A unicorn got away... The "PC Duo", model# HES-DUO-02

[nullity]

http://ebay.com/itm/252255385713

I can find no information about this... anywhere.  At first glance it is a plain vanilla DUO-R, but closer inspection reveals a "PC-DUO" name.  Manufactured in June 1993 and a model# which succeeds the PC Engine Duo (HES-DUO-01)... could this be a Duo-R prototype?

[Otaking]

Rarer than the glossy Duo!

[elmer]

Interesting ... I wonder if the new owner knows that it's a bit different.

Would be interesting to get a look at the motherboard.

[Necromancer]

I suppose it could be a prototype of sorts (the main difference being the different screened label and a sticker for preliminary regulation stuff that ended up being molded in the production units), but more of a production validation test unit; that's the last step before full production, as opposed to a prototype that likely wouldn't look quite so finished.  I wonder if there's any differences on the inside, maybe something as simple as a different pcb number.

It could conceivably also be a scam, as the sticker and labels would be easy enough to fake.  I doubt it, though, seeing as it wasn't pushed off as teh rarez or sold for substantially more than other Duo-Rs.

[Black Tiger]

Although it may very well have been painted that way in the factory, chances are that's all that was unique about it and all we nissed out on is Malibu Stacy with a hat.

[Sarumaru]

Nully pointed this out to me and I tried to bid last minute but didn't win, unfortunately. I was curious as to see what the board for this unit looked like. The name suggests that it was before the DUO-R but sequential to the naming convention to that of the TurboDuo which I found quite interesting. If it was a fake, it's a very good one. It would have meant that whatever company manufactured it is familiar with these numbers already and mimicked them to look legitimate. However, I do not think this is the case. I am going to take a guess that there were at least 200 of these units made, likely sent to retailers/testers or what have you, to showcase the new, sleek unit prior to its inception and when the final product was made, it was renamed to the DUO-R... or at least, it's my speculation.

[mickcris]

looks to me like that was meant for the USA since it has the HES code on it and and FCC sticker.   I glanced at that auction and put in a fairly low snipe.  I would have put in a higher bid had I been paying a bit more attention and looked at all of the pictures.

HES-ACA-06 would have been the next code for a US power supply as the Turbo Duo's supply was HES-ACA-05.  It is the US Turbo Duo that has the code HES-DUO-01 not the PC Engine Duo.  The FCC regulation stuff (be it molded or a sticker) would not have been on a Japanese unit.

Too bad it did not have the original power supply and controller with it too.  He states it plays PC Engine Hu Cards though so it probably was just a mock up with a Duo-R board in it.  Would be really interesting though if it did play USA cards

I doubt it was a scam as the seller did not seem to know they had something unique.

[blueraven]

Had pretty much the same experience here... I didn't realize that there was no "R" in the duo, and had I been aware of that I probably would have made a run for it.

[mickcris]

hopefully when the buyer gets it, they post some pics and info somewhere.  i am thinking probably someone bought it that knew it was not a normal Duo-R as I think the price should not have gone that high with it being just the console and those 2 controllers.

Would be interesting to see if it has more shielding inside than a normal Duo-R.  Also curious about if the CD bios is English and if it plays US or JPN cards.  Would be crazy if it ended up being a Turbo Duo 2 prototype.  I would kick myself though for not bidding higher.

[esteban]

This model was going to marketed along with DUO Link cable as an external CD-ROM for PCs.

[mickcris]

This model was going to marketed along with DUO Link cable as an external CD-ROM for PCs.

Do you know if it was for the Japanese or USA market?  Just seems odd that it has the FCC sticker and USA model codes for the console and power supply.

[SignOfZeta]

This model was going to marketed along with DUO Link cable as an external CD-ROM for PCs.

That makes the most sense as an explanation for the weird name.

This is truely an auction both very special and also incredibly mundane.

[SignOfZeta]

Well, the SCSI adaptor went into the HuCARD port so if it was intended for US then it would have to be wired as such.

However, the only picture I've ever seen of the CD-ROM setup for computers showed a very early prototype board and a standard black Duo. If they made 100 of these they all stayed in Japan.

f*ck, I don't know, after than SNES CD-ROM turned up, something I would have bet $100 was never that far along but clearly it was, I suppose anything is possible.

I hope it turns up again some day.

[rcantor77]

This is an awesome spot... never seen one of these before.

I'll add it to my site so we don't lose the pics...

[ParanoiaDragon]

Although it may very well have been painted that way in the factory, chances are that's all that was unique about it and all we nissed out on is Malibu Stacy with a hat.

But it's got a new hat!!! I WANT IT I WANT IT I WANT IT!