CP/M Handheld?
Mike Eggleston
I had a thought last night that with the wave of new handheld computers
(HP 200, WinCE machines, etc.), is there a handheld CP/M machine that
would
run on 2 AA batteries, interface with a PCMCIA card (CP/M format of
course),
a decent screen (80x25). With this we could run the word processors,
spreadsheets,
compilers, etc., that are all laying around *and* carry this machine with
us all
the time.
Imagine someone's reaction when they ask you, "Is that running WinCE?" and
you
reply that its running CP/M with full databases, wordstar, spreadsheets,
compilers, everything!
It has a high weirdness quotient that appeals to me.
Mike
Richard Slobod
"Mike Eggleston" <mi...@spindle.net> wrote:
>I had a thought last night that with the wave of new handheld computers
>(HP 200, WinCE machines, etc.), is there a handheld CP/M machine that
>would
>run on 2 AA batteries, interface with a PCMCIA card (CP/M format of
>course),
>a decent screen (80x25). With this we could run the word processors,
>spreadsheets,
>compilers, etc., that are all laying around *and* carry this machine with
>us all
>the time.
Well, you might be able to get CP/M-86 running on something like the
HP 200LX, but I don't know of any Z80-based handhelds (unless you
count the Nintendo Gameboy).
Allison
7123...@compuserve.com (Richard Slobod) wrote:
>"Mike Eggleston" <mi...@spindle.net> wrote:
>>I had a thought last night that with the wave of new handheld computers
>>(HP 200, WinCE machines, etc.), is there a handheld CP/M machine that
>>would
>>run on 2 AA batteries, interface with a PCMCIA card (CP/M format of
>>course),
>>a decent screen (80x25). With this we could run the word processors,
>>spreadsheets,
>>compilers, etc., that are all laying around *and* carry this machine with
>>us all
>>the time.
There were a few years ago of the palm top style without PCMCIA.
They were z80 and a few used CP/M in rom. Of course there was the
epson PX8, Tandy 100/102 and a few others.
Allison
Alli...@world.std.com
Real address is: Allisonp @ world DOT std DOT com
This was done to discourage some of the junkmailers.
Bruce Morgen
"Mike Eggleston" <mi...@spindle.net> wrote:
;>I had a thought last night that with the wave of new handheld computers
;>(HP 200, WinCE machines, etc.), is there a handheld CP/M machine that
;>would
;>run on 2 AA batteries, interface with a PCMCIA card (CP/M format of
;>course),
;>a decent screen (80x25). With this we could run the word processors,
;>spreadsheets,
;>compilers, etc., that are all laying around *and* carry this machine with
;>us all the time.
;>
;>Imagine someone's reaction when they ask you, "Is that running WinCE?" and
;>you
;>reply that its running CP/M with full databases, wordstar, spreadsheets,
;>compilers, everything!
;>
;>It has a high weirdness quotient that appeals to me.
;>
Well, no PCMCIA when I looked into it,
but you might want to look into the
HD64180-based CP/M portable from
Modulec Technology in Wales, UK. You
can reach them at (+44) 633-838877 or
FAX to (+44) 633-838331. It's pricey
but very durable, quite a favorite
of some of the European military
types.
Stuart Dawson
Interesting ideas, Mike.
Texas Instruments' handhelds, TI-83, TI-85 and the soon-to-to-be
released TI-86 (128 kB Ram), all run the Z80.
URLs: http://www.ticalc.org
http://www.ti.com/calc/docs/calchome.html
I use TI-83s and 85s for survey applications, and I'd be
interested in finding out how much of the old CP/M and Z80 software
would be usable on them.
Incidentally, I only retired my Amstrad PCW in 1995.
In article <337b2...@news1.ibm.net>, Mike Eggleston
<mi...@spindle.net> writes
>I had a thought last night that with the wave of new handheld computers
>(HP 200, WinCE machines, etc.), is there a handheld CP/M machine that
>would
>run on 2 AA batteries, interface with a PCMCIA card (CP/M format of
>course),
>a decent screen (80x25). With this we could run the word processors,
>spreadsheets,
>compilers, etc., that are all laying around *and* carry this machine with
>us all
>the time.
