Text 58409, 95 rader
Skriven 2009-11-23 07:38:00 av TOM WALKER (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av MARK LEWIS
Ärende: Characters.
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ML> TW> My first version of Wordstar was also the CPM version.
ML> TW> I was using the Osborne/KayPro compatable CPM side of a Commodore
ML> TW> 128

ML>the first computer store i worked for used to sell the Kaypro CPM lunchbox
ML>machines :)

ML>they had what? like 6x6 green monochrome screens built in with one or two
ML>8-inch floppy drives or had they droped to the 5.25s by ummm... '83 or '84??

The screen was 9" and much better then the 5" on the Osborne.
The Joke about why they went under is that it was a Family Owned
business and there were To many Kay's and NOT enough Pros.

Here is some Kaypro Trivia:


The Kaypro II was the first computer released by Non-Linear Systems, in
1982. Non-Linear Systems was founded by Andy Kay in 1952. But they
didn't make computers back then, they made digital multimeters. You see,
Andy Kay is the inventor of the digital multimeter.


The Kaypro II is unusual because the entire case is made out of metal.
Kaypro's computers were an extension of their test instrument design
philosophy: rugged, reliable, reasonably priced, looking more like
instruments than the creative, communications (and business) tools that
they really are.


The Kaypro II is not the first portable full-size computer, that would
be the Osborne 1, with its all-plastic case.

With the entire case of the Kaypro II being metal, it is probably
heavier than it has to be, and the sharp metal corners are hard on the
knees, if you actually decide to carry it anyplace.

On the plus side, the 9" screen on the Kaypro is a distinct advantage
over the Osborne's tiny 5" screen.

In 1983, they split-off the computer division, naming it Kaypro
Computers. They were soon shipping 10,000 Kaypro II computers a month.

Over the next four years, they released the Kaypro 10, IV, 4, 2, 2X,
Robie, 4X, 12X, 16, 2000, and Kaypro 1, in pretty much that order.

Most of their computers were based on the Z-80 microprocessor and ran
the CP/M operating system up until 1986 or so. By that time, MS-DOS was
taking over the world. Kaypro Computers made a few more systems, but
couldn't compete. They filed for bankruptcy in 1990.

Soon after the Kaypro II was released, BYTE magazine published a review
of the system, on September 1983.

Arthur C. Clarke lived in Sri Lanka while working on the movie version
of his science-fiction novel "2010". He used his Kaypro II and a modem
to keep in touch with Peter Hyams (the director) in Los Angeles.


Non-Linear Systems are still around, visit them at
http://www.nonlinearsystems.com/

Former Kaypro CEO Andy Kay headed Kay Computers, selling Intel-based
PCs for a while. A web inquiry noted that the Domain Name is up for
sale so at some point he gave up on computers.



History of Kaypro Computers

    * 1952: Andrew Kay founds Non-Linear systems, the first manufacturer
    of digital voltmeters.
    * 1982: March - Non-Linear Systems introduces the Kaypro II for
    US$1795.
    * 1982: Non-Linear Systems shows the prototype Kaypro 5, with 5 MB
    hard drive.
    * 1982: Computer sales quickly $120 million.
    * 1983: June - Non-Linear Systems introduces the Kaypro 4, like the
    Kaypro II but with 380KB double-sided disk drives. Price is US$1995.
    * 1983: June - Non-Linear Systems introduces the Kaypro 10, like the
    Kaypro 4 but with one 380KB double-sided disk drive and a 10-MB
    internal hard drive. Price is US$2795. Weight is 31 pounds.
    * 1983: July - Non-Linear Systems changes its company name to Kaypro
    Corporation.
    * 1983: Kaypro was rated the 5th largest personal computer
    manufacturer in the world.
    * 1990: March - Kaypro Corporation files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
    * 1992: June - Kaypro Corporation files for Chapter 7 liquidation to
    satisfy some $20 million in claims.
    * 1995: Kaypro property sold for $2.7 million.
      Source: Chronology of Events in the History of Microcomputers

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