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

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Columbia Data Products VP	Computers	Portable	U.S.A.	1983	Intel 8088	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos adverts oc_id source VP /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_system_1.jpg /companies/columbia-data-products Columbia Data Products label value NAME VP label value MANUFACTURER Columbia Data Products label value TYPE Portable label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR 1983 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD Standard PC 82-key with function keys and numeric keypad label value CPU Intel 8088 label value SPEED 4.77 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR Socket for 8087 math coprocessor label value RAM 128 KB up to 256 KB on board label value VRAM 16 KB label value ROM 12 KB label value TEXT MODES 40 or 80 characters x 25 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES 320 or 640 x 200 pixels (CGA mode) label value COLORS 16 maximum label value SOUND Tone generator label value SIZE / WEIGHT Unknown label value I/O PORTS Serial and Parallel ports label value BUILT IN MEDIA 2 x 360 KB 5.25'' floppy disc drives label value OS MS-DOS, CP/M-86 label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in power supply unit label value PERIPHERALS 1 internal expansion slot label value PRICE $2,995 photos adverts 869 title subtitle text image SYSTEM Dual floppy drive version Thanks to **Roxanne Anderson** - firstchoicerecycling.com /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_system_s3.jpg title subtitle text image REAR SIDE **(1)** Brightness knob, reset switch and keyboard DIN socket\ **(2)** Parallel and Serial ports Thanks to **Roxanne Anderson** - firstchoicerecycling.com /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_rear_s1.jpg title subtitle text image COLUMBIA LABEL Thanks to **Roxanne Anderson** - firstchoicerecycling.com /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_label_s1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE Notice the stange place where the 20 MB Seagate hard disk drive is fixed. Thanks to **Roxanne Anderson** - firstchoicerecycling.com /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_inside_s1.jpg title subtitle text image VIDEO SIDE Notice the piece of wood **(1)** used as a stand for the hard disk drive! Thanks to **Roxanne Anderson** - firstchoicerecycling.com /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_videocard_s1.jpg title subtitle text image SWITCHING PSU Thanks to **Roxanne Anderson** - firstchoicerecycling.com /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_powersup_s1.jpg title subtitle text image ORIGINAL MANUALS Thanks to **Roxanne Anderson** - firstchoicerecycling.com /media/museum/photos/columbia_vp_manuals_s1.jpg title subtitle text image FIRST AD. The red part shows all the IBM-PC software boxes the VP could run. /media/museum/pubs/columbia_vp_pub_1.jpg 889 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230601093609/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=889 2023-06-01

The Columbia VP was a 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, first true copy of the IBM-PC.

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.

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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

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.