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anchor: ptweeduizendc
Philips P2000C
The C could stand for Cool ;-) This is one of those computers that I had to go to war for. With war, of course, I mean a bidding war. But after the war was over and I won, I was very happy to add the Philips P2000C to the collection.
The main reason is simple: I really want to make a sort of documentary about the Philips P2000 range. The P2000C is a wonderful machine for that story because it sits in a very different corner of the family. Where the P2000T feels more like the familiar home computer and the P2000M leans into business use, the P2000C is Philips taking the same wider computer family into portable professional territory. There is a lot of fun stuff ahead with this one: removing the RiFa caps, making disks it can actually use, checking the drives, and giving the whole machine some well-deserved TLC. Why the P2000C mattersThe Philips P2000C was Philips’ portable entry in the P2000 line. It was introduced in 1983 as a mobile microcomputer based on the earlier P2000M, and it was marketed much more as a serious professional tool than as a home machine.
What makes the P2000C especially interesting is that it is not just a “P2000T with a handle”. It is a proper CP/M-based business portable with built-in floppy drives, an integrated green CRT, and a detachable keyboard that doubles as a protective front cover. Philips presented it as a computer for office work, administration, technical/scientific use, education, and professional mobile work. |
Released in
1900
System Overview
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The machine also has a surprisingly serious specification for a portable CP/M system. The P2000C line included models such as the P2010-1 with two 160 KB drives and the P2012 with two 640 KB drives. All versions had 64 KB of user RAM, expandable to 320 KB, plus 32 KB of video memory.
Another fascinating detail is that the P2000C sits somewhat apart from the rest of the P2000 range. It had no ROM BASIC on the mainboard and no cartridge slot, which meant it was not directly compatible with the P2000T and P2000M software ecosystem.
Another fascinating detail is that the P2000C sits somewhat apart from the rest of the P2000 range. It had no ROM BASIC on the mainboard and no cartridge slot, which meant it was not directly compatible with the P2000T and P2000M software ecosystem.
Technical specifications
| Specification | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Philips Telecommunicatie en Informatie-Systemen B.V. | [1] |
| Model | Philips P2000C | [2] |
| Release year | 1983 | [2] |
| Computer type | Portable / luggable professional microcomputer | [1] |
| Main processor | Zilog Z80A | [2] |
| Clock speed | 4 MHz | [2] |
| Secondary processor | Second Z80A used for the video/display subsystem | [2] |
| RAM | 64 KB user RAM, expandable to 320 KB | [2] |
| Video memory | 32 KB | [2] |
| Display | Built-in 9-inch green phosphor monochrome CRT | [1] |
| Text display | 80 columns × 24 lines | [1] |
| Graphics | 512 × 252 monochrome or 256 × 252 with 4 brightness levels | [2] |
| Storage | Two built-in 5.25-inch floppy disk drives | [1] |
| Disk capacity | P2010: 160 KB per disk; P2012: 640 KB per disk | [2] |
| Operating systems | CP/M and UCSD p-System support | [1] |
| Optional expansion | 8088 CoPower board for MS-DOS use | [2] |
| Interfaces | External floppy, SASI hard disk, serial printer, data communication, slave monitor; optional IEEE-488 bus | [1] |
| Weight | Around 15 kg | [1] |
| Dimensions | 540 × 360 × 210 mm | [1] |
Collection status
| Collection status | Details |
|---|---|
| Condition | Complete and presentable, but needs inspection and TLC |
| Acquisition | Won after a bidding war |
| Current priority | Preventive maintenance before serious use |
| Power supply work | RiFa suppression capacitors should be removed or replaced |
| Storage work | Suitable boot and working disks need to be made |
| Restoration plans | Clean-up, drive checks, disk testing, and general service |
| Future content | Planned as part of a larger Philips P2000 range documentary |
| Collection note | A very welcome addition because it shows the professional portable side of the P2000 family |
RetroMelsArchive resources
| Resource | Access |
|---|---|
| P2000C software | Planned |
| Boot disks / disk images | Planned |
| Manuals & documentation | Planned |
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Magic smoke reportPASSED: RIFA Caps removed before testing.
