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HP 1000CX

From Alfawiki
Hewlett-Packard
IndustryComputer hardware
FoundedJanuary 1, 1939; 87 years ago (1939-01-01)
Headquarters
Palo Alto, California
,
United States

The HP 200LX Palmtop PC (models F1060A, F1061A, F1216A), codenamed project Felix, is a personal digital assistant launched by Hewlett-Packard in August 1994. Marketed as a compact Palmtop PC, it operates on DOS compatibility and incorporates a monochrome graphical screen, a QWERTY keyboard, a serial interface, and a PCMCIA expansion slot. The "LX" designation signifies "Lotus Expandable".

Description

The device features a compact QWERTY keyboard with an integrated numeric keypad housed within a clamshell design, measuring approximately one-quarter the size of a typical notebook computer. It delivers battery life ranging from 30 to 40 hours using two AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries and supports recharging of Ni-Cd and NiMH cells via a 12 V DC power adapter.

Under the hood, the HP 200LX is driven by an Intel 80186-compatible "Hornet" processor running at roughly 7.91 MHz, with an option to upgrade to 15.8 MHz. Memory configurations include 1, 2, or 4 MB, consisting of 640 KB RAM with the remainder allocated for expanded memory (EMS) or storage purposes. Third-party enhancements can expand RAM up to 64 MB, thereby freeing the PCMCIA slot for modem or Ethernet cards compatible with manufacturers such as Silicom, Accton, Netgear FA411, and Sohoware ND5120. Operating MS-DOS 5.0 directly from ROM, it supports most software designed for Intel 8086/8088/80186 processors with CGA graphics and some applications intended for the 80286 without utilizing protected mode. The system includes a 16-bit PCMCIA Type II slot (5 V, maximum 150 mA), an Infrared port compatible with SIR standards, and a full serial port accessible through a proprietary mini connector.

Preloaded ROM software comprises Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.4 spreadsheet, calendar, phone directory, terminal emulator, Lotus cc:Mail, and scientific/business calculator applications. Equipped with ample CompactFlash storage and a serial mouse, it can run Microsoft Windows 3.0 in Real Mode—allowing operation of Word 1.x and Excel 2.x for Windows to create files compatible with MS Office. The CGA-compatible LCD screen offers a resolution of 640×200 pixels with four levels of grayscale but does not include backlighting; however, third-party electroluminescent backlight solutions have been available since 2004.

Although CGA displays lack support for redefinable fonts in text mode and default to hardware code page 437, the earlier HP 95LX model supported code page 850. Starting from the HP 100LX onward, the LX series provides user-switchable ROM fonts for code pages 437 and 850 as well as software-definable RAM fonts for additional code pages including 437G, 437T, 852, and 866. Lotus 1-2-3 internally uses the Lotus International Character Set but converts characters to code page 850 for display and printing purposes.

HP 100LX

The HP 100LX Palmtop PC (model numbers F1020A for the 1 MB version and F1022A for the 2 MB version), also known as project Cougar, was introduced prior to the HP 200LX in 1993. This model was released in several language versions including International English, U.S. English, French, German, and Spanish—each featuring localized keyboards and interface messages. It utilized the Hornet CPU alongside MS-DOS 5.0 but included earlier iterations of built-in applications compared to its successor.

HP Palmtop FX

Released in 1993, the HP Palmtop FX represents a variation of the HP 100LX, equipped with up to 2 MB of flash memory that could be reprogrammed. Users could generate FAT flash disk images and transfer them to the F: drive using a dedicated utility. This model was reportedly created for use by a Korean insurance company.

HP 200LX AIA

The HP 200LX AIA is a specialized edition of the HP 200LX featuring 2 MB of memory and a double-speed processor. It was produced expressly for the insurance firm American International Assurance (AIA).

HP 1000CX

Known internally as project Puma, the HP 1000CX Palmtop PC (F1203A with 1 MB released in March 1995, F1222A with 2 MB released in February 1997) serves as a cost-effective alternative to the 200LX. Unlike its predecessor, it comes without pre-installed software except for MS-DOS 5.0 embedded in ROM. This model gained popularity among corporations such as Coca-Cola, where warehouse supervisors deployed customized logistics applications. Its black clamshell housing contrasts with the dark green casing characteristic of the 200LX.

