HP 300
| Industry | Computer hardware, Computer software |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 1, 1939 |
| Headquarters | Cupertino, California , United States |
The HP 300 "Amigo" was a computer developed by Hewlett-Packard (HP) in the late 1970s, building upon the stack-oriented architecture of the HP 3000 while introducing virtual memory capabilities for both code and data. Despite substantial engineering innovations—including proprietary silicon on sapphire (SOS) processors and input/output chips created by HP—the HP300 did not achieve commercial success.
Originally conceived as a single-user workstation within HP's General Systems Division (GSD) based in Cupertino, California (which later became the Computer Systems Division, CSY), the HP300 project evolved to support multiple users. It also featured a sophisticated inter-unit processor interconnect that allowed register modifications across interconnected HP300 machines.
Features
The hardware consisted of circuit boards housed in a pedestal-style floor cabinet, topped with a CRT display equipped with integrated soft keys and a fixed keyboard. The system was a pioneer in embedded networking, automatic spell-checking, multiple character-mode windowing, and vertically arranged user function keys paired with adjacent labels—design elements now commonly seen in devices like ATMs and fuel dispensers. For input/output operations, the HP300 employed the HP-IB bus (later standardized as IEEE-488), included an 8-inch floppy disk drive alongside a fixed 12MB hard disk, and supported the HP7970E tape drive for backup purposes. Its software environment comprised a native system programming language, a database system, BASIC, and screen editing tools compatible with RPG applications.
Production
Doug Spreng, then General Manager of HP's Computer Systems Division, decided to discontinue the HP300 primarily because its file systems were incompatible with those of the profitable HP3000 line, restricting its market potential. Although two full semi-truck shipments of units were produced to satisfy contractual commitments—such as those with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory—lackluster sales led to termination of the product after approximately five years.
Design reuse
To protect their development investment and sustain team morale, HP repurposed components from the HP300 project. The processor and I/O circuit boards were incorporated into subsequent HP 3000 models 30 (Koala) and 33 (Toothpick), which integrated numerous innovations originally developed for the HP300. Additionally, diagnostic software (DUS) from the HP300 was adapted for these models and later versions.
The team also pursued an SOS-based design called Sizzler to address speed constraints inherent in TTL technology; although this initiative was eventually canceled, its advancements were integrated into HP3000 models 40 (Cub) and 44 (Grizzly).
Models 30, 33, 40, 44, 42, and 48 achieved commercial viability by leveraging many of the HP300’s technological breakthroughs. A significant architectural improvement was the replacement of multiple internal interface cards with a unified high-speed HP-IB channel, simplifying future HP system designs.
Developed concurrently in Loveland, Colorado and later at Cupertino GSD, the HP 250 small business system borrowed heavily from the HP300’s embedded CRT display featuring soft keys and keyboard layout. The HP250 also offered an accessible Business Basic language that interfaced with HP’s Image Database.
See also
External links
- (Comprehensive overview of HP300 hardware and software)
- (Further information on HP300 hardware and software)
- hpmuseum.net: HP Computer Museum HP300 section