9 Mar
2012
9 Mar
'12
12:36 p.m.
There were definitely calculators that weren't
programmable, such as
many of the Computer Design Corporation (Compucorp with Monroe & Sumlock
among others, as OEM customer) calculators that didn't include the LEMP
(Learn Mode Programming) feature, of which there were quite a few,
definitely had a computer-like architecture, with their multi-chip
calculator logic chipset essentially being an early multi-chip
microprocessor, with ROM-based firmware. These machines were quite
ahead of their time.
I beleive the Compucorp 322 was the first ever handheld programmable
calculator, it beat the HP65 bya few weeks. Of course the latter was a
much more capable mahcine (and I seem to remembner some of the HP
advertising material for the 65 called it 'your personal computer' :-)).
How much is known about the internals of the Compucorp machines? I've
read the service manual on Katie Wasserman's site (I think that's where I
saw it), but it doesn't have much detained information on the processor.
I don't think there are even scheamtics of some of the boards, only those
you could resonably repair, like the power converter.
I don't disagree at all. The ability to print strings (as opposed to
the basic digit & limited symbol printers that print on adding machine
tape of most calculators, even some programmables like the Programma 101
and those from Sharp, among others) in base form, as with the 9830,
pushes the machine more in the direction of computer. Add on the string
How do you classiby the single-board evaluation sstems (like the intel
SDKs)? Those often ahd just a he keybod with function keys and a
numeric-only display. Are those computers?
variable ROM, and it's firmly a computer, as it
can actually process
text.=20
A criteria that might fit is: Could you write a simple text editor or
word processor using the base programmable calculator? For the 9830 in
stock form, no. Add the string variable ROM, and the answer becomes
Playing Devil's Advocate for a moment, I believe the String Varioable ROM
was avialkable as a factor-installed internal option board (most of the
ROMs were). And thys you could order an HP9830 from HP with string
variable apability. Is that a 'stock' 9830 :-)
yes. Perhaps by this question, the 9830 in base form
is still a
programmable calculator, but I really have a problem with that and still
would say that the 9830 in base form is more computer than calculator,
despite HP's marketing, and the fact that it is a little fuzzy on some
of the rules.
I cetianly regard the 9830 as a computer. In fact I think it is a strong
contentor for the title of 'first personal comptuer'
Let me add at this point that the fact we can't agree on an exact
dividing line between 'programmable calcualtor' and 'computer' doesn't
make the terms worthless. Nobody can agree o nthe precise wavelength
where 'orange' becomes 'yellow' but that doesn't mean it's silly
to say
'connect the orange wire to take 3 and the yellow wire to tag 15'
Realisitcally, some, if not many, prograambble calculators are close to
being computers, even if they don't meet the strict definitions. I don't
think anyone is goign to object to a discussion of the HP9810, 9820 or
9830 here (even if you all them calculators, they are clearly things that
run programs, they are clearly over 10 years old, they are clearly
interesting machines to some of us here(). And I don;t think anyone would
object if you gave a presenation o nthem at a vintage computer event.
One definition
I'ev heard is the 'key per function' one. A calculator
has
a 'SIN' key, on a computer you type it
out as 3 letters. Alas this
makes
the Sinclair ZX80/81/Spectrum a
'calculator'....
Which is why I didn't say "key per function" in the definition. This
would confuse things, as many calculators from the timeframe had
multiple functions per key, through use of "shift" keys that would The interrupt capability of the 9800's wasn't
presented to the user in
any way, if I recall correctly. It was more a means for the microcode
Corret, AFAIK. I don;t think even the advanced I/O ROM for the 9830
allowed user trapping of iterrupts. It was strickly something that the
firmware could do at the machine code level. Some periperals used
interrupts (the cassette drive, the last of the RS232 intefaces, etc),
but they ahd their own firmware to cotnrol them, it was not something the
suser could do.
I would argue
that the fact a machine cna be expanded, particularly if
new funcitons can be addded (e.g. by add-on ROMs), rahter htan just
connecting it to a printer, say, then the machine is more like a
computer
than a calcualtor.
Again, I was making these definitions with no add-ons, just the base
machine with no add-ons or options. The rules definitely break down
when add-on ROM functionality, and things like certain types of
peripherals (disk drives, printers and plotters, teletypes and I/O
typewriters, parallel and RS-232 interfaces, custom I/O interfacing
capability (e.g., the 705 "Multiface" add-on for the Wang 700-series
computers), expanded memory and others) make the machines much more like
computers than programmable calculators.
As above, the 9800-series(excepting the 9830 which I consider a
computer) definitely breaks some of my definitions, but then, they were
truly exceptional machines, as was HP's way in those days. They
They were indeed. I think they're one of the landmark products.
-tony