HP 200LX

Hewlett-Packard
Industry	Computer hardware, Personal digital assistants
Founded	January 1, 1939; 87 years ago
Products	HP 200LX Palmtop PC, HP 100LX, HP Palmtop FX, HP 1000CX, HP OmniGo 700LX, HP 95LX, HP OmniGo 100

The HP 200LX Palmtop PC (models F1060A, F1061A, F1216A), originally referred to as project Felix, is a personal digital assistant introduced by Hewlett-Packard in August 1994. Promoted as a Palmtop PC, it stood out due to its almost complete DOS compatibility within a compact device, equipped with a monochrome graphic screen, QWERTY keyboard, serial interface, and a PCMCIA expansion slot. The "LX" acronym signifies "Lotus Expandable".

Description

Designed with a clamshell form factor, the HP 200LX incorporates a compact QWERTY keyboard that includes a numeric keypad, occupying about one-quarter the footprint of a typical laptop. It runs on two AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries, delivering approximately 30 to 40 hours of operation, and can be recharged using a 12 V DC power adapter.

Its processing power comes from an embedded Intel 80186-compatible "Hornet" CPU clocked at roughly 7.91 MHz, which can be overclocked up to 15.8 MHz. The memory options available are 1, 2, or 4 MB—consisting of 640 KB RAM with the remainder allocated for expanded memory (EMS) or storage purposes. Third-party upgrades allow memory expansion up to 64 MB, thereby freeing the PCMCIA slot for additional peripherals such as modem or Ethernet cards including Silicom, Accton 2212/2216, Netgear FA411, and Sohoware ND5120.

Operating on MS-DOS 5.0 stored in ROM and compatible with IBM PC/XT architecture, it supports most software designed for Intel 8086/8088/80186 processors with CGA graphics capabilities. Some programs intended for the 80286 processor running in real mode are also compatible. Connectivity options include a 16-bit PCMCIA Type II slot (5 V at a maximum of 150 mA), an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) SIR-compliant infrared port, and a full serial port accessible via a proprietary mini connector.

The device’s built-in ROM applications comprise Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.4 spreadsheet, calendar, phone directory, terminal emulator, Lotus cc:Mail, along with scientific and business calculators. With adequate CompactFlash storage and a serial mouse attached, it can run Microsoft Windows 3.0 in Real Mode—the highest Windows version supported—allowing use of Word 1.x and Excel 2.x applications compatible with MS Office file formats.

Its monochrome LCD screen is CGA-compatible with a resolution of 640×200 pixels and four shades of gray but does not include backlighting; however, electroluminescent backlight kits from third parties have been available since 2004. The text mode supports fonts that users can switch between for code pages 437 and 850 as well as software-definable RAM fonts accommodating multiple code pages (437G, 437T, 852, and 866), thereby enhancing support for international characters. Lotus 1-2-3 internally utilizes the Lotus International Character Set but displays and prints using code page 850.

HP 100LX

The HP 100LX Palmtop PC (model numbers F1020A for the 1 MB version and F1022A for the 2 MB variant), known under the project name Cougar, was released prior to the 200LX in 1993. It was available in International English, U.S. English, French, German, and Spanish editions featuring localized keyboards and system messages. This model also employed the Hornet CPU and ran MS-DOS 5.0, albeit with earlier versions of built-in software applications.

HP Palmtop FX

The HP Palmtop FX represents a variation of the HP 100LX released in 1993 that offered up to 2 MB of flashable memory. It supported FAT flash disk images through a dedicated utility and was reportedly developed specifically for use by a Korean insurance firm.

HP 200LX AIA

The HP 200LX AIA represents a 2 MB variant of the HP 200LX with enhanced speed, created exclusively for American International Assurance (AIA).

HP 1000CX

Known by the codename Puma, the HP 1000CX Palmtop PC (model F1203A with 1 MB released in March 1995, and F1222A with 2 MB launched in February 1997) serves as a cost-effective alternative to the 200LX. It lacks pre-installed software except for MS-DOS 5.0 embedded in ROM. This model gained significant use among corporations such as Coca-Cola for tailored logistics applications. Its exterior features a black clamshell case, differing from the dark green shell of the 200LX.

HP OmniGo 700LX

The HP OmniGo 700LX Communicator Plus (F1206A), internally referred to as Columbia, was engineered by HP's Singapore calculator division. It integrated a modified motherboard from the HP 200LX with a Nokia 2110 GSM cellular phone through an additional PCMCIA slot, enabling wireless communication. Revealed in late 1995 and available from March 1996, this pebble-shaped device combined both components within one enclosure. Production ceased as newer mobile phones superseded the Nokia 2110. The OmniGo 700LX foreshadowed smartphone convergence later exemplified by devices like Nokia's Communicator 9000.

HP 95LX

Launched in April 1991 under the codename Jaguar, the HP 95LX Palmtop PC (F1000A with 512 KB and F1010A with 1 MB) established the foundational design. Equipped with a NEC V20 processor running at 5.37 MHz, it operated MS-DOS version 3.22 and included Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.2 preinstalled. The quarter-CGA resolution LCD and MDA-compatible graphics constrained compatibility with typical PC applications, primarily rendering visuals in a dedicated LX mode. Memory backup was ensured by a CR2032 battery when AA batteries were exhausted.

