HP-85

The HP-85 integrated a CRT, keyboard, thermal printer and cartridge-tape drive in a compact personal computer. Its ROM BASIC and modular interfaces targeted engineers, laboratories and small technical offices.

It was the best-known member of HP’s Series 80 and offered a unusually complete computer in one transportable enclosure.

Notable Features

• The built-in printer and tape drive allowed useful work without external peripherals.
• Four plug-in bays accepted memory and interface modules.

Historical Significance

• It was the best-known member of HP’s Series 80 and offered a unusually complete computer in one transportable enclosure.

Collector’s Notes

• Original HP manuals, peripherals and software media are particularly useful because many interfaces and formats were proprietary.
• Memory, storage, displays and expansion hardware should be documented because configurations often changed during a system’s working life.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	HP-85
Manufacturer	Hewlett-Packard
Launched	Tuesday, January 1, 1980
Discontinued	1983
Country	United States
CPU	HP custom 8-bit Capricorn processor at approximately 625 kHz
Units Sold
Form Factor	Portable all-in-one desktop computer
Power	Internal mains supply
Networking	Optional modem or HP-IB networking
Operating System	BASIC operating environment in ROM
Expansion / I/O	Four rear expansion slots for memory, HP-IB, serial, modem and other modules
Keyboard	Integrated keyboard and thermal printer
Storage	Built-in DC100 cartridge tape drive
Sound	Internal beeper
Colours	Monochrome
Graphics	256 x 192 monochrome graphics
Display	Built-in 5-inch monochrome CRT; 32 x 16 text
ROM	32KB ROM with BASIC and operating firmware
RAM	16KB standard; expandable to 64KB
CPU Speed	Approximately 625 kHz