MSX
MSX was a standardized range of Z80 based 8 bit computers developed by Microsoft and various (mostly) japanese producers to exploit... microsoft softwares.
MSX stands for "Machines with Software eXchangeability".
4 generations of MSX were produced, each with it's own system specs upgrades and retro compatible with past specifications.
It was a serious technical concurrent to the Amstrad CPC range, later specifications being closer to 16bit computers than other 8bit systems. Yet a lot of similarities and differences between the 2 systems.
Despite having the colour attributes logic (MSX1 mostly, the other through retro compatibility), it wasn't as bad as on the Speccy. As a Z80 based computer, many European Sofware developers did those awful scrappy Speccy Ports, which Japanese couldn't understand ("why do they have so sclappy glaphics ?")
Later MSX standards (MSX2, MSX2+ and turboR) included a large panel of extra video modes without the colours clashes.
The MSX was to Japan what the CPC was to France. Or what the ZX Speccy was to England or eastern Europe (Speccy clones mostly...)
A "serious" computer mostly used as home computer for gaming purpose by kids.
