website/content/museum/kyocera-kyotronic-85.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Kyocera Kyotronic 85	Computers	Portable	Japan	1983	Intel 80C85 CMOS low power version	name image company company_name specs tabs photos comments oc_id source Kyotronic 85 /media/museum/photos/kyocera_kyotronic85_system_s1.jpg /companies/kyocera Kyocera label value NAME Kyotronic 85 label value MANUFACTURER Kyocera label value TYPE Portable label value ORIGIN Japan label value YEAR 1983 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE Microsoft BASIC label value KEYBOARD Typewriter type, 72 keys with 16 function keys and 4 arrow keys label value CPU Intel 80C85 CMOS low power version label value SPEED 2.4 MHz label value RAM 8 to 32 KB label value ROM 32 KB label value TEXT MODES 40 columns x 8 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES 240 x 64 dots label value COLORS Monochrome label value SOUND Beeper label value SIZE / WEIGHT 28 (W) x 21.6 (D) x 5 (D) cm label value I/O PORTS Parallel printer, Tape recorder, Bar Code reader, Serial RS232, Phone, System bus label value BUILT IN MEDIA User RAM battery backup label value POWER SUPPLY 6V DC adaptor or 4 x AA batteries label value PERIPHERALS Disk drive unit label value PRICE Unknown photos title subtitle text image LARGE VIEW /media/museum/photos/kyocera_kyotronic85_system_s2.jpg author date text DaveW (USA) Sunday 22nd July 2012 I worked for the company that imported these to the USA. As I remember we imported about 1000 pcs. We advertised in the ComputerShopper magazine, and sold them at 799.00 retail price. They sold quickly and I remember that few problems in the field. This computer was really ahead of the rest of the market. The software in ROM made is very powerful out of the box. Some of the first to adapt this computer were news paper reporters, because of the full size keyboard and modem built-in to transmit the story to the office from the field. author date text DaveW (USA) Sunday 22nd July 2012 I worked for the company that imported these to the USA. As I remember we imported about 1000 pcs. We advertised in the ComputerShopper magazine, and sold them at 799.00 retail price. They sold quickly and I remember that few problems in the field. This computer was really ahead of the rest of the market. The software in ROM made is very powerful out of the box. Some of the first to adapt this computer were news paper reporters, because of the full size keyboard and modem built-in to transmit the story to the office from the field. 1079 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20221203155553/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1079 2022-12-03

The Kyotronics 85 may be considered the world's first true laptop computer.

It was designed and sold in Japan by Kyocera (Kyoto Ceramics). But curiously, apart from the Japanese market, it was little sold in the world despite its very innovative design.

On the other hand, three major computer firms noticed this little gem and licenced it. Shortly afterwards, one would see the same computer sold under three different names and case designs in every corner of the world. These machines were the NEC PC-8201, the Tandy Model 100 and the Olivetti M10.

Each brand added its own enhancement - arrow keys for the NEC, tilt display for the Olivetti, but the hardware basis was identical: an 8085 CPU, 8 to 32 KB of RAM, a full-size typewriter keyboard and an 8-line x 40-character LCD display.

Later, Tandy asked Kyocera to introduce changes and released the Tandy 102 (larger memory) then the Tandy 200 (larger display).

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.