| NEC VERSA M/75 & M/100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The NEC Ultralite Versa M series was a pair of Multimedia Laptop computers released in 1994 as a part of NEC's Versa series. These machines, while quite identical to others in the product line, were a bit of a step forward compared to previous models with many updates and features not found on previous models.
At first glance, the Versa M looks like a regular Versa E wth a speaker vent and audio jacks on the back but it features a new motherboard design for the DX4 CPU, an improved power subsystem designed around using new "Smart Batteries" (though it was still compatible with the original 4 contact "dumb" batteries too), featured a Crystal Business Audio WSS compatible chipset (minus OPL, at least on 75Mhz models). It also holds the distinction of being the 1st Gen Versa model with the most graphics options, as there were both STN Mono and Color models, Touch Models, 800x600 High Resolution Color models, and the two special "True Color" models. Model#s were as follows...
PERFORMANCE, SPECS, COMMON INFORMATION FROM IT'S DAY The Versa "M" is speculated to mean "M(ultimedia)" because it was the first NEC Versa, and most likely the first NEC Laptop period to come with some kidn of sound device on-board. It is also very unique in that it came in 2 varations that were electronically incompatible with each other - the Versa M/75 with "D" "C" "CP" and "HC" Designation, and then the "True Color" models which came with a "TC" designation and featured a special screen assembly and internal daughtercard. All models came with a 486 DX4 CPU in either 75 or 100MHz, and both performed okay per the magazines, with complaints of "exaggerated battery life claims" and some small performance guffaws mentioned. 
 On the left we have the standard video daughtercard for the Versa M, on the right is the True Color board intended for the TC models. It seems these may have been more common in the "VersaPen" variety than the others as Words+ was using them for their System 2000 Commpac Augmentative and Alternative Communications system, as well as employees at 3M were using these as 3M Developed the system. Curiously, omitting the stylus holder on the back of the laptop present on all previous models except the Versa "V" - likely to make room for the headphone and line-in jacks on the back. The keyboard bezel was also redesigned to feature a pinhole for a microphone and a more open vent for the internal speaker on the sound board - of which all sound was filtered through in mono. This was the first model to feature a "true Color" screen, as well as a "High Resolution Color" "HC" Designation 800x600 Active Matrix color screen as well. The Versa M shared the market with the Versa V and Versa P. AT&T/NCR Sold this model in the 100 and 75MHz format as the "AT&T Globalyst D250". It has all the same color changes AT&T/NCR had but otherwise is electronically identical to the regular NEC Versa M-series models. These are easily confused iwth the Pentium version on the AT&T models, the Pentium version has a "P" at the end of the D250 and has the relocated controls of the Versa P/75. The Versa M-series managed to carry on until late 1995 or early 1996 where they were replaced with the 2000/4000/6000 series Pentium models.Performance, Reliability, Durabiligy in the modern age Honestly, I see the Versa M/75 and M/100 (and by extention, D250) as having some serious potential in retro-computing. They are in no ways perfect, but they do perform extremely well, are extremely roadworthy still, and rather durable despite the cracking plastic problems these laptops are known for. A Versa M/75 with a 80GB ATA-133 HDD and ISO Files ripped to the F partition is a serious portable DOS gaming box ad is quite capable.  The M/75's only Achille's Heel is the Sound Card, Crystal CS4231KQ chip located in the middle. The only real fault of the Versa M is it's cantankerous Windows Sound System (WSS) compatible Crystal Semiconductor Cs-4231-KQ sound chipset. This audio chipset is marketed as "Crystal Business Audio" and is a bit of a PITA to get working in either WSS or "SoundBLaster Compatible" mode. Recent talks with various users on Vogons have lead me to think this might have something to do with the Memory Management or chipset of the laptop. The first and most obviosu problem is the lack of a OPL chip on it - referring to the FM Synthesizer used by Adlib cards, which is utilized on most MS-DOS games from 1987 onward until 1997. So you won't get music or anything better than speaker sound on most DOS games with it. In Windows this can be worked around with a software solution, but in DOS it seems there's no solution for it unless someone could rig something up like VDMsound to work. The next problem is the Crystal CSS4231 seems to have some compatibility issues with the WSS Drivers for some software. Blood and Magic, Settlers II Gold, and pretty much every Sierra graphical adventure work just fine with this chip, but The 7th Guest is a total nightmare to get working with it with the WSS upgrade from Virgin Games - it often complains of a missing interrupt. Many sound setup programs such as ADCOP or Tekwar crash if you already have another audio device setup. It's a very fiddly chipset. Getting it to work with Windows Sound System 1.0 or 2.0 is also a futile thing because I've been fighting with WSSXLAT.EXE for about 3 years now and still cannot - regardless of EMS Driver loaded, get it working. It seems there's a mixed bag of answers about whether WSSXLAT works in pure DOS or if it works only through Windows. That said, through Windows 95 SoundBlaster emulation is installed by default and works just fine, actually quite well. NESticle gets full sound, and anything else that's purely wave music works. I'm thinking a lot of these headaches with the M's audio is a big reason NEC released the "MediaDock" because it seems to solve all of these issues caused by adding a ESS488 OPL/3 audio chipset to the mix. That said, if YYZKEVIN's offering ever gets done, this will be one mean laptop for the job as you will now have the best of both worlds, WSS compatibility for CD quality sound through headphones on certain software, and SoundBlaster compatibility for DOS games that require SoundBlaster, such as Doom, Duke Nukem 3D, and Ultima.Common Issues With Used Examples The M-series was the more hearty of the Versa models and seems to stand up to a lot more damage than the other models, which is surprising because as one who has built a literal frankenstein of 3 working units to save my favorite one, there is a LOT going on inside that case, more than the Versa P/75 actually.
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