Terminated: unknown
It runs on four 1.35V MR44 mercury cell batteries but from experience it can also run on four standard LR44 batteries. Not sure if the surplus voltage of 0.6V can do any harm, so perform this replacement on your own risk.
This Pocket Computer has a maximum of 1424 programming steps and 26 variables ("A" to "Z"). Variables can be either a string or a number, so A and A$ can not exist simultaneously. It can use up to 178 variables in exchange for programming memory.
This calculator does not have PEEK, POKE and CALL commands and is therefore not machine language programmable unfortunately.
Its BASIC language is quite capable.
Error messages however are quite basic, a error number followed by a line of periods. Still, commands can be edited and corrected using the left and right arrow keys and INSert and DELete.
Also quite advanced, it has an built-in buzzer.
Even more advanced and later inherited by newer SHARP Pocket Computers: programs can be labeled and called. That, together with the AREAD command makes it possible to create your own functions. For example:
Perform circle operations:
Now put the calculator in DEF mode. Enter the radius of the circle
by entering a number and pressing SHIFT-X.
Now calculate its area by pressing SHIFT-A
and its circumference by pressing SHIFT-C.
10 "X" AREAD R: END
20 "A" PRINT π * R * R: END
30 "C" PRINT 2 * π * R: END
Only the two lower lines of keys can be used this way.
Another powerful modus of operation, RESERVE mode. In this mode, any string of commands can be assigned to any alphanumerical key. Not by referring to a BASIC label but by direct assignment.
Something peculiar to this calculator, to distinguish between the "0" and the "O" it is not the zero that looks different, instead the letter Oh has an extra detail top right. I still have to scan a sample screen but the LCD of mine is in a very bad state at the moment. Please see the Radio Shack TRS-80 Pocket Computer (PC-1) page for a picture.
The specific type of LCD used in the PC-1210, the PC-1211 and the Radio Shack TRS-80 Pocket Computer (PC-1) is prone to leakage and will eventually become unreadable. The same thing happens to other displays of the same type (for instance the SHARP EL-6200). This LCD can however be replaced. You can buy The Half-Baked Maker’s replacement here (link validated 2024-09-19). Yes, when one replaces the LCD one will no longer have the original Pocket Computer and the LCD’s colour is different but at least it will be functional again.
Mine still has its original display and it’s not useable anymore. I have ordered replacement LCDs (for this PC-1210 and for the Radio Shack TRS-80 Pocket Computer (PC-1) but still have to replace them for I first have to convince myself that functional is better than original.
For more info see this Wikipedia page.