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HP OmniGo 700LX

From Alfawiki
Hewlett-Packard
Company typePublic
IndustryInformation technology, Computer hardware
FoundedJanuary 1, 1939; 87 years ago (1939-01-01) in Palo Alto, California, United States
Headquarters
Palo Alto, California
,
United States
ProductsComputers, personal digital assistants (including HP 200LX)
Websitewww.hp.com

The HP 200LX Palmtop PC (models F1060A, F1061A, F1216A), originally codenamed project Felix, is a personal digital assistant launched by Hewlett-Packard in August 1994. Promoted as a Palmtop PC, it distinguished itself as a compact, nearly full-featured DOS-compatible machine, equipped with a monochrome graphic display, a QWERTY keyboard, a serial interface, and a PCMCIA expansion slot. The "LX" designation represented "Lotus Expandable".

Description

Input is handled through a small QWERTY keyboard incorporating a numeric keypad within a clamshell design approximately one-quarter the size of a typical notebook computer. The device operates on two AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries, delivering around 30 to 40 hours of use, and supports recharging of Ni-Cd and NiMH cells via a 12 V DC power adapter.

Its processing power comes from an embedded Intel 80186-compatible "Hornet" CPU running at roughly 7.91 MHz, which can be upgraded to about 15.8 MHz. Memory configurations include 1, 2, or 4 MB RAM—of which 640 KB serves as conventional memory while the remainder can be allocated as expanded memory or storage space. Users can expand RAM up to 64 MB through aftermarket modifications, thereby freeing the PCMCIA slot for additional peripherals such as modem or Ethernet cards from manufacturers like Silicom, Accton, Netgear FA411, and Sohoware ND5120. The system boots MS-DOS 5.0 directly from ROM and offers IBM PC/XT compatibility. It supports most software designed for Intel 8086/8088/80186 processors and CGA graphics, including some non-protected-mode applications intended for the 80286 CPU. Expansion options include a Type II PCMCIA slot (operating at 5 V and up to 150 mA), an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) SIR-compatible infrared port, and a full serial port accessible via a proprietary mini connector.

The onboard ROM contains software such as Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.4, calendar, phone book, terminal emulator, Lotus cc:Mail, along with scientific and business calculators. When paired with adequate CompactFlash storage and a serial mouse, the device can run Microsoft Windows 3.0 in Real Mode—although constrained by hardware limitations—enabling access to Word 1.x and Excel 2.x for Windows to create MS Office-compatible documents. Its CGA-compatible LCD screen offers a resolution of 640×200 pixels with four levels of gray but does not include backlighting; however, third-party electroluminescent backlight kits have been available since 2004.

Unlike traditional CGA displays limited to hardware code page 437 fonts, the earlier HP 95LX supported code page 850. Starting with the HP 100LX series—including the HP 200LX—users can switch text mode ROM fonts between code pages 437 and 850, plus utilize software-definable RAM fonts for 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 display and printing purposes.

HP 100LX

The HP 100LX Palmtop PC (models F1020A with 1 MB RAM and F1022A with 2 MB RAM), known under project Cougar, was introduced prior to the HP 200LX in 1993. It was offered in multiple language editions including International English, U.S. English, French, German, and Spanish versions featuring localized keyboards and system messages. This model also utilized the Hornet CPU and ran MS-DOS version 5.0 but included earlier versions of built-in applications.

HP Palmtop FX

Introduced in 1993, the HP Palmtop FX is a specialized model of the HP 100LX featuring up to 2 MB of flashable memory. Users could generate FAT filesystem flash disk images and write them to the F: drive using a dedicated utility. This variant was reportedly created for use by a Korean insurance firm.

HP 200LX AIA

The HP 200LX AIA represents a 2 MB, double-speed edition of the HP 200LX, produced exclusively for the insurance corporation American International Assurance (AIA).

HP 1000CX

Known also as project Puma, the HP 1000CX Palmtop PC (F1203A with 1 MB released in March 1995, F1222A with 2 MB in February 1997) served as a budget-friendly alternative to the 200LX. It shipped without pre-installed software aside from MS-DOS 5.0 embedded in ROM. This device gained popularity among enterprises such as Coca-Cola, where warehouse supervisors deployed customized logistics applications. Its black clamshell design distinguishes it from the dark green casing of the 200LX.

HP OmniGo 700LX

The HP OmniGo 700LX Communicator Plus (F1206A), codenamed Columbia, was engineered by HP's Singapore calculator division. This model is essentially a modified HP 200LX with 2 MB memory, integrating a Nokia 2110 GSM mobile phone via a factory-altered motherboard that supported an additional PCMCIA slot for a Nokia Data Card. Its distinctive pebble-shaped housing accommodated the mobile phone module. Announced in late 1995 and released in March 1996, it was among the first devices to combine computing and mobile telephony functions, although production stopped as the Nokia 2110 became outdated. The device foreshadowed capabilities later found in smartphones such as the Nokia 9000 Communicator.

HP 95LX

Debuting in April 1991 under project name Jaguar, the HP 95LX Palmtop PC (F1000A with 512 KB, F1010A with 1 MB) established the foundational palmtop concept. Powered by a NEC V20 processor clocked at 5.37 MHz, it operated on MS-DOS 3.22 and included Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.2 onboard. Its LCD offered quarter-CGA resolution with MDA-compatible graphics, limiting full PC application support and primarily displaying visuals via a proprietary LX mode. Memory backup during AA battery depletion was maintained by an onboard CR2032 battery.

