It was either a PC-XT you can fit in your hand, or a "PDA" that also happened to run countless DOS programs.
The PIM software was very powerful and comprehensive, included the usual address Book, Appointments, and Notepad / Memo capabilities, as well as a Database program. Plus, Pocket Quicken, Lotus 123, and cc:Mail. Also has a
"Filer" program for file management, LapLink to connect with a desktop
system for file transfer, and a Data Comm program for connecting to
online services, and more!
Because it ran MS DOS 5.0 and had the architecture of a PC-XT with a CGA graphics adaptor, it was able to run almost any DOS software which would run on a similar desktop system.
Using a PCMCIA flash-memory card in lieu of a hard-drive allowed limitless storage space. System Memory was divided between normal RAM and a RAM-disk which became your C:\ drive. The 2MB model gave you 640 KB system Ram and about 1400 KB of C: drive.
The keyboard was a little small for touch-typing, but it could be done.
Keys had a slight tactile click to them. The IR port was not IRDA,
being an older HP IR format instead. The Serial port was standard
RS-232 signals but was a small non-standard 10-pin design. The pins 1-9
had the same assignments as a 9-pin serial port, the 10th being shell
ground.
The 200LX was third in a series, the HP-95LX was first but had much
more limited features, the HP-100LX was second and was almost
identical, except was lacking some of the more-advanced PIM software.
There was also the HP-1000CX which was identical to the 200LX except it
had no PIM software at all, it was strictly a DOS 5.0 palmtop.
Thanks to Stephanie Maks for information and pictures.
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 still use the HP200LX for my business contacts and the calendar and task management. Also I use the windows version of calendar on my main PC in the office. Also I use many other programs for my daily work in the laboratory. The PIM software is the bst one I have ever seen and together with database engine of HP it is unbeatable! Also the calculator with solver is a big thing, beside LOTUS.
The HP200LX is a marvellous machine and the best ever built PDA for professional use, although in these these days there are limitations. But the robustness of the machine and the reliability is so good! I still have 2 "backup HP200LX" in my wardrobe so I think to have this little real PC in the pocket forever :-) recommendable websites for support is palmtoppaper.com and the hplx.net
Greetings from Germany HPtom
Friday 25th February 2011
HPtom (Germany)
I''m writing programs in Quickbasic for the 200LX, is there anyway I can probe if the serial port is on or off, like an address or register?
I use shell "lxstat s $ info" as a workaround, but there must be something better.
Grtzz Mark
Sunday 28th February 2021
Mark (Neverlands)
I have a HP200LX, and I download SSCL(star sapphire common lisp) last week. I install SSCL and EMACS, but EMACS reject key ''+'', ''*'', ''$'' and so on. Do you know how to input such keys on EMACS ? Please teach me how to setup EMACS.
Monday 27th April 2020
LX Lover (Japan)
NAME
HP-200LX
MANUFACTURER
Hewlett Packard
TYPE
Pocket
ORIGIN
U.S.A.
YEAR
1994
END OF PRODUCTION
Late 1999
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
Personal Information Manager System, Quicken, Lotus
KEYBOARD
Miniature 80-key qwerty keyboard including dedicated PIM
CPU
Intel Hornet - computer-on-a-chip based on 80186
SPEED
7.91MHz
CO-PROCESSOR
None
RAM
1MB / 2MB / 4MB (upgradable to 64MB with 3rd party solutions)
ROM
3MB
TEXT MODES
80 columns x 25 lines
GRAPHIC MODES
640 x 200 dots
COLORS
Black & white LCD / CGA emulated video controller
SOUND
Multi-octave beeper
SIZE / WEIGHT
160 (W) x 85 (D) x 26 (H) mm (6 1/4 x 3 1/2 x 1 inch) / < 1 pound
