Canon AS-100

The Canon AS-100 was a substantial 16-bit professional computer built around the Intel 8088. Its processor and high-resolution display were housed with a 12-inch monochrome or colour screen, while separate storage units allowed unusually flexible combinations of 5.25-inch, 8-inch and hard-disk drives.

Although it ran MS-DOS and CP/M-86, the AS-100 was not fully IBM PC compatible. Canon offered business software and language packages as well as integration with its printers, positioning the system as a complete office workstation.

Notable Features

• Modular storage supported 5.25-inch, 8-inch and hard-disk combinations.
• Colour version displayed eight colours selected from a palette of 27.
• Large integrated display and detached keyboard formed a complete professional workstation.

Historical Significance

• An early Japanese attempt to establish a proprietary 16-bit office-computer platform.
• Linked Canon’s established printer and office-equipment expertise with personal computing.

Collector’s Notes

• Monochrome and colour AS-100 main units differ in weight and display electronics.
• Matching disk units, keyboard and system software are essential to a usable installation.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Canon AS-100
Manufacturer	Canon
Launched	Friday, January 1, 1982
Country	Japan
CPU	Intel 8088 at 4 MHz
Units Sold
Operating System	MS-DOS, CP/M-86 and Canon business software
I/O	Storage bus, printer and system interfaces
Keyboard	Detached professional keyboard
Storage	External 5.25-inch or 8-inch floppy units and optional 8MB hard disk
Sound	Internal speaker
Graphics	640 x 400 pixels; colour model showed 8 of 27 colours
Display	Integrated 12-inch monochrome or colour CRT; 80 x 25 text
ROM	System firmware
RAM	128KB standard; expandable to 512KB
CPU Speed	4 MHz