HP OmniGo 700LX

The HP OmniGo 700LX Communicator Plus (F1206A), codenamed Columbia, was developed by HP's calculator division in Singapore. This variant of the HP 200LX, featuring 2 MB of memory, was enhanced to include a second PCMCIA slot designed for a Nokia Data Card, facilitating connectivity with the Nokia 2110 GSM mobile phone. The device’s sizable pebble-shaped enclosure housed both components, reflecting a partnership between HP and Nokia announced in late 1995, with distribution commencing in March 1996. Production ended following the obsolescence of the Nokia 2110. The OmniGo 700LX is recognized as a forerunner to early smartphone models such as the Nokia 9000 Communicator.

HP 95LX

Introduced in April 1991 under project name Jaguar, the HP 95LX Palmtop PC (F1000A with 512 KB, F1010A with 1 MB) laid the foundation for subsequent designs. Powered by a NEC V20 CPU running at 5.37 MHz, it was constrained by its quarter-CGA resolution LCD and MDA-compatible graphics chipset, limiting compatibility with many PC applications. Operating on MS-DOS 3.22, it included built-in Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.2 and utilized a CR2032 battery to preserve memory during AA battery failure.

HP OmniGo 100

The HP OmniGo 100 Organizer Plus (models F1305A/F1310A) was designed as an enhanced successor to the LX line, integrating features from the HP-12C calculator. It offered a graphical user interface navigable via pen input or keyboard but lacked support for running unmodified DOS applications. The system primarily operated on DOS-based PEN/GEOS version 2.1 and incorporated Graffiti handwriting recognition running on Datalight ROM-DOS 6.22. Despite its advanced capabilities, it did not succeed as a calculator replacement, with Palm and Pocket PCs emerging as dominant personal digital assistants. The unit contained 1 MB of RAM and was powered by a Vadem VG230/V5H controller paired with a 16 MHz NEC V30HL CPU compatible with the Intel 80186 instruction set.

Current usage

Although HP discontinued this product line to concentrate on their Windows CE offerings—beginning with the HP 300LX—interest remained robust due to compatibility with DOS applications and bundled software like Lotus 1-2-3 and Quicken. DOS-based programs delivered compact and efficient performance compared to Windows CE alternatives, while utilities such as Software Carousel allowed multiple applications to be loaded simultaneously.

Support from third-party providers continues to enable repairs and upgrades that extend device longevity.

The compact design of the HP 200LX made it particularly popular in Japan, inspiring an open-source initiative in 2001 aimed at developing an AMD Élan SC400-based successor. However, only one prototype was completed before the project went bankrupt in 2003. Following this, accusations of fraud emerged after numerous depositors lost funds; project leaders attributed delays to component shortages driven by demand from the mobile phone sector.

Frequent Issues

  • Cracks commonly appear near the right hinge on the injection-molded case top, often caused by inadequate molding flow. Solutions include using industrial-grade super glue or reinforcing the area with metal and epoxy.
  • The case latch might malfunction but can be remedied by inserting a slim piece of rubber or sponge to act as a spring.
  • Only premium-quality AA rechargeable batteries should be used, as battery leaks can harm the LCD’s flat video cable.
  • Older devices may experience loss of display pixel columns due to detachment of pins on the SMD chip; this can be fixed by carefully reflowing the solder with appropriate equipment.
  • Intensive usage may cause detachment of the space bar and enter key, necessitating keyboard replacement.
  • The flex cable connecting the screen to the motherboard is prone to tearing from friction and usually requires replacement.
  • Unresponsive keys often result from deteriorated graphite pads on the keyboard ribbon. Restoring conductivity can be achieved by applying silver conductive paint or copper tape. Corroded motherboard contact pads may be rehabilitated by gentle polishing with fine steel wool. These repairs demand meticulous disassembly and proficiency in electronics.

