website/content/museum/columbia-data-products-vp.md

---
title: Columbia Data Products VP
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Portable
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1983'
cpus:
- Intel 8088
params:
  name: VP
  image: /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_system_1.jpg
  company: /companies/columbia-data-products
  company_name: Columbia Data Products
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: VP
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Columbia Data Products
  - label: TYPE
    value: Portable
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1983'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: None
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Standard PC 82-key with function keys and numeric keypad
  - label: CPU
    value: Intel 8088
  - label: SPEED
    value: 4.77 MHz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: Socket for 8087 math coprocessor
  - label: RAM
    value: 128 KB up to 256 KB on board
  - label: VRAM
    value: 16 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 12 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 40 or 80 characters x 25 lines
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 320 or 640 x 200 pixels (CGA mode)
  - label: COLORS
    value: 16 maximum
  - label: SOUND
    value: Tone generator
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Serial and Parallel ports
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 2 x 360 KB 5.25'' floppy disc drives
  - label: OS
    value: MS-DOS, CP/M-86
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in power supply unit
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: 1 internal expansion slot
  - label: PRICE
    value: $2,995
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  forum_thread: 869
  photos:
  - title: SYSTEM
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      Dual floppy drive version

      Thanks to **Roxanne Anderson** - firstchoicerecycling.com
    image: /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_system_s3.jpg
  - title: REAR SIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(1)** Brightness knob, reset switch and keyboard DIN socket\
      **(2)** Parallel and Serial ports

      Thanks to **Roxanne Anderson** - firstchoicerecycling.com
    image: /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_rear_s1.jpg
  - title: COLUMBIA LABEL
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to **Roxanne Anderson** - firstchoicerecycling.com
    image: /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_label_s1.jpg
  - title: INSIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      Notice the stange place where the 20 MB Seagate hard disk drive is fixed.

      Thanks to **Roxanne Anderson** - firstchoicerecycling.com
    image: /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_inside_s1.jpg
  - title: VIDEO SIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      Notice the piece of wood **(1)** used as a stand for the hard disk drive!

      Thanks to **Roxanne Anderson** - firstchoicerecycling.com
    image: /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_videocard_s1.jpg
  - title: SWITCHING PSU
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to **Roxanne Anderson** - firstchoicerecycling.com
    image: /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_powersup_s1.jpg
  - title: ORIGINAL MANUALS
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to **Roxanne Anderson** - firstchoicerecycling.com
    image: /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_manuals_s1.jpg
  adverts:
  - title: FIRST AD.
    subtitle: ''
    text: The red part shows all the IBM-PC software boxes the VP could run.
    image: /media/museum/pubs/columbia_vp_pub_1.jpg
  oc_id: 889
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230601093609/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=889
    date: '2023-06-01'
---

The Columbia VP was a [Compaq Portable](/museum/compaq-portable/) like IBM PC compatible. Besides, it was said that Compaq designed the electronic part of the VP.\
It was the last computer made by Columbia, the company which made the [MPC](/museum/columbia-data-products-mpc/), first true copy of the [IBM-PC](/museum/ibm-pc-model-5150/).

Columbia built a very rugged but heavy case which supported a 9" monochrome monitor, larger than the Compaq. All other features were the same as the Compaq.

When the system was launched, the main argument of Columbia was the large number of software bundled with it. Among them: MS-DOS, CP/M-86, Perfect series (Writer, Filer, Speller, Calc), MS-BASIC, Macro assembler, Home accountant and Space Commander game.

It seems that several versions of the VP were built: 1600/1, 1600/4, 2110, 2220, VP-Plus, but we have no information about them.

---

**Stephen Somerville's memories:**\
I was the senior operations manager at Columbia Data Products from 1982 to 1984. My production team built and shipped about 2,000 VP's a month during that time.\
I still have one buried in my closet. Wish I could find the "perfect" bundled software that came with it. I'd pay big to find that software somewhere on the net.\
Anyway, those days were indeed heady times. BIG BONUSES, all expense trips for the senior staff in Vegas, and bahamas, the champange flowed like water. We were making money hand over fist, then one day, all of the sudden, I was told to layoff 400 production line workers. I ONE DAY! I quit 2 weeks later and never looked back.\
But I'll never forget those times. We took Kaypros apart, as well as commodores, compaqs, and anybody elses where we could see a better idea, cheaper method, any item to drive a higher margin. I remember sitting at a conference room table with the guts of all our competitors machines hanging out, and saying to the rest of the senior staff, "guys, there is no more profit in this box, we've trimmed everything we can".\
I remember the press coming to the company. An expedition team was taking one of our VP's to the top of mount everest to plot wind, conditions, etc. and the entire company was wearing tee shirts that read "*Columbia Data Products, computers that can climb mountains*".\
Geeez, those were heady times, we had the world by the balls. Steve

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>