Sord M203 Mark II

The Sord M203 Mark II expanded the M200 business-computer family with 64KB of memory, twin mini-floppy drives and an integrated flicker-free 12-inch display. It combined a complete desktop workstation with Sord’s disk-based languages and application software.

Industrial and engineering interfaces distinguished the M203 from simpler office machines. Analogue-to-digital, digital-to-analogue and digital I/O options allowed the computer to collect measurements and control external equipment as well as run commercial software.

Notable Features

• Integrated 12-inch CRT, keyboard and twin 5.25-inch floppy drives.
• Analogue and digital I/O options suited laboratory and industrial control work.
• Disk software included Extended BASIC, FORTRAN and COBOL.

Historical Significance

• Extended the 1977 M200 platform into a more capable twin-drive professional system.
• Contemporary installations used the M203 for business data and specialised technical applications.

Collector’s Notes

• Mark II and Mark III revisions may differ in processor speed and peripheral configuration.
• Original Sord disks and specialist I/O modules add substantial historical value.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Sord M203 Mark II
Manufacturer	Sord Computer Corporation
Launched	Monday, January 1, 1979
Discontinued	Early 1980s
Launch Price	Approximately ¥1,220,000 in a Japanese installation
Country	Japan
CPU	Zilog Z80A at up to 4 MHz depending on revision
Units Sold
Operating System	Sord DOS / MF-DOS; Extended BASIC; optional FORTRAN and COBOL
I/O	Serial, parallel, expansion and optional analogue/digital I/O
Keyboard	Integrated full-size keyboard with numeric keypad
Storage	Two 5.25-inch mini-floppy drives
Sound	Internal beeper
Graphics	Character display with optional graphics hardware
Display	Integrated 12-inch monochrome CRT, 80-column text
ROM	8KB user ROM
RAM	64KB
CPU Speed	Approximately 2 to 4 MHz depending on revision