HP 200LX

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The HP 200LX (also known as Project Felix) is a personal digital assistant introduced by Hewlett-Packard in 1994. It was often called a palmtop computer, and it was notable that it was, with some minor exceptions, a 100% MS-DOS compatible computer in a palmtop format, complete with a monochrome graphic display, qwerty keyboard, serial port, and PCMCIA expansion slot.

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[edit] Description

Input is accomplished via a small QWERTY-keyboard with a numeric keypad, enclosed in a clamshell-style case, less than about 25% of the size of a standard notebook computer. The palmtop runs for about 30 to 40 hours on two size AA alkaline or Ni-Cd rechargeable cells and can charge batteries (both Ni-Cd and NiMH) via a 12V DC wall adapter.

The 200LX has an Intel 80186 central processing unit which runs at ~ 7.91 megahertz (which can be upgraded or overclocked to up to 15.8 MHz) and 2 or 4 MB of memory, of which 640 KB is RAM and the rest can be used for expanded memory (EMS) or memory-based storage space. After-market updates can bring the memory chips to up to 64MB, which frees the PCMCIA slot for modem or ethernet card use (Silicom and Accton 2212/2216 supported). Being IBM PC/XT compatible and running MS-DOS 5.0 from ROM, the HP 200LX can run virtually any program that would run on a full-size PC compatible computer as long as the code is written for the Intel 8086, 8088 or 80186 CPU and can run using CGA graphics. It can also run programs written for the 80286 CPU, provided they do not require the use of protected memory. It has a 16-bit PCMCIA Type II expansion slot that supports 5V at 150mA maximum, a SIR compatible infrared port and a full serial port (but with a proprietary mini connector for space constraint reasons).

The built-in software suite runs from ROM and includes Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet, a calendar, a phone book, a terminal, Lotus cc:Mail and a capable scientific/business calculator (among other applications). With a large compactflash storage card and a serial mouse, even Microsoft Windows 3.0 can be run on the palmtop. The 3.0 Windows installation was somewhat limited by the hardware however early versions of Word and Excel for Windows 3.0 ran fine, allowing for the authoring of MS Office format-compatible files. The 640x200 resolution CGA compatible 4-shade gray-scale LCD screen has no back light. An electroluminescent technology back light installation is available from a third party since 2004, but keen eyesight is still required to use the small palmtop effectively without resorting to using its 2x and 4x zoom modes.

[edit] Other Models

[edit] HP 95LX

Main article: HP 95LX

The HP 95LX introduces the basic design in 1991. It was known internally as Project Jaguar. It had an Intel 8086 CPU, but was hampered in running PC applications because of its quarter-CGA resolution LCD screen and MDA compatible ( instead of CGA) graphics chip. The HP95lx for the most part only displays graphics in a special LX Graphics mode. It runs DOS 3.22 and has Lotus 1-2-3 built in. It also includes a CR3025 battery for memory backup when the AA mains run out.

[edit] HP 100LX

The HP 100LX (also known as Project Cougar) is the direct predecessor of the 200LX; almost the same, but with 1MB memory and earlier built-in application versions.

[edit] HP 1000CX

The HP 1000CX is an economy version of the 200LX without any built-in software except the MS-DOS 5.0 operating system in ROM. It was in widespread use among, for example, Coca-Cola warehouse managers, who loaded their own logististics software onto the machine. It has a black clamshell, while the 200LX has a dark green casing.

[edit] HP OmniGo 700LX

The HP OmniGo 700LX was a project of the HP calculator branch in Singapore. The HP 700LX is essentially a 200LX redesigned to piggyback a Nokia 2110 GSM mobile telephone for wireless mobility. The 200LX motherboard was factory-modified to support a second PCMCIA slot for a Nokia Data Card. Owing to the relatively large size of the Nokia telephone, the 700LX has a large, pebble-shaped casing, making it a handheld with a phone attached. The production of the HP 700LX ceased after the Nokia 2110 mobile telephone was rendered obsolete by later telephones.

[edit] HP OmniGo 100

The HP OmniGo 100 was designed as a more sophisticated successor to the LX series, and incorporated the HP 12 calculator functionality. It was GUI based, controlled by pen input or keyboard. However, it lacked the versatility of running unmodified DOS programs. The normal operation mode was with GEOS and Graffiti handwriting recognition. It was not widely accepted as a calculator replacement, and Palm and Pocket PCs became acceptable as PDAs.

[edit] Current usage

Although this product line was discontinued by HP in order to introduce their Windows CE product line (starting with the HP 300LX), a strong interest in this hardware continues to this day. It was the last palmtop from HP which ran the MS-DOS operating system for which there exists a huge body of software from desktop PCs, and many came with a useful bundle of software such as 1-2-3 and Quicken. Compared to machines with window-based operating systems such as CE, DOS programs are more compact and efficient, and with programs such as Software Carousel, many applications programs could be loaded at once.

There is a thriving second-hand market for the machines, with prices, in some cases, exceeding the original list prices. The HP 200LX was a typical 'old school', engineering-driven American HP product with a lot of functionality. Most of its users are 'tech-savvy' people, scientists, engineers, senior businessmen and the military. The device is solidly built and runs reliably for many hours in daily use.

[edit] Japan

Because of its small size, the 200LX was very popular in Japan, so much so that its demise prompted an open-source initiative to design and market an AMD Elan SC400-based replacement to fill its place. This 'Morphy One' club organization created blueprints for the device but no prototype was ever built for reasons which remain unclear. Some argue it was a scam scheme as hundreds of people lost deposits they placed on the new palmtop in advance. The project leaders argued that key electronic components were unavailable due to strong demand from the mobile telephone manufacturing industry.

