I have the main unit and the Sony HitBit FDD HBO-50 Micro floppydisk drive.
type computer
country Japan
year 1984
os MS extended basic (MSX)
cpu Zilog Z80
speed 3.5 MHz
ram 64 KB
rom 48 KB
graphic 256 x 192
colors 15
sound 3 channels
ports two joysticks, scart, EF, audio/video, printer, tape, cartridge
The Sony HitBit — Sony’s MSX Computer
The Sony HitBit series was Sony’s range of MSX home computers, produced under the ”HitBit” brand name from 1983. Sony’s participation in the MSX ecosystem brought the company’s characteristic attention to design quality and build standards to the home computer market — HitBit machines were consistently praised for their superior construction compared to many MSX competitors, with better keyboards, more attractive styling, and more reliable hardware. The HitBit range included several models from the basic HB-55 to the more capable HB-75, all fully MSX-compatible.
Sony’s Consumer Electronics Philosophy
Sony approached the MSX computer market with the same philosophy that had made the Walkman and Trinitron television iconic products — prioritising design quality, user experience, and brand prestige alongside technical specifications. Where many MSX manufacturers competed primarily on price, Sony’s HitBit machines competed on quality, appealing to consumers who wanted the best available MSX hardware rather than merely the cheapest. This positioning reflected Sony’s broader brand strategy of premium consumer electronics.
MSX in Japan
Sony’s HitBit computers were primarily sold in Japan, where the MSX standard achieved its greatest commercial success. The Japanese MSX market supported a vast software library including early titles from Konami — whose Metal Gear and Castlevania series began on MSX — and many other Japanese publishers who saw MSX as the natural home computer platform for Japanese consumers. Sony’s HitBit machines were among the most respected MSX computers in this competitive market.