Hewlett-Packard HP-100LX
| Datasheet legend
Ab/c:
Fractions calculation
AC: Alternating current BaseN: Number base calculations Card: Magnetic card storage Cmem: Continuous memory Cond: Conditional execution Const: Scientific constants Cplx: Complex number arithmetic DC: Direct current Eqlib: Equation library Exp: Exponential/logarithmic functions Fin: Financial functions Grph: Graphing capability Hyp: Hyperbolic functions Ind: Indirect addressing Intg: Numerical integration Jump: Unconditional jump (GOTO) Lbl: Program labels LCD: Liquid Crystal Display LED: Light-Emitting Diode Li-ion: Lithium-ion rechargeable battery Lreg: Linear regression (2-variable statistics) mA: Milliamperes of current Mtrx: Matrix support NiCd: Nickel-Cadmium rechargeable battery NiMH: Nickel-metal-hydrite rechargeable battery Prnt: Printer RTC: Real-time clock Sdev: Standard deviation (1-variable statistics) Solv: Equation solver Subr: Subroutine call capability Symb: Symbolic computing Tape: Magnetic tape storage Trig: Trigonometric functions Units: Unit conversions VAC: Volts AC VDC: Volts DC |
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*512kB model also available
Hewlett-Packard HP-100LX
Second in HP's line of MS-DOS compatible pocket computers, the HP-100LX offered numerous improvements over HP-95LX. Most significant among these is the display: the HP-100LX was the first pocket computer with a screen capable of showing 25 lines, each a full 80 characters in width. The display was, in fact, software-compatible with IBM's CGA (Color Graphics Adapter) specifications, which made the HP-100LX instantly compatible with a large number of third party MS-DOS applications.
Looking at this machine, I almost feel sad that the MS-DOS era is over. The HP-100LX is a superbly practical device, capable of performing most of the tasks we routinely use our computers for: text processing, spreadsheet calculations, notetaking or storing addresses. Although it was not designed for Internet use, third party applications (most notably, WWW/LX) make the HP-100LX a fully functional Internet device: it can be used for Web browsing, e-mail, and more. Yes, it does make you wonder why we need nearly a thousand times the memory, disk storage, or raw processor speed to accomplish the same tasks on our modern desktop computers.
Not forgetting its business customers, Hewlett-Packard included a financial calculator "applet" with the HP-100LX. Very similar to HP's "formula programmable" business calculators, it offers a comprehensive set of built-in functions and a powerful formula programming capability. An implementation of my favorite programming example, the Gamma function, neatly demonstrates this capability:
Gamma=(-1)^SIGMA(i,X,0,1,1)/EXP(SIGMA( i,X,15,1,LN(ABS(i))))*L(q,SIGMA(i,X,15 ,1,1)+X)^q/EXP(q)*SQRT(2*PI/q)*EXP(((( (1/1188/SQ(q)-1/1680)/SQ(q)+1/1260)/SQ (q)-1/360)/SQ(q)+1/12)/q)
However, if you prefer to program this device in its "native" mode, Microsoft's DEBUG.COM is included along with other MS-DOS utilities; all you need is a set of machine language reference manuals and you can start writing your very own DOS programs in no time!
