Sharp PC-1403


The Sharp PC-1403 was a small scientific calculator and pocket computer manufactured by Sharp. It was the successor of the Sharp PC-1401, and had better display, more RAM and better system software.

Technical specifications

Manufacturing started in 1986.

Calculator

Calculations could be performed in two modes CAL and RUN. In the former, the PC-1403 would behave like a normal scientific calculator at the time with formulas entered in algebraic logic. In RUN mode, BASIC statements could be entered for immediate execution and print out. The latter was similar to the Direct algebraic logic employed by modern calculators.

Programming

The programming model employed was unstructured BASIC for which the PC-1403 distinguished between RUN and PRO mode. The later being used to enter and edit program and the former being used to execute them.

Programming example

Here is a sample program that computes the factorial of an integer number from 2 to 69. It can be called by pressing DEF F in run mode. The program is 66 bytes long.

10 "F" allows to start the program with DEF F
20 INPUT "N=?";N Ask for n
30 LET F=1 Set start value of F to 1
40 FOR I=1 TO N STEP 1 counts I from 1 to N
50 LET F=F*I calculates F=F*I
60 NEXT I repeats loop from line 40
70 PRINT USING "##";N;"!="; USING ;F print result - i.E. 5!=120
80 END end of program