The Hewlett Packard HP85

The HP85 was basically aimed at more engineering type applications. It uses HP's own 8 bit processor and is a desk top unit having integral keyboard, display, printer and DC100 tape cartridge ( 192K ).

The 5" screen displays 16 x 32 characters, or 256 x 192 pixels. The 93 typewriter style keys include numeric keypad and user definable keys. The thermal printer has a 32 column dot matrix output and can reproduce screen graphics. The mini tape cartridge has fast search facilities and can store 195K.

The basic system comes 16K of  RAM and a 2K monitor ROM. There is a plug-in ROM pack facility that not only allows more RAM to be used (up to 32K) but also high level languages. ( this one has a BASIC cartridge fitted) IEEE488, RS232C and 2 parallel ports are available.

When the machine is booted up the data unit starts and looks for programs to execute.

The Price of this machine (16K) was £1830 +VAT (Value Added Tax)

This machine was purchased at a car boot sale  for £7 and came with a modem and approximately 20 data tapes but unfortunately no literature.