Panasonic officialy in West Europe ?

Resident (51)

24-04-2021, 16:18

Hello everyone in this best Forum dedicated to the MSX standard.

I live in Switzerland and I am 48 years old. The MSX is part of my life and has been a real red thread. It was he who introduced me to and loved Japan in 1990 (ordered the MSX Turbo-R but first trip in 1992) many friends (Robin Von Hoegen, Edouard Campos, Fabrice Autour, Marc Cherix, Gregory Michel, Thierry Jeannet ....)
I had my 1st MSX late 1986 until the last Panasonic MSX Turbo-R FS-A1 GT.

Nowadays I follow the news via internet, Facebook, and I sometimes play with File-Hunter on my computer or Android.
The MSXVR remains a project because it is very slow to obtain.

Even though I obviously read a lot of French and Japanese magazines at the time; I've a question :
In France / Belgium / Switzerland, there were many brands of MSX but then I believe for MSX2 only Sony until 1987 and Philips 1988.
I wanted to know if Panasonic has at some point OFFICIALLY sold these computers in these countries ??
According to the advertisements of MSX Video Center I don't think so.(Famous shop in Paris)
In Japan, Matsushita released National MSX then MSX2 computers from 1983 to 1986 and Panasonic MSX2, MSX2 + then MSX Turbo-R from 1986 to 1991. (The end of production for the A1GT would be 1994?)
Thank you for your information if you have it.
I'm so excited.by still news in games, hardware (MSXVR), books (MSX Perfect Catalogue in Japan, Konami's legacy.....)

MSX for Ever in our life and our (F1) Spirit.

Por sdsnatcher73

Prophet (3007)

24-04-2021, 17:06

Panasonic did release the CF2700 in Europe, a German and Brittish variant were created.

Por Manuel

Ascended (18719)

24-04-2021, 18:18

Hi, were you a member of Sunrise Swiss or MSX Fun Club?

And indeed, the only Panasonic MSX released in Europe is that CF-2700.

Por SwissPanasonic

Resident (51)

24-04-2021, 18:23

Not really. But these are dissolved no ?
WOW only this CF-2700 (National rebadged)
Thank you

Por Manuel

Ascended (18719)

24-04-2021, 19:45

Yes, I think over 20 years ago. But as you said you knew many people, perhaps you also knew some of them, like Peter Burkhard.

Didn't Robin Von Hoegen have contacts in Japan and arranged imports?

Por Ivan

Ascended (9305)

24-04-2021, 20:08

In Spain the Panasonic CF-2700 was officially sold. Take a look at the back cover of this issue of the Spanish magazine MSX-Club: issue 7, November 1985. No Panasonic MSX2 machines sold here (only MSX2 computers from Sony, Philips and Mitsubishi as far as I know) but we were informed about the existence in Japan of the National FS-5500: MSX-Club magazine issues 16-17, July 1986.

Also a small company called LASP imported and sold two of the three models of Panasonic MSX2+ computers (FS-A1WX and FS-A1WSX) and both models of TurboR computers (FS-A1ST and FS-A1GT). You can take a look at advertisements from LASP of Panasonic MSX2+ and TurboR FS-A1ST computers in these issues of MSX-Club:

Issue 63, May 1990
Issue 64, June 1990
Issue 79, November 1991

Adervertisements from LASP listing the FS-A1GT appeared in the fanzine Club Hnostar. Take a look at the last page of issue 13 from May 1993 (Club Hnostar PDFs). We know that in late 1994 LASP was still selling them (1994 LASP catalogue).

Por SwissPanasonic

Resident (51)

24-04-2021, 19:57

Oh sorry no. I've mentionned my MSX friends in Switzerland (Alex Rouge too)
I live in the French speaking Part of Switzerland.
Robin is a great and interesting person. I ordered a lot of MSX articles in the 90s and then for other machines or magazines. But I'm not sure he still has a lot of contacts and he lives far from big cities.

Por SwissPanasonic

Resident (51)

24-04-2021, 19:58

Thank you Ivan !

Por Ivan

Ascended (9305)

24-04-2021, 20:43

@SwissPanasonic, I also contacted Robin Van Hoegen by letter (it was year 1992 or 1993) and he replied me with the prices of TurboR computers. I also asked in person a representative of Panasonic Sales Spain if I could buy (import) from them a TurboR computer (it was 1995 or 1996) but he told me that it was not possible because they couldn't have provided me any kind of gurantee nor technical support plus the computer PSU was 110V. His attention was first class though and he even know what I was talking about (he knew what MSX was but I am not sure that he had ever heard about MSX TurboR computers).

Por Manuel

Ascended (18719)

24-04-2021, 21:12

For Alex Rouge, look for the nickname "Valken". He is still active more or less.

Por SwissPanasonic

Resident (51)

25-04-2021, 05:26

Thanks Manuel!
Well Robin was know by some people for orders MSX hard, soft and books