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anchor: ptwotousandc
P2000C (P2009)
Is that a hard drive? It probably won’t surprise you that I’m excited about a broken computer — excited because it’s a very interesting broken computer.
This marks the fourth system I’ve purchased from the Home Computer Museum in Helmond, The Netherlands. They gave me a great deal on this lovely Philips machine. I didn’t inspect it too closely at the museum, but I was thrilled to discover it came with a hard drive. Until now, I had never seen a P2000C with a hard drive — let alone one mounted the way this one is. Check out the More Pictures tab for a closer look at the unusual setup. Unfortunately, the power supply is broken and makes a strange whining sound when powered on — possibly a shorted component. I’ll also need to fix the Enter key, which is slightly bent out of place. This hard drive is also my first SASI drive — an early interface that predates SCSI. SASI was also used in systems like the Tulip System I, making it a particularly cool addition to the collection. |
Released in
1900
System Overview
|
Why this P2000C matters
The Philips P2000C is already an interesting portable computer, but this particular example stands out because of the hard drive. Most P2000C machines are seen with their built-in floppy setup, so finding one with a hard drive fitted like this immediately raises questions about how it was used, who upgraded it, and what might still be stored on the drive.
For me, this machine is exciting not because it works perfectly — it currently does not — but because it has a story to investigate. The SASI drive, the unusual mounting, and the broken but complete state all make it a great candidate for careful documentation and eventually some proper computer TLC.
For me, this machine is exciting not because it works perfectly — it currently does not — but because it has a story to investigate. The SASI drive, the unusual mounting, and the broken but complete state all make it a great candidate for careful documentation and eventually some proper computer TLC.
Technical specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| System | Philips P2000C |
| Type | Portable / luggable microcomputer |
| Manufacturer | Philips |
| Introduced / marketed | 1983 |
| Display | Built-in CRT display |
| Standard storage | Built-in floppy drives |
| Special feature on this unit | Fitted with a hard drive |
| Hard drive interface | SASI, an early interface predating SCSI |
| Collection note | Second Philips P2000C in the RetroMels collection |
Collection status
| Area | Status |
|---|---|
| Power supply | Broken. Makes a strange whining sound when powered on. |
| Main computer | Not fully tested because of the power supply issue. |
| Hard drive | Present, visually interesting, not yet tested. |
| Keyboard | Enter key is slightly bent out of place. |
| Next step | Inspect and repair the power supply before attempting further testing. |
RetroMelsArchive resources
RetroMelsArchive Resource
| Resource | Access |
|---|---|
| â–¡ Software archive | Currently being archived |
| â–¡ Hard drive contents | Not dumped yet (fingers crossed) |
| â–¡ SASI / hard drive notes | Being documented |
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Magic smoke reportIn need of repair
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It probably won’t surprise you that I’m excited about a broken computer—excited because it’s a very interesting broken computer. This marks the fourth system I’ve purchased from the Home Computer Museum in Helmond, The Netherlands. They gave me a great deal on this lovely Philips machine.
I didn’t inspect it too closely at the museum, but I was thrilled to discover it came with a hard drive. Until now, I had never seen a P2000C with a hard drive—let alone one mounted the way this one is. (Check out the "More Pictures" tab!) Unfortunately, the power supply is broken and makes a strange whining sound when powered on—possibly a shorted component. I’ll also need to fix the Enter key, which is slightly bent out of place. This hard drive is also my first SASI drive—an early interface that predates SCSI. SASI was also used in systems like the Tulip System I, making it a particularly cool addition to the collection. |
Released in:
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Soon to appear on the channel!
