The PCW8256 was created in 1985. It had 256k RAM, a green screen monitor, dot matrix printer, and one 3" 180k floppy drive. The software included CP/M Plus, DR Logo, Mallard BASIC, and LocoScript 1. This machine can be upgraded by adding 256k Ramchips, which fit inside the machine, thus making a total of 512k RAM. You can also add a Rampac to increase the memory further, some Rampacs also provide an extra printer port which will enable you to add an extra printer. The 3" A: drive can be replaced by a 3½" drive and an extra drive can also be added, making it a two drive machine.

The PCW8512 was also introduced in 1985, with 512k, green screen, and matrix printer, but included two disc drives, one was a 3" 180k, the other a 3" 720k. The software stayed the same. Like the 8256, these models can have a Rampac added to give more memory and the use of an external printer. If you wish, you can replace the 3" drives with 3½" models.

The PCW9512 came along in 1987, with 512k. The monitor was black & white, and had a 13 inch daisywheel printer. It only came with one 3" 720k drive. The software was upgraded to LocoScript 2, LocoMail, and LocoSpell. As before, you can add an extra disc drive, extra memory and an internal or external hard drive. This machine has an extra parallel printer port already fitted.

The PcW9256 was introduced in 1991, with 256k, a black & white screen, and a new revamped matrix printer. There was one 720k 3½" disc drive, and came with CP/M Plus, DR Logo, Mallard BASIC, LocoScript 1.5. 256k Ramchips can be fitted inside the 9256, and a Rampac added to increase the memory further plus the added benefit of an extra printer port. An extra drive can also be added.

Also in 1991, Amstrad decided to revamp the 9512. The end product was the PcW9512+. It had 512k, a black & white monitor, and a choice of daisy wheel or Canon BJ-10e printers. It had one 3½" drive, and came bundled with CP/M, LocoScript 2.33, LocoSpell and LocoMail. This model can be upgraded by adding a Rampac, an extra disc drive, an internal or external hard drive and an extra printer to its built in parallel port.

The PcW10 was released in 1993, and included a black & white screen, 512k RAM, and a 9256 printer with ribbon cable. A standard 3½ inch 720k drive was fitted, and a standard Centronics printer port was included. CP/M Plus v1.12, and LocoScript 1.50, and Mallard BASIC 1.48 were included in the package. This is the most difficult model to upgrade, although an extra drive, more memory in the form of a Rampac, and an extra printer can be added, there may be some compatibility problems with other types of hardware.

The newest addition to the collection, the PCW16 features 1Mb of Flash ROM memory, and 1 Mb of conventional RAM, and a completely new operating system, with built in word processor, diary, and an address book. At the moment, this model has limited compatibility with the rest, despite having a 3½ inch drive, although there is now a CP/M emulator which supports 90% of CP/M software.

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