HP 95LX
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | January 1, 1939 in United States |
| Products | HP 95LX Palmtop PC |
The HP 95LX Palmtop PC (models F1000A, F1010A), internally referred to as project Jaguar, marked Hewlett Packard's initial foray into pocket-sized computers running DOS. Released in April 1991 through a collaboration with Lotus Development Corporation, the "LX" designation represented "Lotus Expandable". This device followed the larger portable systems such as the HP 110 and HP 110 Plus.
Hardware
Equipped with an Intel 8088-compatible NEC V20 processor operating at 5.37 MHz, the HP 95LX integrates an Intel system-on-chip. However, it lacks full PC compatibility due to its LCD screen featuring a quarter-CGA (MDA) resolution.[1]
Power supply is provided by two AA batteries, supplemented by a CR2032 coin cell dedicated to preserving memory. For data storage, it offers a single PCMCIA slot compatible with SRAM cards that include their own backup batteries. Connectivity is enabled via an RS-232 serial interface and an infrared port designed for printing on certain Hewlett Packard printers.[2]
Display
The screen presents 16 lines of 40 characters in character mode without a backlight. Unlike most IBM-compatible machines that utilize code page 437, the HP 95LX employs a fixed font based on code page 850 for text mode. Internally, Lotus 1-2-3 uses the Lotus International Character Set (LICS), converting these characters to code page 850 for both display and print output.
Software
Operating on MS-DOS 3.22, this palmtop comes preloaded with a tailored edition of Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.2. Additional software stored in ROM includes tools such as a calculator, an appointment scheduler, a telecommunications application, and a simple text editor.
Successors
Following models in the series comprise the HP 100LX, HP Palmtop FX, HP 200LX, HP 1000CX, and HP OmniGo 700LX.
See also
- DIP Pocket PC
- Atari Portfolio
- Poqet PC
- Poqet PC Prime
- Poqet PC Plus
- Sharp PC-3000
- ZEOS Pocket PC
- Yukyung Viliv N5
- Sub-notebook
- Netbook
- Palmtop PC
- Ultra-mobile PC
Further reading
- The Evolution of the HP Palmtops – An HP engineer provides insights into the design and innovation behind the HP 95LX and HP 100LX development. The HP Palmtop Paper
- The First Real Palmtop by Chris Lott (2020) – A detailed review of the HP 95LX’s technological impact and market presence. Hackaday