website/content/museum/dynalogic-hyperion.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
DYNALOGIC HYPERION	Computers	Transportable	Canada	1983	Intel 8086	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos adverts hardware links oc_id source HYPERION /media/museum/photos/dynalogic_hyperion_system_s1.jpg /companies/dynalogic DYNALOGIC label value NAME HYPERION label value MANUFACTURER Dynalogic label value TYPE Transportable label value ORIGIN Canada label value YEAR January 1983 label value END OF PRODUCTION 1984 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD Full-stroke 83 keys PC-style keyboard with numeric keypad label value CPU Intel 8086 label value SPEED 4.77 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR Socket for a 8087 Math coprocessor label value RAM 256 KB (up to 640 KB) label value VRAM 16 KB label value ROM 8 KB label value TEXT MODES 40 or 80 characters x 25 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES 320 x 200 / 640 x 200 / 640 x 400 pixels label value COLORS Monochrome. 16 levels of grey label value SOUND built-in loudspeaker label value SIZE / WEIGHT 46.4 (W) x 28.8 (D) x 22.3 (H) cm. / 18 pounds label value I/O PORTS RS232, Centronics, Modem, Network, Telephone handset, expansion connector label value BUILT IN MEDIA Two 5.25'' 360 KB disk drives label value OS MS-DOS, CP/M-86 label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in switching power supply unit label value PERIPHERALS IN:TOUCH telephone magement system, internal 300-baud modem, RAM extension label value PRICE C$4,955 photos adverts hardware links 343 title subtitle text image LARGE VIEW /media/museum/photos/dynalogic_hyperion_system_2.jpg title subtitle text image LEFT SIDE /media/museum/photos/dynalogic_hyperion_leftside_s1.jpg title subtitle text image RIGHT SIDE /media/museum/photos/dynalogic_hyperion_rightside_s1.jpg title subtitle text image FRONT VIEW When the Hyperion has to be carried, the keyboard slides in a special housing under the machine. /media/museum/photos/dynalogic_hyperion_frontview-s1.jpg title subtitle text image TOP VIEW The keyboard has the same layout as the original IBM PC keyboard except for the function keys which are located at the top part. /media/museum/photos/dynalogic_hyperion_topview_s1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR SIDE #1 From left to right:\ • 110V AC mains supply plug. Can be changed to 220V internally.\ • Composite video output RCA jack\ • Telephone handset RJ11 plug\ • Local network RJ11 plug\ • External modem RJ11 plug\ • Parallel DB25 connector\ • Serial DB25 connector\ • 50-pin memory expansion/HDD connector /media/museum/photos/dynalogic_hyperion_rearside_s1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR SIDE #2 The white box on the right of the case is the memory expansion. Thanks to **Bob Shapton** /media/museum/photos/hyperion_back.jpg title subtitle text image FLOPPY DRIVES Faulty floppy drives shipped with the computer did a lot of damage to the Hyperion reputation.\ At least two versions were released:\ **(1)** First version with Mitsubishi drives\ **(2)** Second version with US drives. Notice that the contrast and brightness knobs which were really not convenient on the first version were slightly modified\ **(3)** In the third version, the user changed original drive for Chinon models and made two additional holes for the drive Leds /media/museum/photos/dynalogic_hyperion_fddrives_s1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE #1 **(1)** The twin logic boards are mounted vertically at the rear side of the machine\ **(2)** The switching power supply comes from Aztec, Hong-Kong\ **(3)** The fan has dual speed, low speed for normal use, high speed when the floppy drives are in use. /media/museum/photos/dynalogic_hyperion_inside_s1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE #2 Notice the optional modem card mounted onto the main board. /media/museum/photos/dynalogic_hyperion_inside_s2.jpg title subtitle text image RUNNING SYSTEM Boot up screen of the Digital Research CP/M-86 OS. /media/museum/photos/dynalogic_hyperion_cpmscreenshot_s1.jpg title subtitle text image TRANSPARENT HYPERION #1 **Eric des Courtis**, the proud owner of this unique machine says:\ This Hyperion was made in 82, before it's release to the public It was made to show off the technology inside the Hyperion.\ This unit was never sold to the public, and it`s the only one in existance today. It the oldest IBM PC compatible portable in existance. And probably the first. /media/museum/photos/dynalogic_hyperion_transparent_s1.jpg title subtitle text image TRANSPARENT HYPERION #2 Thanks to **Eric des Courtis** /media/museum/photos/dynalogic_hyperion_transparent_s2.jpg title subtitle text image US AD. JUNE 1983 Advert said: Hyperion is a true portable weighting in at only 18 pounds. It is light on the eyes with its European amber screen and styling. But heavy on performances with many standard features which are expensive necessities for other personal computers. And all for a price that's less that you'd expect... /media/museum/pubs/dynalogic_hyperion_pub_1.jpg title subtitle text image UK ADVERT (JULY 1984) /media/museum/pubs/hyperion_pub_july-84.jpg title subtitle text image PHONE COUPLER /media/museum/hardware/dynalogic_hyperion_phonecoupler_1.jpg title url text Hrothgar's Cool Old Junk Page http://www.total.net/~hrothgar/museum/Hyperion/index.html Some infos here 339 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230401022800/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=339 2023-04-01

The Hyperion was produced by the Infotech Cie. of Ottawa, a subsidiary of Bytec Management Corp. It was the first portable IBM-PC compatible computer, released three months earlier than the Compaq Portable.

The machine offered powerful features for a 1982 computer, including dual 360K 5.25" disk drives, built-in 7-inch amber CRT and a video out jack for displaying CGA graphics. The keyboard slides underneath the main unit and locks into place. It was delivered along with a suite of standard software: word processor, data base and communications.

Although it was significantly lighter and handy than the Compaq, the Hyperion suffered from reliabilty problems, specially from disk drives. Furthermore it was only 95% PC compatible. For these reasons, Compaq definitively took the lead of portable sales.

The Hyperion sales continued in Canada and USA for two year. A few of them were also sold in Europe from September 1983 by the German Anderson Jacobson Cie, under the name Ajile.