>
>Imagine someone's reaction when they ask you, "Is that running WinCE?" and
>you
>reply that its running CP/M with full databases, wordstar, spreadsheets,
>compilers, everything!
>
>It has a high weirdness quotient that appeals to me.
>
>Mike
--
|>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Stuart Dawson Dawson Engineering
s...@dawson-eng.demon.co.uk
Belfast, Northern Ireland +44 1232 640669
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<|
Herbert R Johnson
In article <337b2...@news1.ibm.net>,
"Mike Eggleston" <mi...@spindle.net> wrote:
*>I had a thought last night that with the wave of new handheld computers
*>(HP 200, WinCE machines, etc.), is there a handheld CP/M machine that
*>would run on 2 AA batteries, interface with a PCMCIA card (CP/M format of
*>course), a decent screen (80x25). With this we could run the word processors,
*>spreadsheets,
*>compilers, etc., that are all laying around *and* carry this machine with
*>us all the time.
*>
*>It has a high weirdness quotient that appeals to me.
*>
*>Mike
Here's a reality check, Mike. The Radio Shack Model 100 doesn't have
a PCMCIA or an 80X25 screen: those came years after the Model 100 was
first built. It does have a 8X40 character screen and some bit graphics;
a ROM based spreadsheet, wordprocessor and BASIC; a cassette interface
(external video and disk drive optional); and runs off AA batteries
(mine uses C cells). It's more the size of a two-inch book than a
handheld.
Radio Shack made many thousands of them over several years. Even today
they command $30-$60 at the fleamarkets, due to radio amateur use for
mobile digital communications and control. I see them offered in the
"other computers" for-sale newsgroups for $100 sometimes.
And other folks have laptop CP/M systems of lesser or greater capabilites,
probably at similar prices.
So if you *really* want to amuse the locals, pull out one of THESE babies
instead of those candy-bar computers! I have a model 100 just for you.
Herb Johnson
***** I do not want bulk email. Automated bulk mailings prohibited. ****
Herbert R. Johnson voice/FAX 609-771-1503 day/nite
hjoh...@pluto.njcc.com Ewing, NJ (near Princeton) USA
occasional amateur electronic astronomer
supporter of classic computers as "Dr. S-100"
and senior engineer at Astro Imaging Systems: old photons to new bits!
Mike Eggleston
>So if you *really* want to amuse the locals, pull out one of THESE babies
>instead of those candy-bar computers! I have a model 100 just for you.
>
>Herb Johnson
I'll think about your suggestion, though I don't know if I'm ready to buy
one of these systems yet.... it is an idea that I've been working on and
wanted to pursue further than the dreaming stage.
Mike Mallett
In message <sC6WpuoW...@pluto.njcc.com>
hjoh...@pluto.njcc.com (Herbert R Johnson) writes:
<snipped>
> Here's a reality check, Mike. The Radio Shack Model 100 doesn't have
> a PCMCIA or an 80X25 screen: those came years after the Model 100 was
> first built. It does have a 8X40 character screen and some bit graphics;
> a ROM based spreadsheet, wordprocessor and BASIC; a cassette interface
> (external video and disk drive optional); and runs off AA batteries
> (mine uses C cells). It's more the size of a two-inch book than a
> handheld.
I know cassettes went out of fashion years ago - but wouldn't they make an
cheap and compact storage medium for handhelds and organisers where the
actual amount of data is small.
I have seen floppy drives for this type of kit and they cost over UKP
200 (USD 300).
The actual interface would not be very complicated and anyone on 'the move'
is likely to have a Walkman (R) !!
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Mallett mike.m...@zetnet.co.uk Reading, UK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Plinston
In message <<199705192...@zetnet.co.uk>> Mike Mallett <mike.m...@zetnet.co.uk> writes:
>
> I know cassettes went out of fashion years ago - but wouldn't they make an
> cheap and compact storage medium for handhelds and organisers where the
> actual amount of data is small.
>
> I have seen floppy drives for this type of kit and they cost over UKP
> 200 (USD 300).
