Editing Amstrad PPC640 (section)

== History ==
The PPC512 and PPC640 were Amstrad's first portable PC compatibles and were developed from the desktop PC1512 and PC1640.<ref name="wpppc" /> Amstrad's Technical Reference Manual for the pair was first published in 1987.<ref name="trm">Amstrad Consumer Electronics plc, ''Amstrad PPC Technical Reference Manual'' (Bill Weidenauer, 1987), transcribed by John Elliott at [https://www.seasip.info/AmstradXT/ppctech/ seasip.info]. Retrieved 2026-10-02. Preface; section 1 (hardware): 1.1 CPU, 1.2 memory, 1.9 real time clock, 1.10.3 option links, 1.12 floppy disc controller, 1.13 serial port, 1.16 modem, 1.18 expansion connectors and power requirements, 1.19 video connector, 1.20 power connectors, 1.21 switch settings; section 2 (firmware): 2.2 power-up self tests, 2.6 ROS messages.</ref> Both models came with MS-DOS 3.30 and PPC Organizer, a memory-resident diary, card file, word processor and calculator, and the PPC640 added the Mirror II communications program.<ref name="wpppc" /><ref name="yc">Ewart Stronach, "Amstrad's PPC 512 and PPC 640 Portables", ''Your Computer'' (Australia), July 1988, pp. 62–64. Scan at [https://archive.org/details/1988.07-your-computer archive.org]. Retrieved 2026-10-02. The controls and ports, the "Please wait" start-up and the V1.8 sign-on, the clock running from the main batteries, and the nylon carry bag.</ref> The machine was sold with a nylon carry bag with pockets for the adaptors, manuals and discs.<ref name="yc" /> In 1988 Amstrad used the PPC design as the basis of a desktop machine, sold as the Amstrad PC20 and the Sinclair PC200.<ref name="wpppc" />