HP-150
| Company type | Personal computer model |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Hewlett-Packard |
| Fate | Discontinued, succeeded by HP-150 II and later HP Vectra |
| Successor | HP-150 II, HP Vectra |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | HP-150 personal computer (also known as HP Touchscreen or HP 45611A) |
| Owner | Hewlett-Packard |
| Parent | Hewlett-Packard |
HP-150—also referred to as HP Touchscreen or HP 45611A—was a pioneering compact personal computer launched by Hewlett-Packard in 1983. It featured an Intel 8088 processor running at 8 MHz, which was notably faster than the IBM PC’s 4.77 MHz CPU. As one of the first touchscreen-enabled commercial systems, it operated on specialized MS-DOS variants (2.01, 2.11, and 3.20), but did not maintain compatibility with IBM PC standards. Its memory capacity could be upgraded from 256 KB up to 640 KB through expansion cards, although the motherboard lacked a slot for the optional Intel 8087 math coprocessor due to spatial constraints. A model equipped with an optional hard drive was marketed under the name HP Touchscreen MAX.
The system incorporated a 9-inch Sony CRT display outfitted with infrared transmitters and receivers integrated into the bezel to register touchscreen interactions; however, performance could degrade when dust accumulated on these sensors. Unlike the original Macintosh, the HP-150 did not include an internal floppy disk drive; instead, it connected externally via HP-IB to dual 3½-inch floppy or hard disk drives housed in separate enclosures.
Operating under a "Terminal Operating System" ("TOS," internally called "Magic"), the HP-150 primarily managed two concurrent processes: a terminal emulator and Microsoft DOS (MST). This design facilitated its distinctive blend of touchscreen functionality and business computing capabilities.
Display
Resolution details:
- Text mode: 80 columns by 27 rows (720 × 378 pixels)
- Bitmap graphics: 512 × 390 pixels
- Separate text and graphics planes
- Touch sensor grid on monitor: 40 (h) × 24 (v)
The touchscreen’s sensor matrix was relatively coarse, offering only a resolution equivalent to two characters across. It was mainly intended for approximate cursor placement and activating function keys rather than precise drawing or detailed input.
Processor unit
- Optional built-in thermal printer HP 2647A using fax paper rolls
- Communication interfaces included:
Storage
- Supported storage devices connected via HP-IB:
Reception
In its November 1984 issue, BYTE characterized the HP-150 as "highly adaptable" yet noted it was "challenging to program".
Successors
The dual-CPU HP-120 (also known as HP 45600A), a Z80-based CP/M system, utilized the same 9121 drives.
The HP-150 II (also referred to as HP 45849A), introduced in 1984, succeeded the original HP-150. Although still marketed under the name HP Touchscreen II, the touchscreen feature became optional and was seldom chosen. This optional touchscreen bezel enhanced the initial design by relocating emitters and detectors behind a plastic layer transparent to infrared, reducing the need for frequent cleaning.
While retaining the original footprint, the HP-150 II housed a larger 12-inch display and discontinued support for an internal printer. It expanded from two to four expansion slots and supported an optional 8087 math co-processor card. There were minor compatibility discrepancies between the video systems of the HP-150 and HP-150 II.
In 1985, Hewlett-Packard unveiled the Vectra, which InfoWorld identified as HP’s answer to customer requests for comprehensive IBM PC compatibility. As a result, HP repositioned the HP-150 line as a workstation tailored for the HP 3000 minicomputer series.
See also
External links
- HP-150 at Columbia University computing history
- Hewlett-Packard HP-150
- HP's Virtual Museum: Six perspectives of the HP-150
- HP Computer Museum: 100 Series, featuring software for the HP-150
| Model | Command Protocol |
# Floppy Drives | Floppy Drive Size |
Sides | Capacity per Floppy Drive |
# Hard Drives | Hard Drive Capacity |
Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP 82901M | Amigo | 2 | 5.25" | DS | 270 KB | 0 | n/a | Add-on only |
| HP 82902M | Amigo | 1 | 5.25" | DS | 270 KB | 0 | n/a | Add-on only |
| HP 9121D | Amigo | 2 | 3.5" | SS | 270 KB | 0 | n/a | — |
| HP 9121S | Amigo | 1 | 3.5" | SS | 270 KB | 0 | n/a | Add-on only |
| HP 9122D | SS/80 | 2 | 3.5" | DS | 710 KB | 0 | n/a | — |
| HP 9122S | SS/80 | 1 | 3.5" | DS | 710 KB | 0 | n/a | Add-on only |
| HP 9123D | SS/80 | 2 | 3.5" | DS | 710 KB | 0 | n/a | Exclusive to HP-150 II |
| HP 9125S | Amigo | 1 | 5.25" | DS | 360 KB | 0 | n/a | Add-on only, not bootable |
| HP 9127S | Amigo | 1 | 5.25" | DS | 360 KB | 0 | n/a | Add-on only, not bootable |
| HP 9133A | Amigo | 1 | 3.5" | SS | 270 KB | 1 | 5 MB | |
| HP 9133B | Amigo | 1 | 3.5" | SS | 270 KB | 1 | 10 MB | |
| HP 9133D | SS/80 | 1 | 3.5" | DS | 710 KB | 1 | 15 MB | |
| HP 9133H | SS/80 | 1 | 3.5" | DS | 710 KB | 1 | 20 MB | Requires DOS version 3.20 |
| HP 9133L | SS/80 | 1 | 3.5" | DS | 710 KB | 1 | 40 MB | Requires DOS version 3.20 |
| HP 9133V | Amigo | 1 | 3.5" | SS | 270 KB | 1 | 5 MB | |
| HP 9133XV | Amigo | 1 | 3.5" | SS | 270 KB | 1 | 15 MB | |
| HP 9134A | Amigo | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 5 MB | |
| HP 9134B | Amigo | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 10 MB | |
| HP 9134H | SS/80 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 20 MB | Requires DOS version 3.20 |
| HP 9134L | SS/80 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 40 MB | Requires DOS version 3.20 |
| HP 9134V | Amigo | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 5 MB |