Firsts

Allison wrote: Allison, I'm really having trouble figuring out what you're thinking of. Even as far forward as 1975, the only HP systems I can think of that ran BASIC were minis. The 2100 and 2114 would have been the smallest of these, and both are boxes that really want to be in 19" racks but can be made to sit on tabletops and can be carried (I am certain that the 2100 has handles and think the 2114 does too). If carrying one doesn't convince you that it wants to be in a 19" rack or at least left sit I don't know what will. The closest thing I can think of is the HP 85, which is a fairly small and lightweight complete system, with keyboard, display, printer, and cartridge tape in the box. It was also "portable" in that you could get matching luggage for it. Next closest might be some of the 98xx calculator/workstations, but I think those were either programmed like calculators or in HPL, not BASIC. But all of this is late 1970s-1980 stuff. Maybe I'm just having a brain lapse? -Frank McConnell