- Developer: Andrew Kay
- Manufacturer: Kaypro
- Released in August 1982
- Type: Transportable
- Origin: U.S.A.
- Model No: PNS1-003
- Serial No: 207446
- Operating System: CP/M 2.2
- Price: US $1595
- Size/weight: 45 x 36 x 21 cm / 13 Kg
Specifications
- CPU: Zilog Z80
- Speed: 2.5 MHz
- Memory: 64K
- Keyboard: Full-stroke 70 key typewriter style keyboard with 18 programmable keys
- Monitor/ Display: 9” green phosphor screen, 24×80 test only
- I/O ports: RS232c serial port, “Centronics” type parallel port, keyboard interface, modem in/out (depending models)
- Storage: Two internal 5-1/4” SS-DD 195K drives
- Sound: Beep only
- OS: CP/M, SBASIC
Description
The Kaypro II was the first computer released by Non-Linear Systems, in 1982. Non-Linear Systems was founded by Andy Kay in 1952. But they didn’t make computers back then, they made digital multimeters. Andy Kay is the inventor of the digital multimeter.
The Kaypro II is unusual because the entire case is made out of metal. Kaypro’s computers were an extension of their test instrument design philosophy: rugged, reliable, reasonably priced, looking more like instruments than the creative, communications tools that they really are.
Arthur C. Clarke lived in Sri Lanka while working on the movie version of his science-fiction novel “2010”, he used his Kaypro II and a modem to keep in touch with Peter Hyams (the director) in Los Angeles.
