--- title: Kaypro 2x categories: - Computers types: - Transportable origins: - U.S.A. years: - '1984' cpus: - Z80A params: name: Kaypro 2x image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_system_2.jpg company: /companies/kaypro company_name: Kaypro specs: - label: NAME value: Kaypro 2x - label: MANUFACTURER value: Kaypro - label: TYPE value: Transportable - label: ORIGIN value: U.S.A. - label: YEAR value: '1984' - label: END OF PRODUCTION value: Unknown - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: None (M-BASIC and O-BASIC on diskette) - label: KEYBOARD value: Detachable, 72 key typewriter style keyboard with 18 programmable keys. - label: CPU value: Z80A - label: SPEED value: 4 MHz - label: RAM value: 64 KB - label: VRAM value: 2 KB - label: ROM value: Unknown - label: TEXT MODES value: 80 chars x 25 lines (ADM-3A compatible) - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: 160 x 100 text squares - label: COLORS value: built-in 9'' non-glare green phosphor screen - label: SOUND value: Beep only - label: SIZE / WEIGHT value: 45 (W) x 38.5 (D) x 21 (H) cm / 11.5 Kg - label: I/O PORTS value: 2 RS232c serial ports, 1 Centronics-type parallel port, keyboard, built-in 300-baud modem - label: BUILT IN MEDIA value: 2 x 5.25'' DS/DD 400 KB half-size floppy drives - label: OS value: CP/M 2.2 - label: POWER SUPPLY value: Built-in switching power supply unit - label: PERIPHERALS value: 10 MB hard disc, battery pack/charger - label: PRICE value: $1595 (in 1986) tabs: - photos - emulators - links - docs forum_thread: 930 photos: - title: LARGER VIEW subtitle: '' text: Notice that some Kaypro 2X models had a "2X" label on the front panel, between the two floppy drives. This version only have a "X" sticker on the back panel. image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_system_1.jpg - title: RUNNING SYSTEM subtitle: '' text: The Kaypro 2x is running ProfitPlan, a spreadsheet program from Chang Laboratories. image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_running_1.jpg - title: RIGHT SIDE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_rightside_1.jpg - title: KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP subtitle: '' text: The keyboard, made by Keytronic, was build sturdy. image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_keyboard_1.jpg - title: READY FOR TRAVELLING subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_closed_1.jpg - title: CARRYING BAG subtitle: '' text: The Kaypro 2x in its carrying bag. image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_bag_1.jpg - title: REAR SIDE subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** Power plug, switch and fuse\ **(2)** Reset button\ **(3)** The case was designed to take a fan but most of the Kaypro models didn't need it\ **(4)** Modem RJ11 plug\ **(5)** Parallel printer connector\ **(6)** The Kaypro 2x sticker\ **(7)** Serial port for data I/O\ **(8)** Second serial port for serial printer\ **(9)** Keyboard RJ11 plug\ **(10)** Brightness control knob Special thanks to **Thomas J. Casey** who donates us this computer image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_back_1.jpg - title: INSIDE subtitle: '' text: The main board is taken off. One can see the video circuitry and the switching power supply unit. image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_inside_1.jpg - title: MOTHERBOARD subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** 8 x Mostek 4564 chips hold the 64 KB of RAM\ **(2)** Memory controller chip labelled Kaypro\ **(3)** BIOS ROM chips\ **(4)** Mostek Z80A processor\ **(5)** Characters generator ROM\ **(6)** MOS display controller\ **(7)** MOS serial I/O controllers\ **(8)** Siemens floppy drives controller\ **(9)** Several empty sockets are probably used for an optional hard disk controller image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_mainboard_1.jpg - title: FLOPPY DRIVE subtitle: '' text: Slimline floppy drives came from an U.S. company called High Tech Peripherals, but they were probably made in Japan. image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_floppydrive_1.jpg - title: ARTHUR C. CLARKE subtitle: '' text: Arthur C. Clarke working with his Kaypro computer. image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_clarke_1.jpg emulators: - title: M.E.S.S. emulator url: http://www.emulator-zone.com/doc.php/misc/mess.html platform: Windows text: also emulates the Kaypro 2x 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 :** related: - /museum/kaypro-1 - /museum/kaypro-10 - /museum/kaypro-4 - /museum/kaypro-ii - /museum/kaypro-iv - /museum/kaypro-robie oc_id: 954 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20221203191624/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=954 date: '2022-12-03' --- The Kaypro 2x was one of the last models Kaypro produced. Size and appearence were the same as the first [Kaypro II](/museum/kaypro-ii/), but Internal hardware was inspired by the [Kaypro 10](/museum/kaypro-10/). It came with a 4 MHz Z80A processor, dual slimline 400 KB floppy drives, a built-in 300 baud modem, two serial ports and a full set of Micropro software (WordStar, CalcStar, DataStar) It is said that **Arthur C. Clarke** worked in the movie version of "2010: Odyssey Two", a sequel of "2001", using a Kaypro 2x and its built-in modem for transfering texts from Sri Lanka, where he lived, to Los Angeles. --- **Roy Miller** specifies:\ I own two. One looks like the machine you have (colors of the original 2), and has the same equipment. The other doesn't have a modem, and came in the same color scheme as the 4, 10, and 16.\ The one in the older color scheme has a sticker with an "X" on it pasted just after the "2" on the back. The dark grey one doesn't have that. It seems clear that they used the older 2 cases as well as newer cases. --- More info about the internal modem by **David C. Oshel**:\ The internal modem didn't work with the software Kaypro provided, so you had to use a Hayes Smartmodem attached to a serial i/o port. The internal modem chip had a defect: One of its pinouts went low when the specs said it went high.\ We put an oscilloscope on the pup and saw this for ourselves on the Beacon Microcenter (Ames, Iowa) workbench in 1983. I was able to write a driver that made it work, but nobody cared.