Sony SMC-777

The Sony SMC-777 repackaged Sony’s professional microcomputer technology into a smaller, more approachable all-in-one system for beginners and home users. It included a built-in 3.5-inch floppy drive, Sony BASIC and a bundle of eight applications.

Colour graphics could show 16 colours, with an optional palette board selecting them from 4,096. Disk-based Sony Filer and optional Japanese word-processing support also gave the compact machine practical productivity uses.

Notable Features

• Built-in 3.5-inch drive in a compact keyboard computer.
• Optional palette hardware selected 16 colours from 4,096.

Historical Significance

• Brought Sony’s SMC technology from professional installations to less experienced buyers.
• The SMC-777C was a later colour-oriented configuration within the same family.

Collector’s Notes

• Sony’s disk format, optional palette board and Japanese word-processing hardware are uncommon.
• Verify whether a machine is the original or later C configuration before replacing video parts.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Sony SMC-777
Manufacturer	Sony
Launched	Saturday, January 1, 1983
Country	Japan
CPU	Zilog Z80A at approximately 4 MHz with M5L8041 keyboard processor
Units Sold
Operating System	Sony BASIC; Sony Filer; CP/M-compatible disk software
I/O	Printer, serial, cassette, joystick, RGB/composite and expansion interfaces
Keyboard	Integrated full-size keyboard
Storage	Built-in 3.5-inch floppy drive
Sound	Programmable tone generator
Graphics	320x200 in 16 colours or 640x200 in 4; optional 16 from 4,096 palette
Display	RGB or composite monitor, 40x25 or 80x25 text
ROM	16KB basic I/O ROM; Sony BASIC supplied on disk
RAM	64KB main RAM and 38KB video RAM
CPU Speed	Approximately 4 MHz