HP F1020A

Hewlett-Packard

Industry	Computer hardware
Founded	January 1, 1939 (1939-01-01)
Headquarters	Palo Alto, California , United States

The HP 200LX Palmtop PC (models F1060A, F1061A, F1216A), also 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 as a nearly full-fledged DOS-compatible computer housed within a compact palmtop design. Key features include a monochrome graphical screen, a QWERTY keyboard, a serial interface, and a PCMCIA expansion slot. The "LX" designation signifies "Lotus Expandable".

Description

This unit boasts a small clamshell construction equipped with a diminutive QWERTY keyboard and numeric keypad, approximately one-quarter the size of a conventional laptop. It is powered by two AA batteries delivering 30 to 40 hours of operation and supports recharging of Ni-Cd and NiMH battery types through a 12 V DC power adapter.

At its core lies an Intel 80186-compatible "Hornet" processor running at about 7.91 MHz, which can be upgraded to 15.8 MHz. Memory options include 1, 2, or 4 MB configurations—comprising 640 KB RAM plus expandable storage. Third-party enhancements allow RAM expansion up to 64 MB, freeing the PCMCIA slot for modem or Ethernet cards from manufacturers such as Silicom, Accton (models 2212/2216), Netgear FA411, and Sohoware ND5120. Operating MS-DOS 5.0 stored in ROM and fully compatible with IBM PC/XT architecture, the HP 200LX supports most software designed for Intel 8086/8088/80186 processors with CGA graphics capabilities, as well as select 80286 applications that avoid protected mode.

Connectivity options include a single 16-bit PCMCIA Type II slot (5 V at up to 150 mA), an Infrared Data Association (SIR) infrared port, and a serial port featuring a proprietary mini connector designed to conserve space.

The device’s firmware incorporates an extensive suite of ROM-based applications such as Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.4 spreadsheet, calendar, phone book, terminal emulator, Lotus cc:Mail client, and scientific/business calculators. With adequate CompactFlash storage and an attached serial mouse, Microsoft Windows 3.0 can operate in Real Mode—albeit with hardware limitations—enabling the use of Word 1.x and Excel 2.x for Windows to produce MS Office-compatible documents. The CGA-compatible LCD screen displays graphics at 640×200 resolution with four grayscale levels but does not include backlighting; however, third-party electroluminescent backlight kits have been available since 2004.

Unlike typical CGA displays locked to code page 437 fonts, the HP LX series supports user-selectable text mode ROM fonts for code pages 437 and 850 along with software-configurable RAM fonts accommodating additional code pages such as 437G, 437T, 852, and 866. Lotus 1-2-3 internally uses the Lotus International Character Set but converts characters to code page 850 for both screen display and printing.

HP 100LX

The HP 100LX Palmtop PC (models F1020A with 1 MB and F1022A with 2 MB), also known under project name Cougar, was the predecessor of the HP 200LX. Released in 1993, it came in International English, U.S. English, French, German, and Spanish editions featuring localized keyboards and user messages. It shares the Hornet CPU and MS-DOS 5.0 operating system but contains earlier versions of the built-in applications.

HP Palmtop FX

The HP Palmtop FX represents a variant of the HP 100LX offering up to 2 MB of flash memory that can be rewritten. Launched in 1993, it allowed creation and writing of FAT flash disk images to drive F: through specialized software. This model was reportedly developed specifically for use by a Korean insurance company.

HP 200LX AIA

The HP 200LX AIA represents a 2 MB, double-speed variant of the HP 200LX, manufactured specifically for the insurance company American International Assurance (AIA).

HP 1000CX

Known as the HP 1000CX Palmtop PC (model F1203A with 1 MB released in March 1995, and F1222A with 2 MB launched in February 1997), and internally referred to as project Puma, this model is a cost-effective alternative to the 200LX. It lacks pre-installed software except for MS-DOS 5.0 embedded in ROM. The device gained popularity among entities such as Coca-Cola warehouse supervisors who deployed customized logistics applications. Its exterior is characterized by a black clamshell design, differing from the dark green color of the 200LX.

