Fujitsu FM TOWNS series of computers.

The Fujitsu FM types were originally a series of computers that used a non windows compatible operating system and proprietary technology. Later on they evolved (or devolved, depending on opinions) to the windows and AT compatible standards.

The earlier proprietary series is the most interesting of the line, with tons of games and software made. The system was popular enough to warrant the creation of the entry level and games enthusiast "MARTY" series. How the hell they came up with the name  is still a mystery, but the Japanese penchant for "Japanglish" is the best explaination.

The machines seen at right are the most desirable of the computers if you dare import one, they have the same styling as the "Marty". They share controllers and mice, and software. However, the software  is not universal and must be modified for "Marty".

The machine on the right features the really cool built in 1x-2x CD-ROM, it's one of the best designs, if you think of your old 386 or 486, it never looked anywhere as nice as this, and westerners still mistake the old "Marty" as something really new and powerful.

 Shipping makes bringing over Japanese computers prohibitively expensive, but they sometimes appear in unlikely places, as Japanese residents often bring their own computers to the US.

The computer controllers are not as nice as the Marty Pads. The mouse looks Godawful frigging primitive, but it works.

The later version of the series at the right had external hard disks, and modems, but used the windows OS instead of the old Fujitsu.

Note the FM Towns turbo pad, try to get those if you can, really great controllers.

People often ask me how much it costs to ship a computer to the US. My response is $100 for 30 kilos.

About $300.

The Japanese don't keep old machines around; there's no space. So if you do see a machine in Japan, it's in a second handshop, or on the internet, for sale by some hick in the middle of Miyazaki Prefecture.

Some old Japanese PC fun:

If you see an old ass PC98 or marty case, buy it. With a little drilling and tapping, you can easily fit it with a P4/Athlon mainboard, and have the most unlikely of computers to show off.

This is the badass I want.

Dual 1.44 floppy, CD-ROM and external hard drive.

Small and with a built in screen. So small you can take it as your second piece of luggage on a flight.

It's only 1/2 the length of a standard keyboard. Look down at your keyboard. Small right?

If you're incredibly insane and messed in the head for games and hardware like I am, you regularly fly to Japan for things that the Japanese normally throw away or laugh at. Mention FM TOWNS MARTY to a Japanese collector and he'll laugh as hard as if you had brought an action max to a classic games convention.

What's nice about Japan is that you can drop all sorts of money on useless shit and get strange looks at the same time.

EOF