On offer is a very rare and unusual early home computer from the early 1980\'s. Rare to find one at all, let alone complete in the original box with parts and accessories like this one. I did some initial testing which went fine, with the system booting up into Basic where I was able to type in a few lines of program and run it without a problem. Subsequently I\'m getting distorted characters when it boots up, which I can\'t discern. I can still type and use the enter command as before, getting the same keypress tones. I think this indicates an intermittant problem in the cartridge, as I\'ve seen the identical problem in other cartridge based machines like the Atari. For this reason I shall have to sell it as is, unless there are further developments. If you\'re a collector, and have other cartridges, this may not be a problem for you at all.
This M5 system includes:
M5 Computer Console (260mm x 184mm x 35mm)240Vac Power SupplyDIN Software Interface LeadRF Interface LeadBasic I CartridgeTheSord M5is ahome computerlaunched bySord Computer Corporationin 1982. Primarily the Sord M5 competed in theJapanesehome computer market. It was also sold as theCGL M5in theUnited KingdombyComputer Games Limited. The system was also marketed byTakarain Japan as theGame M5, and models were also exported to South Korea.Like the other home PC\'s of the early 80\'s it was designed to plug into a standard home TV screen via the RF. Fortunately it also has RCA outputs for Composite Video and Audio on the rear, so you can use the AV input in a modern Lcd TV.

Original models of the Sord M5 are relatively small by home computing standards, with a built inkeyboardwith rubber keys, similar to theSinclairZX81 and ZX Spectrum.The CGL M5 was released in the UK with an introductory price of £195, higher than many of the system\'s competitors including the ZX Spectrum,Commodore 64,Acorn AtomandCommodore VIC-20. In Australia it was sold by Mitsui Computer Systems in Frenchs Forest NSW, for approx $400. The competition here was Commodore VIC-20 and 64, Microbee, Tandy TRS80, and DSE\'s Super 80 to name a few.

The M5 had a Romcartridgeslot in an age where most computers were usingcompact audio cassettesor earlyfloppy disks. It also supports audio Cassette and has the audio interface leads. The M5 was supported by various big Japanese game developers such asNamcoandKonami.

Sord’s pitch to home computer buyers was typically Japanese: a machine clearly designed for playing games rather than thrashing out your own code, or running a small business. The stylish M5 also supports Mattel Intellivision-style wheel-based games controllers. Like other home micros it supported the Basic language, but the interpreter came on a cartridge rather than a firmware chip within the machine. The M5 packed 8KB of Rom for its operating system. Other cartridges allowed it to run programs such as PIPS, Sord’s business automation system.

A video clip of an M5 in action can be viewed here style=\"margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; color: rgb(37, 37, 37); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">I found it hard to find any other examples being sold to compare this with, so it\'s clearly a rare bird!

Shipping is Worldwide on this item

Thanks for looking.....