to be straightened out.
Here it is, it's also pretty heavy. So, Philips NMS 8280 computer, with its keyboard, mouse, a set of software and manuals.
Shall we try turning it on? So, I subsequently connected the keyboard to the computer, the mouse to the computer and the computer to the television via SCART. Now I'm really curious to see if it works, come on, let's try to turn it on.
The TV is already on audio video. Yes, he's gone! Mythical!
The first thing we can do is a simple program in Basic, just to try it out: the usual, eh. Oh, oh, that's not SHIFT. Here it is! www.valoroso.it, a bit of advertising on my site, where I put all the computer cards I have in my collection and also the articles and video summaries. Let's see if it goes: yes! Now I'm interested in trying this, this software here. Who knows if it goes, because it's interesting. A nice reset.
Um… it didn't upload anything. No, it doesn't load it. Let's see in the other drive. Oh, no. He just doesn't read it from either side (neither A: nor B:). Let's hope it's the floppy disk and not the floppy disk drives.
Let's try this other record.
Oh no, he reads this! So, unfortunately this disk here is damaged, but at least we know that the computer's floppy disk drive works, which is better. Let's see if B: also works... yes, B: also reads. Come on, let's get it started.
This starts with MSX DOS and starts a program directly.
Here it is! It's a kind of Windows, with windows! Here is the list of files.
Let's take a look at the menus: clock, calculator which I like so much. Let's see if it works. Simple, 10 plus 10.
(on the video you can barely see the white writing)
Come on, I can do it too. That's the same. I can't send as equal, is it possible? I'm not very familiar with MSXs, in fact. We also have a notepad.
Oh, you can also move the mouse. Not even Word is as convenient as clicking and writing directly. Look at this, it's beautiful, I like it! No, we don't save. We have this one here, Desi Plus. Let's see what it is, which is very fast to load. It's a drawing program! Now, I'm definitely a goat at drawing. And how is it done? Ah, here it is.
Oh well, pretend I didn't draw. It's just to try it. Then, right-click to enter the screen. Right-click again toggle the toolbar.
What is happening? No, he cancelled, possible? Well, I'm not practical, you will have noticed.
Let's make another green drawing.
Ok, I wanted to try leaving the drawing alone.
Okay, come on, don't... evidently I'm not good, because by leaving only the drawing I could have imagined that, then using these mixers, you see that I can mix audio and video, I could have left writing on the monitor. Let's pretend there was a film behind it and we wanted to write something, put a drawing on it. But, in fact, I'm obviously quite a goat and I can't do it!
Oh well, come on, someone better than me will probably be able to explain how to do it. Indeed, if you know, write to me in the comments how to put this image full screen, without even the outline and so, so that you can use the MSX2, and therefore the Philips NMS 8280, as a video titer.
Of course, then we would need a video recorder with which to put an image in there and which I don't have now. I don't have it here. So for this video, I think we've done enough experiments already. We found that this computer works.
In the future, you might even try something else nicer. Well, I hope this video has also been useful to you, it has been an inspiration to you. If so, leave a like, leave a comment, subscribe to the channel, activate the notification bell and we'll see you in the next video.
Bye bye!