Amstrad User Group
Amstrad User Group
PCW 9512
The successor of the 8000-series differed completely in looks from the earlier model. Appearances are deceptive, though, as it is a family member indeed. The only disc drive is again a 3" drive but a double sided one (as the disc drive in a PCW 8512) of 720 kb, a PC/XT keyboard, a daisy wheel printer and a parallel printer port. But basically, it is truly compatible with the 8256 and 8512.
The 9512 features the same expansion port as the 8000-models have (fitted horizontally rather than vertically), the printer port differs because the daisy wheel printer is not supposed to be used on an 8000-series. As with the 8000-printers the power supply is integrated in the data cable, thus saving a loose cable. The monochrome black&white screen was a relief compared to the monochrome black&green screen of the 8000 but the screen of the 9512 also works (fine) in 32 lines x 90 columns. It is rumoured that the monitor originates from the PC 512/1640, as does the keyboard. The latter, the keyboard poses the biggest change to new users but, fortunately, it has been customised for the PCW and the software that comes along.
Amstrad changed the concept slightly: the 9512 is even more dedicated to word processing than its predecessor. The best demonstration of that is the printer supplied: a daisy wheel printer.
This is a gigantic apparatus that produces true print quality. The bar of the printer is that wide that it can print on A4 in landscape position! In combination with the sale price it was an unbeatable machine!
The parallel port has been added by Amstrad in order to avoid disappointment by users who want to print graphics with the machine. You cannot do that with a daisy wheel but an external printer will allow you to print graphics.
The software differs as well: LocoScript version 2 is the most remarkable change. This was necessary as version 1 could not control external printers. In addition, LocoMotive speeded LocoScript 2 up considerably and introduced a character set of more than 600 characters including 10 user-definable. Additional programs were introduced that could be integrated into LocoScript: LocoFile (a database), LocoSpell (with a variety of dictionaries and languages) and LocoMail (a small macro-programming language, suitable for e.g. mailing which could work with LocoFile too). You could now format a disc using LocoScript and no longer needed CP/M for that. CP/M now includes a utility that allows you to read a CF2 single sided disc in the double sided drive of a PCW 9512 - a bit overdone, that utility.
The PCW 9512 has not been sold in Holland in great quantities, as a result of the break between Amstrad and Schneider, but every now and then they appear.
To the main PCW-page.
