website/content/museum/hewlett-packard-hp-85.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Hewlett Packard HP-85	Computers	Professional Computer	U.S.A.	1980	'Capricorn' custom HP 8-bit CPU	name company company_name specs tabs photos adverts hardware screenshots emulators links comments related oc_id source HP-85 /companies/hewlett-packard Hewlett Packard label value NAME HP-85 label value MANUFACTURER Hewlett Packard label value TYPE Professional Computer label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR 1980 label value END OF PRODUCTION 1984 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE HP Basic interpreter label value KEYBOARD Full stroke 93 keys with numeric keypad and user definable keys label value CPU 'Capricorn' custom HP 8-bit CPU label value SPEED 0.625 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR Custom HP I/O circuits label value RAM 16 KB (14.5 KB for the user, expandable to 32 KB) label value VRAM 8 KB label value ROM 32 KB label value TEXT MODES 32 chars x 16 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES 256 x 192 dots label value COLORS Monochrome label value SOUND Tone Generator label value I/O PORTS Four I/O Ports label value BUILT IN MEDIA Built-in DC 100 cardridge drive label value OS Built-in BASIC language. Optional CP/M O.S. with external FD/HD unit label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in power supply unit 110V - 240V switchable label value PERIPHERALS Various extension cards: GP-IB, Serial, FDD controller, I/O routines, Parallel, BASIC extensions label value PRICE $3250 photos adverts hardware software emulators links title subtitle text image TOP VIEW null title subtitle text image RUNNING SOFTWARE Thanks to [La-Tech-Renewal (Ebay Seller)](http://myworld.ebay.com/la-tech-renewal/) for this picture null title subtitle text image LEFT VIEW Thanks to [La-Tech-Renewal (Ebay Seller)](http://myworld.ebay.com/la-tech-renewal/) for this picture null title subtitle text image LEFT VIEW #2 Thanks to [La-Tech-Renewal (Ebay Seller)](http://myworld.ebay.com/la-tech-renewal/) for this picture null title subtitle text image RIGHT VIEW null title subtitle text image IN USE After a self-test was performed, the character set in ROM is displayed and printed. null title subtitle text image DISPLAY DETAIL Thanks to [La-Tech-Renewal (Ebay Seller)](http://myworld.ebay.com/la-tech-renewal/) for this picture null title subtitle text image TAPE CATALOG LISTED Thanks to [La-Tech-Renewal (Ebay Seller)](http://myworld.ebay.com/la-tech-renewal/) for this picture null title subtitle text image REAR The expansions housing is here fitted with:\ **(1)** a ROM drawer module\ **(2)** a 128 KB RAM module\ **(3)** a Serial interface module Lot of expansion modules were developped for the HP-85. null title subtitle text image REAR #2 Thanks to [La-Tech-Renewal (Ebay Seller)](http://myworld.ebay.com/la-tech-renewal/) for this picture null title subtitle text image ROM DRAWER MODULES Each ROM module could receive up to 6 ROM chips used for I/O or peripherals management, or offering advanced BASIC routines.\ The ROM chips pictured are:\ **(1)** General I/O routines\ **(2)** Statistic routines\ **(3)** Advanced programmer routines\ **(4)** Printer-plotter management null title subtitle text image PRINTER & DC100 DRIVE The thermal printer operates in both alphanumeric (128 ASCII character set) and graphics mode. The full character set can be underlined. The printer speed is 2 lines per second. Cardridge rewind time is 29 seconds, search speed is 60 inches per second, data transfer speed is 10 inches per second and the tape length is 141 feet.\ When turned on, the HP 85 looks for a program called "AUTOST" on the tape and executes it if it's found. null title subtitle text image PRINTER CLOSE-UP Notice the contrast ajustment **(1)** and... the genuine HP roll of thermal paper! null title subtitle text image SOME OF THE CARTRIDGE TAPES Thanks to [La-Tech-Renewal (Ebay Seller)](http://myworld.ebay.com/la-tech-renewal/) for this picture null title subtitle text image A DC100 CARTRIDGE Each cardridge can hold 780 program records consisting of 192 KB each, or 850 data records of 210 KB. There can be a maximum of 42 named files per cardridge. null title subtitle text image MANUALS SET This is a part of manuals delivered with the HP-85. Each of them is very clear and detailed. null title subtitle text image INSIDE Electronic part of the HP-85 is reliable, clear and really well designed. We can consider it as the most accomplished design of the computer industry of the time. **(1)** Video board\ **(2)** Power regulation board\ **(3)** Printer mechanism\ **(4)** Logic board null title subtitle text image LOGIC BOARD This board only contains main components of the computer. All of the secondary and passive components are located in video and power boards. **(1)** Expansion connectors cable\ **(2)** Power board cable\ **(3)** Printer - tape drive cable\ **(4)** 16 KB RAM memory chips\ **(5)** Processor and HP custom I/O chips\ **(6)** 32 KB ROM chips\ **(7)** Video board cable null title subtitle text image PRINTER UNIT Printer and tape drive unit. Notice the surrounded signatures. One founds inside the machine about 15 different quality control signatures of the guy who built it. null title subtitle text image COMPLETE SYSTEM ... with plotter, printer and double disk-drive unit null title subtitle text image PROMOTIONAL PICT. The HP-150 was widely used in industry by engineers and scientists. null title subtitle text image U.S. ADVERT (1980) Advert says: Imagine the new world that would unfold before you if you had a powerful , portable, completely integrated computer system at your personal disposal. And at an affordable price. That's exactly what Hewlett-Packard has just created.\ At the lab, on your desk or in your study this 20-pound, self-contained system provides professional computing power when and where you need it. That means no more waiting for data to be remotely processed and returned. null title subtitle text image US ADVERT, FEB 1982 Courtesy of **[Attached](http://www.aci.com.pl/mwichary/)** null title subtitle text image FRENCH ADVERT (JAN. 1982) "List your technical requirements, Hewlett-Packard is ready to answer" null title subtitle text image SERIAL INTERFACE null title subtitle text image HPIB INTERFACE null title subtitle text image 128 KB RAM MODULE This module only can be used as a virtual disk. null title subtitle text image CARRYING CASE null title subtitle text image ASSEMBLER MODULE null title url platform text Emulator for the HP85B & HP86B/87 http://olivier.2.smet.googlepages.com/HPSERIES80 Windows Open source GNU licence title url platform text HP 86 / 87(+) emulator http://www2.akso.de/files/series_80/Emulator/ Windows title url text HP Series 80 Web Site http://www.series80.org/ Nice website dedicated to HP Series 80 computers (manuals, programs, ROMs, articles, accessories, etc.). title url text The Museum of HP Calculators http://www.hpmuseum.org/hp85.htm Some useful infos here title url text Web Wiz CAPTCHA http://www.webwizcaptcha.com Lots of further info and links on the Series 80 author date text Jules Pitsker (USA) Saturday 12th March 2011 I had a poster of one on my closet door. It featured the HP-85 in the foreground, superimposed on an outer space background. A comet-tail animation came from the rear of the machine, as if it was coming right at you.\ There was also an image of the Capricornus zodiac symbol, for whatever reason.\ The poster was given to me by a friend of the family, who happened to be a chemist for the Nabisco company, circa 1981. Even though I owned a C-64 from 1982-1986, my childhood perception was that the HP-85 must have been more of a ''real'' computer. author date text Pdubu (Camano Island, WA) Friday 18th June 2010 First computer I ever used. My high school got four of them when HP put a small plant in our town. 20 students, 4 machines, 50 minutes, not a lot of time for debugging our BASIC snowmen and other simple programs since most all of us where hunt-and-peck keyboarders. Good little machines though. Simple, only one cord and no need for printer ink. And as small as it was, that little amber screen wasn''t difficult to read (then again I was using my younger eyes). author date text RENALDO (Seattle, WA) Friday 25th July 2003 When I went to the Byte Shop in Seattle, WA in 1980 to buy a Compucolor 2 they were closing out on (Thank God I bought an Atari 800!). They had some HP-85's. I was really impressed by their capabilities and I drooled over buying one, I couldn't afford them at $5000 (Atari's went for $1200). While I was there a well dressed gentleman came in and inquired about computers for his business. He was shown the HP-85 and said he would take two of them. He pulled out his AE card and the salesman looked very pleased with his sale. author date text wesmorgan1 (USA ) Tuesday 30th August 2011 I used the HP-85 back in the early 1980s at the University of Kentucky. The College of Engineering Library had 4-5 of these machines, and I found them fascinating. As a matter of fact, I just found my archive tape of HP-85 code. It''s a pity that I don''t have anything on which to read the tape...*sigh* author date text Johnny Bjoern Rasmussen (Denmark) Thursday 25th March 2010 For info and manuals go to http://www.series80.org/ author date text Chris Gegg (Charlotte NC) Thursday 29th April 2004 If anyone has an HP85 they want to sell, or even just the manuals, I am interested. Heck, even if you could just scan the manuals and send as a PDF.\ Maybe someone knows where I can see the manuals online.\ Any help would be appreciated.\ Thanks,\ Chris\ gegg@alumni.wfu.edu author date text BRN (Somewhere in Cyberspace) Saturday 7th February 2004 How could anyone see anything very well on such a small monitor?! author date text Franz Vida (Germany) Friday 7th November 2003 I can unsecure HP 85 basic programs without password. If someone is interested please let me know. author date text joel (montpellier) Monday 19th May 2003 hello, i have just fogotten to send my mail, in the last message !\ bye author date text joel (montpellier) Monday 19th May 2003 i have just buy one of this computer. :-)\ it is a very nice computer.\ i like it !\ is someone have some programms, for sell, or want to give it to someone, please send me a mail.\ thanks, joel author date text michael (ky) Wednesday 12th March 2003 I saw one at a indoor flea market for $20. Only one I've seen in person wish I had bought it now :( /museum/hewlett-packard-hp-86 /museum/hewlett-packard-hp-87 353 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20221209031007/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=353 2022-12-09