Non-Standard IBM PC Compatibility

  • The HP 100LX/200LX’s digital-to-analog converter does not support audio tone playback; instead, it is used for monitoring battery status and charging.
  • This device lacks BIOS interrupt 13h services for hard disk access. Partial device drivers have been developed enabling booting of MINIX 2.0.

Additional Information

  • NASA’s Discovery OV103 mission STS-95 (John Glenn’s final flight) utilized the HP 200LX in an Electronic Nose (E-Nose) experiment created by JPL and Caltech, with Dan Karmon from JPL overseeing its operation.
  • Video and audio playback on the HP 200LX is possible through software developed by Stefan Peichl, albeit at low fidelity. It can also record audio similarly but does not support PCMCIA sound cards. Yamaha MU10 MIDI synthesizers function via the serial port using Voyetra or GSPlay MIDI applications. Terrence Vergauwen employs a PCMCIA parallel port card combined with an OPL3LPT (Adlib-compatible) card for gaming purposes.
  • Various software and hardware enhancements allow the HP 200LX to connect to the Internet.
  • Serial numbers assigned to HP 100LX, 200LX, 1000CX, and OmniGo 700LX models follow this pattern:
XXYWWNNNNN
XX = country of manufacture (for example, SG = Singapore)
Y = last digit of production year (e.g., 6 represents 1996)
WW = week number of manufacture
NNNNN = sequential unit number produced during that week

Hidden Features

The HP 200LX includes several embedded easter eggs such as:

Secret Gallery

Within the built-in game "Lair of Squid," entering "gallery" (or localized equivalents: "gallerie" in French, "siegergalerie" in German, "galeria" in Spanish) at startup reveals a maze section showcasing photographs of principal software developers:

  • Andy Gryc
  • Pat Megowan
  • Everett Kaser
  • Bill Johnson
  • Lynn Winter
  • Susan Wechsler
  • Eric Evett

The concluding panel displays a message of gratitude:


Self-Test Limerick

This easter egg is accessible during the HP 200LX self-test mode. With the device powered off, initiating self-test mode by pressing , then navigating to the display settings and pressing fourteen times unveils a limerick poem:


Self-test poem 2

Within the HP 200LX self-test mode, a unique poem can be revealed by pressing , then holding while pressing 13 times. This enigmatic verse metaphorically addresses the obstacles encountered by the software development team during the product's creation.

Self-test poem 3

Another hidden message, accessible by pressing , followed by holding and pressing 13 times in self-test mode, features a symbolic poem that chronicles the legacy and prospective path of the HP LX palmtops. It mentions the project codenames—'Jaguar' (HP 95LX), 'Cougar' (HP 100LX), and 'Felix' (HP 200LX)—highlighting that Felix was the inaugural LX model to incorporate Quicken.

Concealed development utility within 'More Applications'

A secret feature exists in the HP 200LX's integrated System Manager that provides comprehensive information on programs compatible with System Manager (.EXM files). This tool is accessed by selecting the blue key for 'More Applications', then holding while pressing four times, followed by . It presents detailed columns of program data useful for debugging or development purposes.

Undocumented hexadecimal calculator

An unadvertised calculator application called HEXCALC is included with the HP 200LX, created by Andrew Gryc. It performs arithmetic and logical calculations across binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal numeral systems. HEXCALC can be added to the applications menu using this entry:

  • Name: He&x Calc
  • Path: D:\BIN\HEXCALC.EXM

See also

Further reading

  • The Evolution of the HP Palmtops – An HP engineer outlines the development process of the HP 95LX and HP 100LX. The HP Palmtop Paper, November–December 1993.
  • The First Real Palmtop by Chris Lott, Hackaday, 2020.
  • The story of the 1991 HP DOS Palmtop – From enhanced calculator to full DOS-compatible PC. Bryan Lunduke, 2022.
  • The HP 200LX: A Review by Rob Tillotson.
  • Sy's HP 200LX review.
  • Articles covering the NASA STS-95 E-Nose experiment and associated technologies.
  • Results from the Space Shuttle STS-95 Electronic Nose Experiment (NASA).
  • HP 200LX profile at Old-Computers.com Museum.

External links

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