HP OmniGo 100

The HP OmniGo 100 Organizer Plus (models F1305A/F1310A) succeeded the LX series by incorporating functionality from the HP-12C calculator. It featured a graphical user interface navigated through pen input or keyboard but lacked compatibility with unmodified DOS applications. Operating mainly on DOS-based PEN/GEOS version 2.1 with Graffiti handwriting recognition running on Datalight ROM-DOS 6.22, it did not gain significant traction as a calculator alternative, losing market share to Palm and Pocket PC devices. The system contained 1 MB of RAM and was built around the Vadem VG230/V5H controller paired with a 16 MHz NEC V30HL CPU compatible with the Intel 80186 instruction set.

Current usage

Although discontinued to make room for HP's line of Windows CE devices like the HP 300LX, the HP OmniGo 100 retained appeal because of its MS-DOS environment, allowing users to run a wide array of desktop software including Lotus 1-2-3 and Quicken. DOS programs were typically more compact and efficient compared to Windows CE counterparts, with utilities such as Software Carousel enabling simultaneous loading of multiple applications.

Third-party services continue to offer upgrades and repairs to prolong device usability.[1][2][3]

The HP 200LX's compact form factor made it especially popular in Japan, inspiring an open-source initiative led by to create an AMD Élan SC400-based successor in 2001.[4] Unfortunately, only one prototype was completed before the company declared bankruptcy in 2003 amidst accusations of fraud related to lost deposits. Project leaders attributed setbacks to component shortages driven by demand from the mobile phone sector.[5]

Frequent Issues

  • Cracks commonly appear near the right hinge of the injection-molded case top, caused by inadequate molding flow. Solutions involve using industrial-grade super glue or strengthening the area with a metal reinforcement and epoxy.
  • The case latch may malfunction but can be easily repaired by inserting a thin piece of rubber or sponge to act as a spring.
  • Only premium AA rechargeable batteries are recommended, as battery leakage can harm the LCD’s flat video cable.
  • Older devices might experience loss of display pixel columns due to detached pins on surface-mount device (SMD) chips; this can be remedied through reflow soldering.
  • Frequent heavy use may cause the space bar or enter key to detach, necessitating keyboard replacement.
  • Continuous opening and closing can damage the flex cable linking the screen to the motherboard, typically requiring replacement.
  • Unresponsive keys often stem from deteriorated graphite-to-gold pad contacts within the keyboard ribbon. Applying conductive silver paint or copper tape can restore these connections, while corroded motherboard pads may be revived by careful polishing with fine steel wool.

These repairs demand meticulous handling of electronic components but are essential for prolonging device usability.

Limitations in IBM PC Compatibility

  • The HP 100LX/200LX’s digital-to-analog converter does not produce audio tones; its function is limited to monitoring battery status and charging.
  • This model lacks BIOS support for hard disk access (INT 13h); however, partial device driver implementations allow booting of MINIX 2.0.

Additional Information

  • The HP 200LX was utilized during NASA’s Discovery OV103 Mission STS-95—the final mission of Senator John Glenn—in an Electronic Nose experiment developed collaboratively by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and California Institute of Technology (Caltech), under the direction of Dan Karmon at JPL.
  • The HP 200LX supports playback of video and audio files at low quality through software created by Stefan Peichl and is capable of sound recording. While no compatible PCMCIA sound cards are known, Yamaha MU10 MIDI devices function via serial port with Voyetra or GSPlay software. Some users employ PCMCIA parallel port cards combined with OPL3LPT (Adlib-compatible) for gaming purposes.
  • Both software and hardware solutions enable Internet connectivity on the HP 200LX.
  • Serial numbers for HP 100LX, 200LX, 1000CX, and OmniGo 700LX follow this pattern:
XXYWWNNNNN
XX denotes the country of manufacture (e.g., SG = Singapore)
Y indicates the last digit of the production year (e.g., 6 = 1996)
WW represents the week number during manufacturing
NNNNN is the sequential unit number produced in that week

Hidden Features

The HP 200LX contains several concealed easter eggs:

Secret Gallery

Within the built-in game "Lair of Squid," entering "gallery" ("gallerie" in French; "siegergalerie" in German; "galeria" in Spanish) at startup unlocks a maze area showcasing photographs of key software developers:

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

The concluding panel displays a thank-you note from the Felix Software team acknowledging HP and its partner companies.

Self-test poem 1

While in the HP 200LX self-test mode, which can be entered by pressing with the device powered off and selecting the display option, tapping fourteen times unveils a limerick:

Self-test poem 2

Within the same self-test environment, pressing followed by holding while pressing thirteen times presents a mysterious poem that reflects the software development team's business challenges:

Self-test poem 3

Also accessible in this mode, by pressing then holding and tapping thirteen times, an allegorical verse emerges describing the progression of HP LX palmtops. The poem references project codenames such as 'Jaguar' (HP 95LX), 'Cougar' (HP 100LX), and 'Felix' (HP 200LX—the first LX model to include Quicken):

Hidden development tool in 'More Applications'

Inside the HP 200LX's integrated System Manager, a specialized development utility is available. To access it, press the blue key to open 'More Applications', then hold while pressing four times followed by a single . This reveals comprehensive details about System Manager-compatible (.EXM) applications along with other internal data useful for software development and management.

Undocumented hex calculator

The HP 200LX includes a concealed calculator program named HEXCALC, created by Andrew Gryc. It allows users to perform arithmetic and logical operations in binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal formats. To add this tool to the applications menu, use the following entry:

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

See also

Further reading

External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Hermocon
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Repair
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Bel
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Tamiya_2000
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ASCII_2002
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