HP OmniGo 700LX

The HP OmniGo 700LX Communicator Plus (F1206A), codenamed Columbia, was engineered by HP’s calculator division based in Singapore. Essentially a modified HP 200LX equipped with 2 MB of memory, it was created to connect with a Nokia 2110 GSM mobile phone through an additional PCMCIA slot to enable wireless communication. Its distinctive large, pebble-shaped casing was designed to accommodate the phone attachment. Announced towards the end of 1995 and available from March 1996, production ended following the obsolescence of the Nokia 2110. This device foreshadowed functionalities later incorporated into smartphones such as the Nokia 9000 Communicator.

HP 95LX

The HP 95LX Palmtop PC (F1000A with 512 KB and F1010A with 1 MB), introduced in April 1991 under project name Jaguar, established the foundational design principles. It operated on a NEC V20 CPU running at 5.37 MHz but was constrained by its quarter-CGA resolution LCD and an MDA-compatible graphics controller, which limited its capacity to run PC applications efficiently. The system ran MS-DOS 3.22 and included Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.2 onboard. Memory retention was supported by a CR2032 battery that preserved data when AA batteries were exhausted.

HP OmniGo 100

The HP OmniGo 100 Organizer Plus (models F1305A/F1310A) succeeded the LX series by combining HP-12C calculator features with a graphical user interface controlled via pen or keyboard. Operating on DOS-based PEN/GEOS version 2.1 and featuring Graffiti handwriting recognition on Datalight ROM-DOS 6.22, it did not support standard DOS applications without modification. Equipped with 1 MB of RAM and powered by a 16 MHz NEC V30HL CPU compatible with the Intel 80186, it offered less flexibility compared to emerging Palm and Pocket PC personal digital assistants.

Current usage

Although HP discontinued this line to concentrate on Windows CE devices such as the HP 300LX, the HP OmniGo 100 retained a niche following due to its MS-DOS compatibility and bundled applications including Lotus 1-2-3 and Quicken. DOS-based programs delivered compact and efficient performance, while utilities like Software Carousel allowed multitasking capabilities. The availability of third-party upgrades and repair services has helped prolong the device’s operational lifespan.

Its small form factor made it especially popular in Japan, where it inspired an open-source project initiated by to create a replacement based on the AMD Élan SC400 platform in 2001. Nevertheless, only a single prototype was completed before the initiative ended in bankruptcy in 2003 amid allegations concerning component shortages and disputes over lost deposits.

Frequent Issues

• Cracks commonly appear near the right hinge on the injected-molded case top due to suboptimal molding flow; reinforcing these areas with industrial-grade super glue or epoxy combined with metal braces can effectively avert breakage.
• The latch responsible for securing the case when closed may malfunction but can be fixed by placing a thin slice of rubber or sponge to act as a spring substitute.
• To prevent leakage that damages the LCD video cable, it is essential to use only premium-quality AA rechargeable batteries.
• Older units might experience loss of display pixel columns caused by detached pins on surface-mount device (SMD) chips; this issue is frequently resolved through solder reflow on the affected pins.
• Intensive usage can result in the detachment of keys such as the space bar or enter key, often necessitating a keyboard replacement.
• The flexible strip connector linking the screen to the motherboard is vulnerable to wear and tearing from repeated friction, which generally requires replacement.
• Keys failing to respond are typically due to weakened contact between graphite pads on the keyboard ribbon and gold-plated motherboard pads; restoring connectivity can be achieved by applying conductive silver paint or copper tape. Corroded motherboard pads may be cleaned with fine steel wool. Such repairs demand careful disassembly and proficiency in electronics.

Limitations in Full IBM PC Compatibility

• The HP 100LX and HP 200LX lack an audio tone capability because their digital-to-analog converter is dedicated to monitoring battery status and charging functions.
• These devices do not support the BIOS interrupt service (INT 13h) for hard disk reading, though partial device drivers exist that allow booting MINIX 2.0.

