NEC announced in September 1994 four personal word processors that were the first in the industry to come with a standard video input (video capture) function. This function made it easy to create information-rich, full-color printed materials from one’s own video resources.
The announcement included three laptop models — the mini 5ZV, which featured a standard barcode reader and a paper cassette for continuous paper feeding, the mini 5ZH, which eliminated the bother of swapping floppy disks by including all application software in ROM, and the mini 5ZC, the flagship model with a STN color LCD screen — and the mini 5Zj notebook-sized model.
- The mini 5ZV, mini 5ZH, and mini 5ZC laptop models had the following features.
- （1）First in the industry to come with a standard video input (video capture) function. Color video could be imported simply by connecting a video camera or video deck to the word processor.
- （2）Running costs were slashed to between one-half and one-sixth of previous NEC models through a number of innovations, including reducing the thickness of the full-color inked ribbon.
- （3）A paper cassette was located under the keyboard. Paper could be fed in automatically for continuous printing, and inexpensive thermal paper could also be used.
- （4）The standard barcode reader made it possible to quickly select format settings or preset illustrations, decorative text, or colors as well as to call up previous postcard or business card data by barcode.
- The mini 5Zj notebook model had the following features.
- （1）While having the portability and storability of a notebook, the mini 5Zj had all the basic functions of the mini 5ZV, including video capture, and its built-in printer could print sheets as large as B4.
- （2）The ROM-based English spellchecker had a dictionary of 87,000 words.
- （3）Came standard with 20 ROM-based Western typefaces and training software that included exercises up to the Level 2 word processing certificate.