[edit] Common problems

  • A common problem with the 200LX case is related to the injected-molded case top. The right hinge to case blend had poor flow in the process, resulting in the formation of a crack which propagates across the hinge under stress, causing failure. This can be reinforced and repaired using super glue, among other methods.
  • Another weakness of the design is the failure of the case opening latch. This problem can easily be repaired by placing a thin slice cut from rubber eraser within the latch as a 'spring'.
  • Only high quality AA rechargeable batteries should be used in the 200LX, as battery leaks can destroy the LCD's flat video cable.
  • Aging models may lose pixel columns from the display. This is caused by detachment of one or more pins of one of the SMD(Surface Mounted Device) chips in the display itself. In many cases this may be repaired by reflowing(resoldering) of the pins on the offending chip, either with an SMD reflow tool, or a soldering iron with a very fine (0.2mm) tip.
  • Under heavy use, the space bar and enter bar can become detached. This requires keyboard replacement.

[edit] Exceptions to 100% MS-DOS compatibility

[edit] Other notes

  • The HP200LX was used on board the NASA Discovery OV103 Mission STS-95 (the last mission of Senator John Glenn) in an Electronic Nose (E-Nose) experiment (the device was developed jointly by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the California Institute of Technology (CalTech)). The experiment, as managed by Dr. Dan Karmon of JPL, was successful.
  • The 200LX can play video, and sound files using software from Stefan Peichl in relatively low quality. It is also capable of sound recording, though this is, again, in relatively low quality. There is no known compatible PCMCIA sound card for the 200LX.
  • Software and hardware is available which will allow the 200LX to surf the Internet.
  • The serial numbers printed on the HP machines 100LX, 200LX, 1000CX and OG700LX have the following meaning:
XXYWWNNNNN
XX = the country of manufacturing (e.g., SG = Singapore etc)
Y = the year of manufacturing; last digit (e.g., 6 = 1996)
WW = the week of the year of manufacturing
NNNNN = the number of the specific unit manufactured in specified week

[edit] Easter eggs

There are many easter eggs to be found inbuilt in the HP200LX. The known ones are listed as follows:

The Gallery Easter Egg

This easter egg is to be found in the inbuilt 'Lair of Squid' game of the HP200LX. During the startup screen of the game, if the user types the word 'gallery' ('gallerie' on a French palmtop; 'siegergalerie' on a German palmtop; 'galeria' on a Spanish palmtop) he/she is placed in a 'part' of the maze that contains photographs of the primary software developers that worked on the HP200LX. The user may exit from this gallery by exiting through the door at the end of the corridor. The software developers in the photographs are listed starting from left to right, then left to right and so on as follows:

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

The last panel on the right of the corridor contains a thank you message:

“ Very special thanks to all the people in HP and all the companies that made this palm-top possible. The Felix S/W team ”

The photographs of the developers have been described as 'a-maze-ing'.

The 1st Self Test Poem Easter Egg

This easter egg is to be found in the HP200LX self test mode. With the palmtop powered off, the user may press [ESC][ON] to start the self test mode, then cursor down to the display option. On pressing [ENTER] 14 times, to step through the various screens, the user comes to a screen of example text in the form of a limerick poem. The poem is as follows:

“ There once was this thing from HP

That fit in your pocket, you see.
A caveman would stare
And pull out his hair
And wonder, 'What could this thing be?'

 ”

The 2nd Self Test Poem Easter Egg

This easter egg is to be found in the HP200LX self test mode. With the palmtop powered off, the user may press [ESC][ON] to start the self test mode, then cursor down to the display option. On pressing [CTRL][ENTER], then holding down [ALT] while pressing [ENTER] 13 times, the user comes to a cryptic poem, relating business issues faced by the software development team. The poem is as follows:

“ Felis Concolor

A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum
When I encountered a group in search of a quorum.
They came from a city, The Burg On The Wire.
If I tried to describe it you'd call me a liar.
They wanted to charge me a really quite large fee
For the dubious pleasure of sharing their treasure.
"I'm a very Good man (Mark my words if you can),"
"But, the Dickens, I say, I simply won't pay!"
And with poetry, then, I proceeded to bore 'em
Then proceeded myself on my way to the Forum.

 ”

The 3rd Self Test Poem Easter Egg

This easter egg is to be found in the HP200LX self test mode. With the palmtop powered off, the user may press [ESC][ON] to start the self test mode, then cursor down to the display option. On pressing [CTRL][ENTER], then holding down [SHIFT] while pressing [ENTER] 13 times, the user comes to an allegorical poem, about the history and future of the HP LX palmtops. The poem is as follows (note that the project names for the HP95LX, the HP100LX and the HP200LX are 'Jaguar', 'Cougar' and 'Felix' respectively, and that 'Felix' was the first LX to include Quicken):

“ Nine lives has a Cat, and each Cat a name,

All of them different, none are the same.
Jaguar was first, it made quite a roar.
Cougar was next, oh, how it did soar.
Felix is third, my heart it does quicken,
Who knows what comes next, the clock is a tickin'.

 ”

The 'More Applications' Easter Egg

This easter egg is to be found in the inbuilt System Manager of the HP200LX. This 'easter egg' is probably more of a development tool than an easter egg, but, in any case, the user may display the function by first pressing the blue [&...] key to start 'More Applications'. The user may then hold down [ALT] while pressing [F9] 4 times, followed by [F10] once. As long as the [ALT] key is held down, the user will observe columns of data about System Manager compliant (.EXM) programs registered with the System Manager, along with other arcane program information.

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links

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