>
> The actual interface would not be very complicated and anyone on 'the move'
> is likely to have a Walkman (R) !!
The Epson HX-20 and PX-8 (and similar) have built in microcassette
tapes, similar to the tiny dictation machines.
Allison
Mike Mallett <mike.m...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:
>I know cassettes went out of fashion years ago - but wouldn't they make an
>cheap and compact storage medium for handhelds and organisers where the
Audio casette we out due to reliability. The PX-8 used digital
recording and even has a directory. tape does not have to be crude.
Storage for that was 30-90k per tape.
Audio was actually capable of serious bulk storage. 200k or more was
doable.
barrym
Mike Mallett (mike.m...@zetnet.co.uk) wrote:
: In message <sC6WpuoW...@pluto.njcc.com>
: hjoh...@pluto.njcc.com (Herbert R Johnson) writes:
: <snipped>
:
: > Here's a reality check, Mike. The Radio Shack Model 100 doesn't have
: > a PCMCIA or an 80X25 screen: those came years after the Model 100 was
: > first built. It does have a 8X40 character screen and some bit graphics;
: > a ROM based spreadsheet, wordprocessor and BASIC; a cassette interface
: > (external video and disk drive optional); and runs off AA batteries
: > (mine uses C cells). It's more the size of a two-inch book than a
: > handheld.
: I know cassettes went out of fashion years ago - but wouldn't they make an
: cheap and compact storage medium for handhelds and organisers where the
:
: I have seen floppy drives for this type of kit and they cost over UKP
: 200 (USD 300).
:
: The actual interface would not be very complicated and anyone on 'the move'
: is likely to have a Walkman (R) !!
The problem is that tape isn't very reliable with these systems. Some
people do use it as backup and have no problems but most do have problems.
I remember my old Coco tape days with the recorder that was designed for
the computer (and the M100) and it was fairly reliable but not more than
that.
Also, I've seen the drives for this offered on newsgroups and on
Compuserve (the main source for the M100) for under $50 fairly
regularly.
Barry
Allison
hjoh...@pluto.njcc.com (Herbert R Johnson) wrote:
Speaking of machines that don't have...
My PX-8! 8x80 screen, 120k ramdisk and a tiny tape for backup.
and it runs on the 1.2Ah nicads for what seems like days. It gets
strange looks and I don't even flich when I tell them it's not dos or
intel!
Richard Kanarek
Stuart Dawson wrote:
>
> Interesting ideas, Mike.
>
> Texas Instruments' handhelds, TI-83, TI-85 and the soon-to-to-be
> released TI-86 (128 kB Ram), all run the Z80.
>
> URLs: http://www.ticalc.org
> http://www.ti.com/calc/docs/calchome.html
>
> I use TI-83s and 85s for survey applications, and I'd be
> interested in finding out how much of the old CP/M and Z80 software
> would be usable on them.
>
Addendum:
As you correctly stated by ommision, the TI-92 (the most "computer" like of TI's
calculator's doesn't use a Z80 similar MPU-- its some Motorola 68k variant.
Cordially,
Richard Kanarek
"Begining to use OS/2; the CP/M-86 of the Nineties"
Herbert R Johnson
In article <338474...@sprintmail.com>,
Richard Kanarek <RKan...@sprintmail.com> wrote:
*>Stuart Dawson wrote:
*>>
*>> Interesting ideas, Mike.
*>>
*>> Texas Instruments' handhelds, TI-83, TI-85 and the soon-to-to-be
*>> released TI-86 (128 kB Ram), all run the Z80.
*>>
*>> URLs: http://www.ticalc.org
*>> http://www.ti.com/calc/docs/calchome.html
*>>
*>> I use TI-83s and 85s for survey applications, and I'd be
*>> interested in finding out how much of the old CP/M and Z80 software
*>> would be usable on them.
*>>
*>
*>Addendum:
*>As you correctly stated by ommision, the TI-92 (the most "computer" like of TI's
*>calculator's doesn't use a Z80 similar MPU-- its some Motorola 68k variant.