The HP-85 was a famous all-in-one computer which met a great worldwide success thanks to its high reliability and ease of use. It featured a 8 bit processor, 16 KB of RAM, a built-in 5" CRT display, tape drive, thermal printer and four I/O ports.

The HP custom processor had 64 8-bit registers but no accumulators. Even slow, it offered outstanding performances in math calculations.

The display offered a full screen editor and and a ROLL key allowing to scroll the screen window up and down through a 48 line (three full screens) buffer .

The quiet and quite fast printer could print a hard copy of the screen in text or graphic mode as well as direct programs outputs.

The built-in tape cartridge system used a common DC100 data cartridge that could hold 195 KB of program files, binary files or data files. Up to 42 file names could be stored in the directory of the tape. A searching function made a file to be found in less than 1 mn. When the system was switched on, the tape drive automatically searched a program called 'Autost' and ran it if found.

HP also provided a large range of interface modules to be plugged in the expansion slots. The system could then manage several peripherals through GPIB or Serial ports: FDD unit, printers, plotters, etc. A 'ROM Drawer' module allowed up to six ROM chips to be inserted. They expanded the capabilities of the internal BASIC interpreter, provided additional languages (Assembler, Pascal), and I/O routines for external devices.

A quite special "feature" of the HP-85 was that the screen blanked whenever the printer was printing or the cartridge was accessed!