Fujitsu FM-7
The Fujitsu Micro 7, known colloquially as the FM-7 is a Japanese 8-bit home computer produced by Fujitsu and first released in November 1982.
The computer is very similar to its predecessor, the Fujitsu FM-8, but with the expensive bubble memory replaced with cheaper semiconductor RAM. And, since the FM-8 was very similar to the TRS-80 Color Computer, so too is the FM-7. About a dozen models were made from 1982-1988, most were FM-77s (fully backward compatible), and each featured improved hardware. The FM-7 had to compete with the much more popular NEC PC-8800 series, as well as the Sharp X1 and the MSX, so it never dominated the market. Fujitsu discontinued the FM-7 line in 1988 shortly before releasing the vastly superior FM Towns in February 1989.
The FM-7 uses two MBL 68B09 clocked at 2MHz, one for CPU, the other for processing graphics. The base model has 64 kB RAM, and 48 kB VRAM. Video resolution is 640×200 with 8 fixed colors. It uses an AY-3-8910 for audio. Storage options include cassettes or 5.25" diskettes. The computer boots into Fujitsu Disk Basic, a variant of Color BASIC developed by Microsoft, but can also run OS-9, FLEX, or CP/M.
The FM-77 AV was the first model to support additional hardware including a low-res video mode of 320×200, but with 4096 colors, used a Yamaha YM2203 for better audio, and supported 3.5" 320 kB floppy diskettes. Later models included better video modes, more memory, and higher density floppies.
Contents
Personal
Since it was only released in Japan and Spain, I've never used an actual FM-7, I haven't even bothered to test it through emulation.
Games
Like most 8-bit home computers, the FM-7 could run productivity software, but it was primarily designed for games and hobbies. About 270 games were published for the platform, but, since it wasn't the dominate computer of its day, the vast majority were ported from other platforms. I've only glanced at the library, but haven't found anything worthwhile.
- See all FM-7 Games.
Media
Documentation
Introduction to F-BASIC.
F-BASIC Grammar Book.
System Explanation.
System Specifications.
Absolute Assembler.
F-BASIC Analysis Manual - Phase I.
F-BASIC Analysis Manual - Phase II.
F-BASIC Manual - Spanish.
Font
The BIOS font for the FM-7 is in the video game font collection.
Links
- old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=325 - Old-Computers.
- emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Fujitsu_FM-7_emulators - Emulation General Wiki.
