🇺🇸 Hewlett Packard HP-86B: Part 1 (First look) [TCE

A first look at a HP-86B, one of two Hewlett Packard Series 80 machines I have, the other being a HP-85B which is the machine with built-in 5" screen, tape drive and printer.

It uses similar "stack pole" key switches as the Atari 800 (thanks to ‪@skjerk‬ for the name!) ... the key caps look interchangeable.

Check out the Wiki page for details of the different models:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_seri...

In addition to the two machines I have the following expansions & peripherals:
Model 9121 dual 3½" floppy drive unit (somewhere ...)
Model 9130A 5¼" floppy drive unit
10576-60001 interface for 5505A laser display (?) with Centronics-type plug
82900A Auxiliary processor (Z80)
82903A 16KB RAM module
82909A 128KB RAM module
82936A ROM drawers
82937A HP-IB interface with HP-IB plug
82939A serial interface with DB-25 plug
82940A GP-IO interface with dual DB-25 plugs
82941A BCD interface with dual DC-37 plugs

Additionally I have a modern implementation of the PRM-85 programmable ROM cartridge and the excellent EBTKS "does almost everything" cartridge.

For the HP-85B I have some new DC100A "mini data cartridge tapes" ... but I won't be putting those anywhere near the machine until I've checked the tape drive mechanism out!

Oh, and loads of HP-IB cables and some original software.

I think the Auxiliary Processor cartridge (containing a Mostek MMK3880 == Z80) can be used to run CP/M on the machine ... it's been a while ... will need to dig out all my software again.

Some more info here:
http://www.series80.org

And very active discussions here:
https://groups.io/g/hpseries80

I'm quite proud to have contributed some software for preservation: the TERM/80 software and the USCD p-System software (Fortran 77 and Pascal compilers plus utilities). Both can be found in the discussion group's file archive.

Information about the EBTKS board:
http://www.fliptronics.com/EBTKS/inde...
... and ordering info ...
http://www.fliptronics.com/EBTKS/How_...

Other videos about the HP Series 80 computers:
   • 🇺🇸 HP Series 80