🇯🇵 Sony Data Discman: Part 2 (Western Models & Disassembly) [TCE #0570]

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The Clueless Engineer

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Published on February 3, 2025 9:48:33 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9Cbm9PSJQU

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Let's continue with these interesting devices by taking a look at two Western model: the DD-1EX and the DD-8.

00:00 ... The DD-8
04:35 ... The DD-1EX
11:32 ... Dismantling the DD-1
24:15 ... Dismantling the screen
30:22 ... Examining the major components
37:30 ... Channel thanks & outro

Similar to my two Japanese DD-1 models, the DD-1EX is not really working, and its 1990's rubberised coating is starting to become sticky.

The DD-8, on the other hand, works perfectly ... even with a surface mount capacitor falling out of it. I really quite like the design of the DD-8.

They both came with some Western software.

As we do on this channel, I pull apart one of the Japanese DD-1 machines - it's essentially a small, portable computer with CD-ROM drive for storage.

The main components are:
Motorola MPC1715FU integrated motor sensor & driver
Sony CXK5816M 2KB SRAM
Sony CXA1082BQ CD player servo signal processor
Sony CXA1081Q CD player RF amplifier
Sony CXD1135Q digital video encoder
Sony CXD811Q (custom Sony processor for DD?)
Sony CXD8135Q (another custom Sony DD part?)
Sony CXK5864M 8KB SRAM
NEC µPD43256AGU 64KB SRAM
NEC µPD23C2000GC 256KB ROM
NEC µPD23C1000AG 16KB ROM
NEC µPD70008A 8-bit microprocessor
Sanyo LC8951 real-time error correction & host interface processor for CD-ROM
S-MOS SED1330F LCD controller

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From Part 1:
I'm a bit of a sucker for Sony and their weird data storage formats. Let's have a quick look at their Data Discman series of e-book readers (電子ブック) from the 1990s that used the Mini CD (8cm) in a caddy as their storage format.

They are relatively inexpensive - I sourced mine through the Buyee.jp "Yahoo Japan" auction interface. The models I got are:
DD-1
DD-20
DD-S30
DD-75SP
DD-300SP

Note that the "Yahoo Japan" auction site is now apparently called "JDirectItems Auction" ... much better.

1000語レベル英会話 ... 1000 Word Level English Conversation

I think the original Sony authoring software (SEBAS) is lost to history but someone (Dave Bradshaw) did create their own version ... sadly Dave Bradshaw is also uncontactable. Here is a mirror of his now-defunt webpage:
http://www.robotsandcomputers.com/computers/dd8h.htm

Whilst writing the video description I came across this interesting site with ISOs of some Western e-books. Apparently some of these included a Windows emulator! Will have to check them out next time.
https://huguesjohnson.com/random/sony-ebook/
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