Editing Amstrad PC2086 (section)

== History ==

The Centre for Computing History dates the PC2086 to 1988 and describes it as an XT-class replacement for the PC1512 and PC1640, launched with the PC2286 and PC2386 for the business market. Wikipedia gives 1989 for the whole series.<ref name="cch">Centre for Computing History, [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/16138/Amstrad-PC2086-S/ "Amstrad PC2086 S"], exhibit CH16138. Retrieved 2026-10-02. The PC2086 as a 1988 XT replacement for the PC1512 and PC1640, its specification, the external drive options and the bundled software.</ref><ref name="wp2286">Wikipedia, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_PC2286 "Amstrad PC2286"] (revision 1353136875). Retrieved 2026-10-02. The PC2000 series of PC2086, PC2286 and PC2386, launched 1989, with the supply in the base unit, AA cells on top of the base unit, 3.5-inch drives with a side port for an external 5.25-inch drive, and the range of 12- and 14-inch monitors.</ref> John Elliott records that the hard disc models were fitted with RLL controllers that turned out to be defective, so that many machines had the drive disconnected and a hard card fitted in its place.<ref name="models" />

The models are the PC2086 S (one floppy drive), D (two floppy drives) and /30 (one floppy drive and a 30&nbsp;MB hard disc). It shipped with MS-DOS 3.3, Windows 2.03 and GW-BASIC.<ref name="sm" /> The PC2000 series monitors are the PC12 MD (12-inch monochrome), PC14 CD (14-inch colour, 0.42&nbsp;mm dot pitch), PC12 HRCD (12-inch, 0.28&nbsp;mm) and PC14 HRCD (14-inch, 0.29&nbsp;mm); unlike those of the PC1512 and PC1640 they carry no supply for the computer.<ref name="sm" /><ref name="models" />