HP 250
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The HP 250 was a multiuser business computer by Hewlett Packard combining the BASIC language and IMAGE database management. It was produced by the General Systems Division, but was a major repackaging of desktop workstation such as the HP 9835 which had been sold in small business configurations.
The HP250 borrowed the HP300's embedded keyboard design and a wider slide-able monitor with screen labeled function keys buttons placed below on-screen labels (a configuration now used in ATMs and gas pumps) into built into a large desk design.
Though the HP250 had a different processor and operating system, it used similar interface cards to the HP300, and then later also the HP3000 models 30, 33, 40, 42, 44, and 48: HP-IB channel (GIC), Network, and serial (MUX) cards. Usually the HP250 was a small HP-IB single channel system (limited to seven HP-IB devices per GIC at a less than 1MHz bandwidth).
Initially the HP250 was like the HP300 a single user, floppy based computer system. Later multi-user ability was added, and the HP300's embedded hard drive was installed to boot off of. Additionally, drivers were made available to connect and use more HP-IB devices: disc and tape drives, plus impact and matrix printers. This gave some business-growth scale-ability to the HP250 product line.
The HP250 was advertised in 1978 and was promoted more in Europe as an easy-to-use, small space, low cost business system, and thus sold better in Europe. The next-gen HP250 was the HP260 which lost the table, embedded keyboard, and CRT for a small stand-alone box. HP systems moved away from all-in-one table top designs to having the system in a remote secure location, and having the user's terminals and peripherals out in their work area.
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