---
title: Kaypro IV
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Transportable
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1983'
cpus:
- Z80
params:
  name: Kaypro IV
  company: /companies/kaypro
  company_name: Kaypro
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: Kaypro IV
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Kaypro
  - label: TYPE
    value: Transportable
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1983'
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: '1985'
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Detachable, 72 key typewriter style keyboard with 18 programmable keys.
  - label: CPU
    value: Z80
  - label: SPEED
    value: 2.5 Mhz
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: 2 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 2 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: '80 chars x 25 lines (character matrix : 5 x 8 dots)'
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: None
  - label: COLORS
    value: built-in 9'' non-glare green phosphor screen
  - label: SOUND
    value: built-in speaker (CPU controlled) + keyboard 'key click' and beep
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 45 x 36 x 21 cm / 15kg
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: 1 RS232c serial port, 1 Centronics-type parallel port, keyboard interface
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: two 5.25'' DS/DD full-height floppy drives (390 KB per disk)
  - label: OS
    value: CP/M 2.2
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in PSU
  tabs:
  - photos
  - links
  - docs
  photos:
  - title: PARIS DAKAR
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **A KAYPRO IV IN ACTION SOMEWHERE IN AFRICA**

      8 Kaypro IV and 2 Kaypro 10 were used by the doctors of the Paris-Dakar race 84's edition. The Kaypro IVs were used to store medical information about the 1000 participants. Power was provided by the Mercedes cars through the 12v cigarette lighters. The Kaypro 10s were kept in the "communication" plane during the day, and were used to centralize all the informations in the evening. At the end of the race, and after 12000 km of tracks, there were all running fine ! One of the Kaypro 10 is said to have been thrown out of the plane, mistaken with a common metallic tool box... And it still worked !
    image: null
  links:
  - title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
    url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
    text: ''
  docs:
  - title: KAYPRO TECHNICAL MANUAL
    url: null
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/kaypro_technical_manual.jpg
    text: |-
      **KAYPRO TECHNICAL MANUAL**\
      written by Kaypro

       compiled/archived by Unknown\
       type of document : Online reader

      **... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
  comments:
  - author: Sharon Wertz (United States)
    date: Saturday 29th December 2018
    text: We had four Kaypro IVs that we souped up with a speed doubler and four half height drives. Later we put in four double sided 3.5" drives, and still later a hard drive. I did Masters Theses for college students with Perfect Writer, because it was so versatile. Printed them out on a 32 pin dot matrix printer, and later on a postscript laser printer. Took our souped up Kaypro to Bend Oregon to the SOG (SemiOfficial Get Together) a CP/M group. It was a nine day wonder.
  - author: Bill (VA / USA)
    date: Thursday 24th September 2015
    text: It had a 4Mhz processor. I''ve owned many computers since that one, but it was my favorite. That and Turbo Pascal 1.5 were a tough pair to beat. It saw me through 4 years of college and then some.
  - author: kathy (calif usa)
    date: Tuesday 1st October 2002
    text: Just wondered what a kaypro 4 would be worth now
  related:
  - /museum/kaypro-1
  - /museum/kaypro-10
  - /museum/kaypro-2x
  - /museum/kaypro-4
  - /museum/kaypro-ii
  - /museum/kaypro-robie
  oc_id: 549
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230329073143/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=549
    date: '2023-03-29'
---

The Kaypro IV (aka IV'83 later) is not to be confused with the [Kaypro 4](/museum/kaypro-4/) (aka 4'84) released one year later. I know, Kaypro model names are REALLY confusing...

The Kaypro IV is basically a Kaypro II with DS/DD full-height floppy drives.

Wordstar started being included in addition to the Perfect Software suite.