Additional Information

• The HP 200LX was employed during NASA’s Discovery OV103 Mission STS-95, notably during Senator John Glenn’s final flight, as part of an Electronic Nose (E-Nose) experiment created by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Caltech, with Dan Karmon from JPL overseeing its successful operation.
• With third-party software, the HP 200LX can play video and sound, albeit at modest quality. While it can record audio, compatible PCMCIA sound cards are unavailable. External MIDI devices like the Yamaha MU10 connect through the serial port using MIDI applications, and gaming experiences improve by utilizing PCMCIA parallel port cards alongside OPL3LPT sound cards.
• Both hardware and software solutions enable Internet connectivity on the HP 200LX.
• Serial number formatting for HP models including 100LX, 200LX, 1000CX, and OmniGo 700LX follows this pattern:

XXYWWNNNNN

XX indicates country of manufacture (for example, SG = Singapore)

Y represents the last digit of the production year (e.g., 6 = 1996)

WW corresponds to the week number within that year

NNNNN denotes the sequential unit number produced during that week

Hidden Features

The HP 200LX includes several built-in easter eggs such as:

Secret Gallery

Within the integrated game "Lair of Squid," entering the command "gallery" (adjusted for language localization) at startup unlocks a maze area showcasing photographs of principal software developers:

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

At the end of this corridor, a gratitude message from the Felix Software team appears.

Self-Test Poem 1

This hidden feature is found within the HP 200LX's self-test mode. When the device is powered off, initiating the self-test by pressing and then selecting the display option, pressing 14 times unveils a limerick:

Self-test poem 2

Another poem is accessible in the HP 200LX self-test mode by pressing , then holding while tapping 13 times. This cryptic verse alludes to the difficulties encountered by the software development team:

Self-test poem 3

In the self-test mode, pressing , followed by holding and pressing 13 times reveals an allegorical poem concerning the development of HP LX palmtops. Notable project codenames mentioned include 'Jaguar' (HP 95LX), 'Cougar' (HP 100LX), and 'Felix' (HP 200LX—the first LX model to integrate Quicken):

Concealed development resource in 'More Applications'

Within the HP 200LX's embedded System Manager, holding and pressing four times, then selecting after opening 'More Applications' with the blue key, displays comprehensive information about System Manager-compatible (.EXM) programs along with other technical data. This feature appears intended as a developer aid rather than a traditional easter egg.

Undocumented hexadecimal calculator

The HP 200LX includes a hidden calculator utility named HEXCALC, created by Andrew Gryc. It supports calculations and logical functions across binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal numeral systems. To add HEXCALC to the applications menu, use this entry:

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

See also

• HP 110 / HP 110 Plus
• DIP Pocket PC / Atari PC Folio / Atari Portfolio
• Poqet PC
• Poqet PC Prime
• Poqet PC Plus
• ZEOS Pocket PC
• Ben NanoNote
• Sub-notebook (HP OmniBook)
• Netbook
• Palmtop PC
• Ultra-mobile PC

Further reading

• The Evolution of the HP Palmtops – Insights from an HP engineer on developing the HP 95LX and HP 100LX.
• The First Real Palmtop – Examination of the initial breakthrough in palmtop devices.
• The story of the 1991 HP DOS Palmtop – Charting progress from advanced calculators to fully DOS-compatible PCs.
• The HP 200LX: A Review by Rob Tillotson.
• Sy's review of the HP 200LX.
• Articles covering NASA's STS-95 E-Nose experiment utilizing HP palmtops.
• "Off-the-Shelf" applications for the 200LX by a "Shade Tree Engineer."
• Research on Electronic Nose and Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer Array technologies.
• Findings from the Space Shuttle STS-95 Electronic Nose Experiment.
• Profile of the HP 200LX at Old-Computers.com Museum.

External links

• Mirror of 200LX Software S.U.P.E.R.: over 1500 programs and more than 200 databases for the 200LX.
• HP Palmtop Paper Online – resources for buying, selling, and repairing HP palmtops.
• HP Palmtop Ring Homepage – community hub and resource center.
• Skolob's Hewlett Packard 95LX Palmtop Page – extensive details and FAQ.
• Discussion on compatibility of Sohoware ND5120 network card with HP palmtops.