HP 9810A

The HP 9810A replaced the 9100 with an integrated thermal printer, LED display and plug-in ROM modules. It supported scientific and engineering work through a programmable RPN environment.

It was the entry member of the first 9800 desktop-computer family.

Notable Features

• Plug-in ROM blocks added specialised mathematical and peripheral functions.
• An integrated printer produced program listings and results.

Historical Significance

• It was the entry member of the first 9800 desktop-computer family.

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 9810A
Manufacturer	Hewlett-Packard
Launched	Friday, January 1, 1971
Discontinued	1976
Country	United States
CPU	HP proprietary serial processor
Units Sold
Form Factor	Desktop calculator/computer
Power	Internal mains supply
Networking	None
Operating System	Resident RPN programming environment
Expansion / I/O	ROM drawers, printer, plotter and peripheral interfaces
Keyboard	Integrated RPN keyboard with printer
Storage	Magnetic cards
Sound	No sound
Colours	Red LED
Graphics	Numeric display; optional plotter output
Display	Three-line LED display
ROM	Resident calculator firmware with plug-in ROM modules
RAM	Approximately 500 program steps, expandable
CPU Speed	Proprietary bit-serial architecture