Why [name] matters
Technical specifications
Collection status
RetroMelsArchive resources
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Magic smoke reportPASSED:
Power on tip: |
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I picked up this lovely piece of Philips hardware up from a town close by together with a Laser Turbo XT. My main goal for getting this computer was as a good end for the video I want to make on the Philips P2000T. But now that I have it I'm quitte intrigued by this machine. I don't know why but the design Philips went for on this line (I believe there are quitte a lot of models with this design language) gives me a sort of industrial/hospital like feeling that I can appreciate. It's different from IBM's industrial look in that these machine give me a less office vibe and more a nuclear power plant powering sort of vibe. I hope to make a video that takes a closer look at this machine and it's internals and as a fun project I'm going to try to lock pick this computer as an attempt to fix it. Also I want to find out what the middle LED is for.
More on the specs in the future! under more pictures you will find some info written (Quitte nice handwritting I got to say) in pen on the back of the computer. |
Released in:
(Estimated)
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Soon to appear on the channel!
anchor: NMSninethousand
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I got the Philips NMS 9100 from the Home Computer Museum in Helmond, The Netherlands. They gave me a very good price on it—sold as untested—and to my surprise, it still works!
The NMS 9100 turned out to be quite an interesting machine. While reading up on it, I learned that it was the best-selling of Philips’ IBM PC clones. The computer is especially praised for its nearly indestructible case, which made it a favorite among schools and other public institutions. After some use, the hard drive has become reluctant to boot. I'm tempted to replace it with a modern alternative, like an XT-CF adapter. |
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Soon to appear on the channel!
anchor: ptweeduizendone
Why [name] matters
Technical specifications
Collection status
RetroMelsArchive resources
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Magic smoke reportPASSED:
Power on tip: |
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The Philips P2000T, this one has a one in brackets behind it because I have three Philips P2000T's in my collection. This one being my first, I got it quitte a while back. Strangely I don't quitte know how much I paid for it but I think It was under the 50 bucks mark.
The Philips P2000T is probably not very know outside the borders of the Netherlands, but it is a very quirky machine. Data is stored on Philips mini cassettes, it uses a teletext chip to display images on the screen, You can connect a monitor to it using RF or RGB (6 Pin din connector), it has two cartridge ports and a funky keyboard. The Philips P2000T is part of a whole family of computers with the P2000C above part of it. Also part of this family is the P2000M which I haven't yet been able to find, I did see one on display at the Home Computer Museum. I'm planning a short documentary on this computer and the other members of it's P2000 family, that I soon hope to upload to my channel! |
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Soon to appear on the channel!
anchor: ptweeduizendtwee
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This P2000T is marked (2) although I'm not sure if it is my second or third.
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Soon to appear on the channel!
anchor: ptweeduizendthree
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The third Philips P2000T in my collection, this one comes with some stickers on it, which makes it a nice time piece!
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Soon to appear on the channel!
anchor: phiipsyes
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The Philips YES! is a big mystery machine, Since the Philips product number for this computer is P2056 I want to make it part of my P2000 videos. Which looking at my video production track record will be probably be released around 2031.
The Philips YES! sort of reminds me of the IBM PC Junior or the Mindset computer. I would love to hear more about the Philips YES! Do you have some information about this computer or just a nice story? please reach out to me via my contact page! |
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The Philips YES! is awaiting it's photoshoot!
Soon to appear on the channel!
anchor: PDS
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This is a mystery device, I am not even sure if I can refer to it as a computer. Although I discovered it has a sort of obscure CPU the Signetics S8439 SPC16/10. I would love to know the use case for this device. My theory would be that it can be used for testing old networks/network devices.
On the side of this device is a sticker that refers to it as a service processor. (8709 010 92621), mine has serial number 253 so I expect there is not a lot of them out there. Questions I have about this device:
Do you know the answer to my one or more of my question? I would love to hear from you. I have a contact page where you can send me a message. |
Released in:
Unknown
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anchor: Philipsfivethousand
