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HP F1305A

From Alfawiki
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article HP F1305A, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 8 August 2025
Hewlett-Packard
IndustryComputer hardware
FoundedJanuary 1, 1939; 87 years ago (1939-01-01)
Headquarters
Palo Alto, California
,
United States
ProductsHP 200LX Palmtop PC, HP 100LX, HP Palmtop FX, HP 1000CX, HP OmniGo 700LX, HP 95LX, HP OmniGo 100
Websitewww.hp.com

The HP 200LX Palmtop PC (models F1060A, F1061A, F1216A), internally referred to as project Felix, is a personal digital assistant launched by Hewlett-Packard in August 1994. Positioned as a Palmtop PC, it stood out for its extensive DOS compatibility within a compact design, equipped with a monochrome graphics screen, a QWERTY keyboard, a serial interface, and a PCMCIA expansion slot. The designation "LX" represented "Lotus Expandable".

Description

This device features input through a diminutive QWERTY keyboard combined with a numeric keypad housed in a clamshell form factor approximately one-quarter the size of a typical notebook computer. Power is supplied by two AA alkaline or Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries, delivering 30 to 40 hours of operation, with the option to recharge Ni-Cd and NiMH batteries via a 12 V DC power adapter.

At its core, the HP 200LX runs on an Intel 80186-compatible processor known as "Hornet," operating at about 7.91 MHz, with potential upgrades reaching 15.8 MHz. Memory configurations include 1, 2, or 4 MB—comprising 640 KB of RAM alongside additional space usable as expanded memory or storage. Third-party memory enhancements can increase capacity up to 64 MB, thereby freeing the PCMCIA slot for peripherals like modems or Ethernet adapters such as Silicom, Accton 2212/2216, Netgear FA411, and Sohoware ND5120. Its IBM PC/XT compatibility and embedded MS-DOS 5.0 ROM enable support for most software designed for Intel 8086/8088/80186 processors with CGA graphics capabilities. It can also execute certain 80286 applications provided they do not require protected mode functionality. Expansion options include a 16-bit PCMCIA Type II slot (operating at 5 V with a maximum current of 150 mA), an Infrared Data Association (SIR) compliant infrared port, and a full serial port utilizing a proprietary mini connector.

Pre-installed ROM software encompasses Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.4, calendar utilities, phone book management, terminal emulation, Lotus cc:Mail, and scientific as well as business calculators. When paired with a large CompactFlash card and a serial mouse, it supports Microsoft Windows 3.0 running in Real Mode—the highest Windows version compatible—enabling usage of Word 1.x and Excel 2.x for document creation compatible with MS Office formats. The CGA-compatible LCD provides a resolution of 640×200 pixels in four gray-scale levels but does not include backlighting; however, aftermarket electroluminescent backlight solutions have been available since 2004.

While authentic CGA displays utilize hardware code page 437 without font customization, starting from the HP 100LX model and continuing throughout the LX series, users can switch text mode ROM fonts supporting code pages 437 and 850 along with software-definable RAM fonts accommodating additional code pages such as 437G, 437T, 852, and 866. Internally, Lotus 1-2-3 employs the Lotus International Character Set but converts characters to code page 850 for both screen display and printing purposes.

HP 100LX

The HP 100LX Palmtop PC (available as F1020A with 1 MB or F1022A with 2 MB), known internally as project Cougar, was the predecessor to the HP 200LX. Released in 1993, it came in versions tailored for International English, U.S. English, French, German, and Spanish markets featuring localized keyboards and language-specific messages. It incorporated the same Hornet CPU and ran MS-DOS 5.0, albeit with earlier editions of built-in applications.

HP Palmtop FX

Released in 1993, the HP Palmtop FX is a variant of the HP 100LX featuring up to 2 MB of flash memory that can be reprogrammed. Users could create and write FAT-formatted flash disk images to the F: drive with a dedicated utility called FLASHDSK.EXE. This model was reportedly developed specifically for a Korean insurance firm.

HP 200LX AIA

The HP 200LX AIA represents a double-speed version of the HP 200LX equipped with 2 MB of memory, produced exclusively for American International Assurance (AIA).