HP OmniGo 100

Succeeding the LX lineup, the HP OmniGo 100 Organizer Plus (models F1305A and F1310A) combined HP-12C calculator capabilities with a graphical user interface navigable by pen or keyboard input. It operated on DOS-based PEN/GEOS version 2.1 and incorporated Graffiti handwriting recognition running atop Datalight ROM-DOS 6.22. However, it was not compatible with standard DOS software without modification. Powered by a 16 MHz NEC V30HL CPU (compatible with Intel 80186) and equipped with 1 MB of RAM, its architecture was based on the Vadem VG230/V5H system controller. Despite these features, it struggled to replace calculators amid growing popularity of Palm and Pocket PC devices.

Current usage

Following its discontinuation to prioritize HP's Windows CE product line beginning with the HP 300LX, the HP OmniGo 100 maintained a niche following due to its MS-DOS environment and bundled applications such as Lotus 1-2-3 and Quicken. Compared to Windows CE alternatives, DOS-based programs provided compact and efficient solutions, with utilities like Software Carousel allowing concurrent execution of multiple applications.

Support through third-party repairs, upgrades, and refurbishments continues to extend these devices' operational lifespan.

In Japan, the widespread use of the HP 200LX inspired an open-source project initiated in 2001 aiming to create a successor based on the AMD Élan SC400 platform. Unfortunately, only a single prototype was developed before financial insolvency halted progress in 2003 amid disputes over lost investments and component shortages driven by mobile phone industry demand.

Frequent Issues

Cracks commonly form near the right hinge on the injected-molded case top due to inadequate molding flow. Preventative measures include reinforcing the area with industrial-grade super glue or epoxy alongside a metal support bracket to avoid breakage.
The latch used to open the case may malfunction but can be fixed by inserting a thin piece of rubber or sponge to act as a spring mechanism.
It is essential to use only premium AA rechargeable batteries, as leakage can cause damage to the LCD’s flat video cable.
Older units might experience loss of display pixel columns caused by detached surface-mounted device (SMD) chip pins; reflowing the solder joints often restores proper operation.
Intensive usage may lead to detachment of the spacebar or enter keys, necessitating keyboard replacement.
The flexible strip connector linking the screen and motherboard is prone to wear from friction, which may result in tearing and require replacement.
Keys that become unresponsive typically suffer from degraded graphite-to-gold pad contacts on the keyboard ribbon. Restoring connectivity can be achieved by applying conductive silver paint or copper tape, though this demands careful disassembly. Corroded motherboard contact points can be cleaned and polished using fine steel wool to improve electrical connections.

Non-Standard IBM PC Compatibility

The HP 100LX/200LX models feature a digital-to-analog converter that does not produce audio tones; instead, it functions solely for monitoring battery status and charging.
These devices do not implement the BIOS INT 13h service required for hard disk access. However, there are partial device drivers available that enable booting of MINIX 2.0.

Additional Information

The HP 200LX was utilized during NASA’s Discovery OV103 Mission (STS-95), participating in an Electronic Nose experiment developed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Caltech, under the supervision of Dan Karmon at JPL.
With software developed by Stefan Peichl, the HP 200LX can play video and audio files, albeit at low resolution. Although it supports sound recording, compatible PCMCIA sound cards are unavailable. Yamaha MU10 MIDI synthesizers operate through the serial port using Voyetra or GSPlay software. Some users also connect PCMCIA parallel port cards combined with OPL3LPT sound cards for gaming purposes.
Both software and hardware solutions exist that allow the HP 200LX to connect to the Internet.
Serial number formats for HP models 100LX, 200LX, 1000CX, and OmniGo 700LX follow this pattern:

XXYWWNNNNN

XX represents the manufacturing country code (for example, SG stands for Singapore)

Y indicates the last digit of the production year (e.g., 6 corresponds to 1996)

WW denotes the week number within that year

NNNNN is the sequential unit number produced during that week

Hidden Features

The HP 200LX contains several hidden surprises:

Concealed Developer Gallery

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

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

The final display panel presents a thank-you note from the Felix Software team expressing gratitude toward HP and its collaborators.

Self-Diagnostic Limerick

One easter egg appears during self-test mode on the HP 200LX. When powered off, pressing initiates self-test mode; navigating to the display option and pressing fourteen times reveals a limerick poem:

Self-test poem 2

Within the HP 200LX self-test environment, after accessing the display option and pressing , holding while pressing 13 times unveils an enigmatic poem that symbolizes the obstacles encountered by the software development team.

Self-test poem 3

In this identical self-test mode, pressing , then maintaining while pressing 13 times reveals an allegorical verse narrating the history and prospective path of the HP LX palmtop series. The project codenames include 'Jaguar' for the HP 95LX, 'Cougar' for the HP 100LX, and 'Felix' for the HP 200LX—the initial LX model to incorporate Quicken.

Concealed development tool in 'More Applications'

Inside the HP 200LX's native System Manager, initiating 'More Applications' with the blue key, then holding and pressing four times followed by a single , presents tabulated information about System Manager-compatible (.EXM) applications along with other technical specifics. This capability was presumably intended as a developer utility rather than a hidden feature.

Undocumented hexadecimal calculator

The HP 200LX includes a non-public calculator app named HEXCALC, created by Andrew Gryc. It offers arithmetic and logical functions across binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal numeral systems. Users can integrate HEXCALC into the application menu by configuring:

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

External links

200LX Software S.U.P.E.R. mirror hosting over 1500 programs and 200 databases for the 200LX.
HP Palmtop Paper Online (Thaddeus Computing; Buy-Sell-Repair).
HP Palmtop Ring Homepage.
Skolob's Hewlett Packard 95LX Palmtop Page (Information and FAQ).
Compatibility details for Sohoware ND5120 network card on HP palmtops.