Discussion:
Sinologist typewriter, Micro Special Monthly
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Quadibloc
2021-01-30 06:08:41 UTC
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Once I remembered its name, I was able to find one site which mentioned Micro Special Monthly. It was a Chinese-language computer magazine, published in Hong Kong from 1982 to 1999.
It had advertisements on its front cover; one it frequently had was for a typewriter called the 'Sinologist' which could type in Chinese. I presume it managed that by having a thermal-transfer printhead.
So far I haven't been able to find any information about it through searching on-line.

John Savard
Quadibloc
2021-01-30 06:57:06 UTC
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Finding its Chinese name, 微型電腦專刊, I got a *little* further, finding an image of the cover of one issue...

John Savard
J. Clarke
2021-01-30 09:15:15 UTC
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On Fri, 29 Jan 2021 22:08:41 -0800 (PST), Quadibloc
Post by Quadibloc
Once I remembered its name, I was able to find one site which mentioned Micro Special Monthly. It was a Chinese-language computer magazine, published in Hong Kong from 1982 to 1999.
It had advertisements on its front cover; one it frequently had was for a typewriter called the 'Sinologist' which could type in Chinese. I presume it managed that by having a thermal-transfer printhead.
So far I haven't been able to find any information about it through searching on-line.
Are you sure you're not thinking of the Sinotype III, which was
developed around 1981 and was based on an Apple II?
Quadibloc
2021-01-30 15:45:03 UTC
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Post by J. Clarke
Are you sure you're not thinking of the Sinotype III, which was
developed around 1981 and was based on an Apple II?
Oh, yes. What I'm thinking of was a commercial product, advertised to consumers in
Hong Kong. It didn't look like an Apple II, it looked like an electronic typewriter.

John Savard
Quadibloc
2021-01-30 15:50:19 UTC
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Post by Quadibloc
Post by J. Clarke
Are you sure you're not thinking of the Sinotype III, which was
developed around 1981 and was based on an Apple II?
Oh, yes. What I'm thinking of was a commercial product, advertised to consumers in
Hong Kong. It didn't look like an Apple II, it looked like an electronic typewriter.
Another thing I'm not thinking about is this:

https://tifan.net/blog/2020/09/17/ms240x-chinese-typewriter-2-ms-2401h-hardware-design/

the Stone MS-2401, a similar typewriter designed in the People's Republic of China.

John Savard
J. Clarke
2021-01-30 16:53:15 UTC
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On Sat, 30 Jan 2021 07:50:19 -0800 (PST), Quadibloc
Post by Quadibloc
Post by Quadibloc
Post by J. Clarke
Are you sure you're not thinking of the Sinotype III, which was
developed around 1981 and was based on an Apple II?
Oh, yes. What I'm thinking of was a commercial product, advertised to consumers in
Hong Kong. It didn't look like an Apple II, it looked like an electronic typewriter.
https://tifan.net/blog/2020/09/17/ms240x-chinese-typewriter-2-ms-2401h-hardware-design/
the Stone MS-2401, a similar typewriter designed in the People's Republic of China.
You might want to contact Thomas S. Mullaney at Stanford.
<https://profiles.stanford.edu/thomas-mullaney>

I've skimmed through his history of the Chinese typewriter and don't
find a device such as you describe. He says in that book that he is
working on a second volume that covers the history of Chinese
computing, which in his view is closely tied to the history of Chinese
typing--perhaps it will be in that one.

And if he is unaware of it he might be grateful for the steer to a
source.

Here's the Amazon link to his history of the Chinese typewriter.
<https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262536102>

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