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Contents
This page contains adverts of early DOS/V computers.(in 1990s)
What's DOS/V
DOS/V is an operating system, originally released for PS/55 (a localized version of PS/2) developed by IBM Japan Ltd. It can display Japanese text on the standard VGA screen of IBM compatible PC. Later, 'DOS/V' sometimes means an IBM compatible PC in Japan.
The original DOS/V has following versions.
| Version |
Marketing name |
Released year |
| J4.05/V |
IBM DOS バージョン J4.0/V |
1990 |
| J4.06/V |
IBM DOS バージョン J4.0/V |
1991 |
| J4.07/V |
IBM DOS バージョン J4.0/V |
1991 |
| J5.00/V |
IBM DOS バージョン J5.0/V |
1991 |
| J5.02/V, J5.02[B/C/D]/V |
IBM DOS バージョン J5.0/V |
1992 |
| J6.10/V, J6.10A/V |
PC DOS バージョン J6.1/V |
1993 |
| J6.30/V, J6.30[A/B/C]/V |
PC DOS バージョン J6.3/V |
1994 |
| J7.00/V, J7.00[A/B/C]/V |
PC DOS バージョン J7.0/V |
1995 |
| J7.00/V Revision 1 |
PC DOS 2000 日本語版 |
1998 |
The beginning of DOS/V
This is an official explanation about the beginning of DOS/V in "IBM PC DOS Version J6.1/V User's Manual" page 2.
1981年、IBMはIBM PCとその上で動作するPC DOSを発表しました。IBM PCは英語圏での使用を前提として開発されたため、日本語入力や表示には、ハードウェアの制限もあり、利用できませんでした。弊社では1983年、マルチステーション5550上で日本語をサポートする日本語DOSを開発しましたが、日本語表示のためには特別なハードウェアを搭載していました。英語圏とは異なるDOSの出発は、弊社以外のPCメーカーも同様でした。
一方、英語圏ではIBM PCを拡張したPC/ATのアーキテクチャー(設計思想)をもつパソコンが現われ、世界市場の8割を占めるようになりました。日本独自のアプローチは日本語表示を高速にするにはプラスでしたが、同時に膨大な数のPC DOSのソフトウェアがそのままでは使えないという弊害をもたらしました。こうして日本のPC市場は長い間「鎖国」状態にありました。
そして1990年、弊社はDOS/Vを発表。日本語表示のための特別なハードウェアを必要としない、ソフトウェアだけで日本語処理を可能にするという、今までの日本語DOSとは全く異なるコンセプトを持っていました。この実現には、ハードウェアが処理速度をめざましく高速化した、と言う背景もあります。
PC DOSの機能やAPIには変更を加えず、PC DOSに日本語処理の機能(日本語エクステンション)を付け加える、PC DOSのNatural Extension(自然拡張)がDOS/Vの基本概念です。ですからこの日本語エクステンションを取り去れば、それはPC DOSそのものになり、PC DOSのアプリケーションは100%の互換性を持って動作することになります。
In 1981, IBM (US) announced PC DOS for the IBM PC. It was developed for use in western language, and it couldn't use Japanese language because of hardware limitations. In 1983, we had developed the Japanese DOS and the Multistation 5550. But it was equipped with special hardware for processing Japanese. The beginning of DOS that is different from the western countries, other Japanese manufactures were also in the same situation.
On the other hand, the PC/AT architecture has appeared and it accounts the PC market for 80% of the world. Japanese computers were an unique approach to display Japanese text quickly, but they can't use a huge number of PC DOS software. Japanese computer market was in a state of "seclusion" for a while.
In 1990, we announced DOS/V that does not require special hardware for processing Japanese. It had a completely different concept that it enables processing Japanese with software only, compared to traditional Japanese DOS. It was realized with faster hardware's processing speed .
A basic concept of DOS/V is "Natural Extention" means it does not change functions of PC DOS nor APIs while it adds methods to process Japanese. If Japanese extensions were removed from DOS/V, it becomes PC DOS that has 100% compatible with applications for PC DOS.

Adverts
References
- Monthly ASCII (月刊アスキー), Ascii Corporation.
- Torawaza Computer, CQ Publishing Co., Ltd.
- Monthly Mycom, CQ Publishing Co., Ltd.
Adverts
IBM PS/55Z 5530Z SX
from Monthly ASCII (Mar.1991)
(C) IBM Japan Ltd.
IBM PS/55Z 5510Z,T
from Monthly ASCII (Jul.1991)
(C) IBM Japan Ltd.
IBM PS/55 5523S,5530Z
from Monthly ASCII (Jul.1991)
(C) IBM Japan Ltd.
Kansai Elec. Plusone
from Monthly ASCII (Jul.1991)
(C) Kansai Electronics. Ltd.
Sega Teradrive
from Monthly ASCII (Jul.1991)
(C) Sega Corp.
Seiyu Dynastar
from Torawaza Computer (Nov.1991)
(C) Seiyu Software Corp.
Comsatelite Qualest
from Monthly Mycom (Feb.1992)
(C) Com-Satelite Ltd.
Compaq Contura 3/20
from Monthly ASCII (Aug.1992)
(C) Compaq Corp.
IBM PS/55Z 30U SLC
from Monthly ASCII (Aug.1992)
(C) IBM Japan Ltd.
Canon AXi/V486,386
from Monthly ASCII (Mar.1993)
(C) Canon Inc.
Dell Company Info
from Monthly ASCII (Mar.1993)
(C) Dell Computer Inc.
Dell 486/L,M
from Monthly ASCII (Mar.1993)
(C) Dell Computer Inc.
IBM ThinkPad 550 BJ
from Monthly ASCII (Mar.1993)
(C) IBM Japan Ltd.
ParckardBell PB486DX2-66
from Monthly ASCII (Mar.1993)
(C) Chiba Electronics Ltd.
Toshiba DynaBook V486
from Monthly ASCII (Mar.1993)
(C) Toshiba Corp.
IBM PS/V 2410-N01
from Monthly ASCII (Apr.1993)
(C) IBM Japan Ltd.
Canon INNOVA 4266DX2
from Monthly ASCII (Mar.1994)
(C) Canon Inc.
DECpc LPv,LPx
from Monthly ASCII (Mar.1994)
(C) Digital Equipment Japan Corp.
Epson Endeavor AT
from Monthly ASCII (Mar.1994)
(C) Epson Direct Corp.
Compaq ProLinea
from Monthly ASCII (Sep.1994)
(C) Compaq Corp.
Compaq Presario 433
from Monthly ASCII (Sep.1994)
(C) Compaq Corp.
Dell Latitude XP
from Monthly ASCII (Sep.1994)
(C) Dell Computer Inc.
Epson Endeavor NT-600
from Monthly ASCII (Sep.1994)
(C) Epson Direct Corp.
Fujitsu OASYS 48V
from Monthly ASCII (Sep.1994)
(C) Fujitsu Ltd.
Olivetti M4 Modulo
from Monthly ASCII (Sep.1994)
(C) Olivetti Japan Ltd.
FMV Deskpower,Bilbo
from Monthly ASCII (Apr.1996)
(C) Fujitsu Ltd.
Gateway2000 P5
from Monthly ASCII (Apr.1996)
(C) Gateway 2000 Japan Inc.
NEC PC98-NX Mate NX
from Monthly ASCII (Apr.1998)
(C) NEC Corp.
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