The HP-75C was the first pocket computer ever produced by HP who wanted a pocket book format (10”x 5”) computer as powerful as a desktop. It can also be considered as the first organizer able to deal with a multiple alarms time schedule, to control real time peripherals and to memorize text files.
Its 48KB ROM contained a very complete Basic language and a light version of the spreadsheet Visicalc. Three slots allowed adding pre-programmed ROM modules (Maths, finance, word processor…)
It integrated a card reader. The cards was manually slipped front of the magnetic head. Each card could stock 1.3 KB of information on 2 tracks (650 bytes each). The card information coding allowed great variations of the reading speed, due to manual handling.
The HP-IL (Interface Loop) interface allowed connecting as far as 30 peripherals simultaneously on the HP-75C. Amid the peripherals, one could find a display unit, printers, a modem, a tape recorder and all the HP-IL standard peripherals.
As always with HP, the manuals were very complete and pedagogical.
The HP-75D was released two years later. It added a wand and wand port. When used with the Bar Code ROM, the computer could scan CODE11, CODE39, UPC, and EAN codes. This made the computer useful for inventory control.
Please consider donating your old computer / videogame system to Old-Computers.com or one of our partners from anywhere in the world (Europe, America, Asia, etc.).
I has one (serial $ 78). There was 2 lines on screen.
Monday 14th February 2011
Otto (Brazil)
Hi!. I´m found a HP75C in a trash can!. I´m want to bring it to life again. Do someboy have got an electronic version of its manual?. I will apreciate very much!. rodolfo.gil@uny.edu.ve / rufogil@hotmail.com
