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With ChatGPT (other AI systems are available), you wonder what it would say about the machine at the heart of this project. You don't need to wonder any more as this is what it said about the vintage machine. Comments / corrections are in square brackets

The Amstrad PPC640 is a vintage portable computer that was released in the late 1980s by Amstrad, a British electronics company. The PPC640 belongs to the Amstrad PPC series, which stands for "Portable Personal Computer."

Here are some key features and specifications of the Amstrad PPC640:

• Release Date: The Amstrad PPC640 was released in 1988. [1987 according to Wikipedia - Ed]

• Design: The PPC640 features a clamshell design, with a built-in keyboard and an LCD display that folds down to cover the keyboard when not in use [It's actually the other way around & no where near a clamshell - Ed]. The design made it a compact and portable solution for its time.

• Display: The PPC640 is equipped with a [non-backlit - Ed] monochrome LCD display, which was standard for portable computers of that era. The screen resolution was likely modest [tiny is a better word for the 640x200 display - Ed] by today's standards.

• Processor: It is powered by an Intel 80C88 or NEC V20 [Actually a SONY clone was more likely - Ed] processor, which was a common choice for portable computers in the late 1980s. [The processor was an out dated dinosaur at the time of release as the Intel 80286 & Intel 80386 were available at the time - Ed]

• Memory: The Amstrad PPC640 typically had 640 KB of RAM, which was a standard configuration for PCs during that period. [The 640 stood for 640KB. There was a PPC512 that had 512KB of RAM- Ed]

• Storage: It featured a built-in 3.5-inch floppy disk drive for storage. Floppy disks were the primary means of data storage at that time.

• Operating System: The PPC640 likely ran MS-DOS, a popular operating system during the 1980s and early 1990s. [The machine shipped with MS-DOS 3.3 - Ed]

• Ports and Connectivity: It would have had various ports for connecting external devices, such as serial and parallel ports. Networking capabilities were limited compared to modern standards. [No networking ports, or ability was available but it could talk to the "outside world" via its in-built 1200 baud modem- Ed]

• Battery: The Amstrad PPC640 would have used rechargeable batteries to power the device when not connected to an external power source. [The manual (9.03Mb PDF) actually says not to use rechargeable batteries but normal "C Cells" as rechargeable batteries couldn't cope with the power required when first turned on - Ed]

• Legacy: The Amstrad PPC640 is a relic from the early era of portable computers. It reflects the state of technology and design during a time when portable computing was becoming more accessible to a broader audience.

It's important to note that specific details may vary, and the information provided here is a general overview based on the typical specifications of computers from that era.