The Epson PX-8 aka Geneva was a small laptop computer made by the Epson Corporation in the mid-1980s.
It had a Z-80 compatible microprocessor, and ran a customized version of the CP/M-80 operating system as well as various applications from a pair of ROM cartridge slots. For file storage, it had a microcassette drive.
The PX-8 did not have any internal disk drive, and instead allowed either memory to be partitioned into application memory and a RAM disk, or an external 64 KB or 128 KB RAM disk module to be attached; the RAM disk module also had a backup battery for the RAM disk and an additional ROM (64 KB version only) cartridge slot. Data can be saved onto the built-in micro cassette tape drive.
The PX-8 had an 80 column by 8 line LCD display, which was monochromatic and non-backlit. It used an internal nickel-cadmium battery, and had a battery life in the range of 6-8 hours when using word-processing software.
There were a number of proprietary accessories available including a portable printer, bar code reader, and an early 3.5-inch diskette drive, the PF-10. The disk drives from the HX-20 could also be used. For the ROM cartridge slots a number of applications were available: Basic, CP/M utilities, Portable WordStar, CalcStar, Scheduler and dBase II.
The PX-8 was not initially a commercial success, especially compared against the TRS-80 Model 100 portable computer but achieved some increased success after a large number were sold discounted in the United States through the DAK Catalog. The PX-8 combined some of the features from its predecessors, the HX-20 being portable, battery operated and the QX-10 being CP/M compatible.
In 1985 Epson introduced the PX-4, combining features from both the PX-8 and the HX-20.
主要参数编辑本段回目录
| Released | 1984 |
| Price: | US $995 |
| Weight: | 5 lbs, 2.3kg |
| CPU: | Z-80 @ 2.45MHz |
| RAM: | 64K, 128K max |
| Display: | 80 X 8 text LCD |
| 480 X 64 graphics | |
| Storage | micro tape-drive |
| Ports: | RS-232, serial |
| audio in/out, bar code | |
| OS: | CP/M 2.2 in ROM |
 |  |
| NAME | PX 8 / HC-88 / Geneva |
| MANUFACTURER | Epson |
| TYPE | Portable |
| ORIGIN | Japan |
| YEAR | 1984 |
| BUILT IN LANGUAGE | Microsoft Basic |
| KEYBOARD | Full-stroke 72 key with function keys and cursor keys |
| CPU | Zilog Z80 (+ Hitachi 6301 for I/O) |
| SPEED | 2.45 MHz (Z80) / 614 KHz (6301) |
| RAM | 64 KB (up to 184 KB) |
| VRAM | 6 KB |
| ROM | 32 KB |
| TEXT MODES | 8 lines of 80 characters |
| GRAPHIC MODES | 480 x 64 dots |
| COLORS | LCD monochrome display |
| SOUND | beeper - Volume control |
| SIZE / WEIGHT | 29.7 (W) x 21.6 (D) x 4.6 (H) cm (A4 size) / 1.8 Kg |
| I/O PORTS | RS232, bar code reader, bus, ADC, cartridge, analog in (2) |
| BUILT IN MEDIA | small tape recorder |
| OS | CP/M 80 |
| POWER SUPPLY | External 6V. AC adaptor and rechargeable Ni-cad battery |
| PERIPHERALS | 64 KB or 128 KB Memory expansion units, 3.5'' and 5.25'' FDD units |
| PRICE | ?98 1990 FF (France, january 1988) |
详解编辑本段回目录
In 1982, two years before the PX-8, Epson released their HX-20 portable computer, what many consider the first so-called notebook computer ever.
Now, in 1984, we have the PX-8, a similar but very different notebook computer system. While the earlier HX-20 ran BASIC, the PX-8 is one of the only handheld computer systems which runs CP/M. The PX-8 can also run BASIC, as it also exists in ROM.
There is no room in this system for the micro-printer of the HX-20, but the micro-cassette drive is still present for data storage and retrieval. It can even play taped material such as voice or music through the PX-8's speaker.
Small ROM modules can be installed in the bottom of the unit which can including Wordstar, Supercalc, dBase II, and others. These ROM appear as drives to the operating system, and are accessed as such.
There are two slightly different versions, the "PX-8" and the "Geneva", with the later being intended for the American market. Some sources indicate that the Geneva ran at 4Mhz, but other sources dispute this claim.
相关链接编辑本段回目录
参考文献编辑本段回目录
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epson_PX-8_Geneva
http://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/computer.asp?st=1&c=198
http://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/computer.asp?st=1&c=198
http://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/computer.asp?st=1&c=198
http://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/computer.asp?st=1&c=198