HP 1000CX

Known internally as project Puma, the HP 1000CX Palmtop PC (model F1203A with 1 MB released in March 1995, and F1222A with 2 MB in February 1997) served as a cost-effective alternative to the 200LX. It came without pre-installed software apart from MS-DOS 5.0 embedded in ROM. This model found extensive use in corporate environments such as Coca-Cola, where it supported tailored logistics applications. Visually, it is distinguished by its black clamshell design, contrasting with the dark green casing of the 200LX.

HP OmniGo 700LX

The HP OmniGo 700LX Communicator Plus (F1206A), codenamed Columbia, was engineered by HP’s calculator division in Singapore. Essentially a modified HP 200LX with 2 MB of RAM, it was designed to interface with a Nokia 2110 GSM mobile phone through a specially altered motherboard providing an additional PCMCIA slot for a Nokia Data Card. Announced late in 1995 and shipping from March 1996, its sizeable pebble-shaped enclosure accommodated the phone attachment. Production ended after the Nokia 2110 became outdated. This device anticipated several functionalities later integrated into smartphones like the Nokia 9000 Communicator.

HP 95LX

Introduced in April 1991 under project Jaguar, the HP 95LX Palmtop PC (F1000A with 512 KB and F1010A with 1 MB) laid the foundation for subsequent models. Powered by an NEC V20 CPU running at 5.37 MHz, it was limited by a quarter-CGA LCD and an MDA-compatible graphics controller, which constrained compatibility with many PC applications. Operating on MS-DOS 3.22, it included Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.2 pre-installed. Backup power for memory was provided by a CR2032 battery alongside AA cells.

HP OmniGo 100

Serving as an advanced successor to the LX lineup, the HP OmniGo 100 Organizer Plus (models F1305A and F1310A) incorporated functionality from the HP-12C calculator. It featured a graphical user interface navigable via pen input or keyboard but lacked compatibility with unmodified DOS software. Its primary operating environment was DOS-based PEN/GEOS version 2.1, enhanced with Graffiti handwriting recognition running on Datalight ROM-DOS 6.22. Despite its features, it failed to gain widespread traction as a calculator substitute due to the rising dominance of Palm and Pocket PC devices. The unit contained 1 MB RAM and was built around the Vadem VG230/V5H platform powered by a 16 MHz NEC V30HL CPU compatible with the Intel 80186 architecture.

Current usage

Although production ceased to make room for HP’s Windows CE series beginning with the HP 300LX, the HP 200LX has maintained considerable popularity because of its MS-DOS operating system compatibility, enabling users to run extensive desktop applications such as Lotus 1-2-3 and Quicken. DOS software typically required less storage space and offered greater efficiency compared to Windows CE alternatives, while tools like Software Carousel allowed multitasking across multiple programs.

Third-party services continue to provide upgrades and repairs that help preserve and improve these units.

The HP 200LX achieved notable popularity in Japan, inspiring an open-source project initiated in 2001 that aimed to create a replacement based on the AMD Élan SC400 platform. Unfortunately, only one prototype was completed before the project ended amid bankruptcy in 2003; some critics accused it of being fraudulent due to lost deposits, though project leaders attributed failure to component shortages driven by demand from the mobile phone sector.

Frequent issues

  • Cracks often appeared near the right hinge on the injection-molded case top, caused by suboptimal molding flow. Solutions include using industrial-strength super glue or reinforcing the area with metal and epoxy.
  • The latch mechanism for opening the case commonly malfunctioned but could be repaired by adding a slender piece of rubber or sponge to act as a spring.
  • To avoid leakage that harms the LCD video cable, only premium AA rechargeable batteries should be utilized.
  • Older devices may experience loss of display pixel columns due to detached pins on surface-mounted device (SMD) chips; reflow soldering is frequently effective in restoring operation.
  • Intensive usage might cause detachment of keys such as the space bar or enter key, necessitating keyboard replacement.
  • The flexible strip connecting the screen to the motherboard is prone to tearing from friction and usually requires substitution.
  • Keys that become unresponsive often suffer from degraded graphite pad contacts on the keyboard ribbon. Restoring conductivity with silver paint or copper tape is possible but demands careful disassembly and reassembly. Corroded motherboard pads can be cleaned and polished to fix related problems.

