4004

jpero(a)mail.cgo.wave.ca writes: What you're writing about is the HP 264X line of terminals. They don't all use 8008 CPUs. The 2640s do, but I'm sure the 2645s use 8080s (and think the 2641, 2644, 2648A do too), and the 2647F uses some proprietary HP CPU. Not sure about 2642, 2647A, or the 2649s which are customized for specific applications, e.g. there was a flavor of 2649 used as the system console for HP 3000/33 minis. Fun terminals. I could go on for a while about them. The 2640s and 2641/4/5s have a facility allowing the downloading of code from the host. Somewhere around here I have a Space Invaders game and a Pac-Man game that run in the 2645s, and have heard of a driving game. Also have heard that some folks in the Gaithersburg, MD area turned a 2645 into some sort of BBS some years ago. The "two catches" are hidden. Look on the case left and right sides, you will see horizontal slots between the base and the CRT housing. Inside those horizontal slots, a couple of inches back from the front, are vertical slots. The object is to stick a "terminal key" (basically a thin flat piece of metal, but a stiff paperclip can be made to serve) into those slots to push open the catches that are at the top of the slots. While pushing, lift the CRT housing. If like most of us you have no more than two hands (and only one key) you may find it convenient to do one side at a time, which is OK. -Frank McConnell