*>
*>
*>Cordially,
*>Richard Kanarek
*>"Begining to use OS/2; the CP/M-86 of the Nineties"
^^^^^^^
(Richard, is that a compliment or a perjorative?)
I'm interested to hear that some current handhelds are using Z80's and 68K's.
Thanks for the references: what is Dawson's email address?.
As for the rest of this thread: Radio Shack Model 100's sell at ham flea
markets for anywhere from almost nothing to $60 or so, depending a lot on
buyer, seller and what's included. Other laptop of that class sell for less
as they do not have as solid a market. Of course you can pay more.
I've sold the Epson Geneva, no offers on the NEC 8201.
Running CP/M-oid apps on a handheld would require a BIOS that could handle
the CP/M OS calls as well as find storage and I/O on the handheld. Probably
do-able: if all the talk-talk on this subject was converted to code, it
would be done twice! But I'd test the handheld for at least 8080 code
compatibility, some of these embedded chips play with the instruction set.
Clarence Wilkerson
There is a "zshell" interface and loadable modules for the
TI-85. My reading is that ordimary CPM binaries won't run
because of the adress map, but perhaps could be recompiled.
The loading method seems to be from a stored "text" string.
The HP 200LX with an emulator looks more viable for a handheld
cp/m machine.
Small size of cp/m binaries would be a big advantage, since
one is working with in a bare machine, 2 megs of combined
ram and "disk" storage.
Clarence Wilkerson
Tim Russell
Mike Mallett <mike.m...@zetnet.co.uk> writes:
>I know cassettes went out of fashion years ago - but wouldn't they make an
>cheap and compact storage medium for handhelds and organisers where the
>actual amount of data is small.
Well, the reason I'm checking this group out is that I got bored over the
Memorial Day weekend, went fishing in the closet, and came up with my pristine
Epson HX-40 (also known as the PX-4, forerunner to the PX-8 Geneva).
It has a cartridge slot much like the HX-20 did (I have one of those
as well, alas not in working condition) and in that slot presently is a
computer-controlled microcassette drive that shows up as drive H. Love it.
BTW, just for the heck of it, here's a list of what's in the box that
contains all the parts for this system:
Epson HX-40 computer with 128k ramdisk expansion
Wordstar, Calc and Schedule in ROM (no BASIC or utility ROM
though, does anyone have them that I can copy? PLEASE?)
Centronics printer cable, serial host and modem cables,
external cassette cable
Epson PF-10 external 3.5" floppy drive with cable (battery powered!)
Owners and BASIC handbooks stamped PRELIMINARY
Owners and BASIC handbooks
OS Technical Reference manual (wow, love it!)
Microcassette module
Receipt printer module
Barcode reader wand
Printer ribbons and paper
How's /that/ for complete? I love it. The main reason I'm snooping
around is I intend to use the machine for some Ham Radio applications, and
I'm ashamed to say I can't remember the command-line syntax for M80 and L80
to compile an assembly program I'm working on.
Hmm, maybe there's something on one of my Otrona Attache' disks...
--
Tim Russell System Admin, Probe Technology email: rus...@probe.net
"The worst censorship is self-censorship, because fear has no limits."
-- Grady Ward
Bruce H. McIntosh
On 23 May 1997, Clarence Wilkerson wrote:
> The HP 200LX with an emulator looks more viable for a handheld
> cp/m machine.
Here's another possibility: a while ago, I saw one of the surplus places
advertising the Poquet PC for $75.00, with accessories for a few bucks
more. the Poquet was an XT clone with an flipup 80x25 screen and a
nearly-usable
(if you have miniscule fingers) keyboard; it was about the size of a VHS
videocasette. You could run an emulator on one of those. I think the
bigger screen and keyboard vs the HP200 would make it a viable solution to
the "gotta have trailing-edge laptop capabilities" urge. :-)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bruce H. McIntosh Senior Engineer, Core Network, UF / NERDC
scot...@afn.org bru...@nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu
http://www.afn.org/~scotsman http://nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu/~brucem
Parental unit (Amanda Marie 1/5/94, Laura Elizabeth 11/14/96)
Minstrel (guitar) Ferroequinologist (HO)
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