Limitations in full IBM PC compatibility

  • The HP 100LX/200LX lack a digital-to-analog converter capable of generating audio tones; instead, this hardware monitors battery status and charging.
  • These models do not support the BIOS interrupt service (INT 13h) for hard disk access. Partial device drivers have been created to facilitate booting MINIX 2.0.

Additional information

  • NASA’s Discovery OV103 Mission STS-95, John Glenn’s final flight, included the HP 200LX in an Electronic Nose (E-Nose) experiment developed by JPL and Caltech under Dan Karmon’s supervision at JPL.
  • With software developed by Stefan Peichl, the HP 200LX can play video and audio files, though quality remains low. While it supports sound recording, compatible PCMCIA sound cards are unavailable. Nevertheless, MIDI instruments such as the Yamaha MU10 function via serial port using Voyetra or GSPlay software. Terrence Vergauwen employs a PCMCIA parallel port card combined with an OPL3LPT (Adlib-compatible) for gaming audio.
  • Both hardware and software solutions enable Internet connectivity on the HP 200LX.
  • Serial numbers for HP models 100LX, 200LX, 1000CX, and OmniGo 700LX follow this pattern: XXYWWNNNNN, where XX represents the manufacturing country code (e.g., SG for Singapore), Y indicates the last digit of the production year (e.g., 6 for 1996), WW corresponds to the manufacturing week, and NNNNN is the sequential unit number produced that week.

Hidden features

The HP 200LX includes multiple built-in easter eggs, among them:

Secret gallery

In the integrated game "Lair of Squid," entering "gallery" ("gallerie" on French versions, "siegergalerie" on German, "galeria" on Spanish) during startup unlocks a maze area showcasing photos of key software developers:

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

The final screen displays a gratitude message from the Felix Software team expressing appreciation to everyone involved in creating the palm-top device.

Self-test poem 1

Within the HP 200LX self-test interface, which can be accessed by powering off the device and entering the display menu, pressing fourteen times unveils a limerick:

Self-test poem 2

A second concealed poem is found in the same self-test environment. After choosing the display option, pressing , then holding while pressing thirteen times, reveals a mysterious verse that alludes to the difficulties encountered in software development:

Self-test poem 3

The third poetic message emerges by selecting , holding and pressing thirteen times within the display menu. This metaphorical piece narrates the progression of HP LX palmtops through their project codenames: Jaguar (HP 95LX), Cougar (HP 100LX), and Felix (HP 200LX, notable for being the initial model to include Quicken):

Hidden development aid in 'More Applications'

Inside the HP 200LX's integrated System Manager, developers can access a specialized tool by pressing the blue key to open 'More Applications,' then holding while pressing four times followed by a single press of . Maintaining during this sequence displays columns of data related to System Manager-compatible (.EXM) applications along with additional technical information—an invaluable resource for software developers overseeing application registration.

Undocumented hex calculator

An unlisted calculator app named HEXCALC, created by Andrew Gryc, is included on the HP 200LX. This utility performs arithmetic and logical calculations across binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal numeral systems. To integrate HEXCALC into the applications menu, use this entry:

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

See also

Further reading

  • Everett Kaser, "The Evolution of the HP Palmtops," Hewlett-Packard Company, November–December 1993, The HP Palmtop Paper (Thaddeus Computing, Inc.)
  • Chris Lott, "The First Real Palmtop," Hackaday, December 21, 2020
  • Bryan Lunduke, "The story of the 1991 HP DOS Palmtop," Substack / The Lunduke Journal of Technology, August 1, 2022
  • Rob Tillotson, The HP 200LX: A Review
  • Sy's HP 200LX review
  • Articles covering NASA STS-95 E-Nose experiment
  • NASA report: Results From The Space Shuttle STS-95 Electronic Nose Experiment
  • HP 200LX profile at Old-Computers.com Museum

External links

Related profiles

HHP OmniGo 100HHP 100LXHHP OmniGo 120HHP 200LX
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