HP 2640 - Models

Models

The HP 264X series included several models beyond the HP 2640A.

• The HP2644A introduced 3M mini cartridge tape drives which could be used to upload or download data, as opposed to slow paper tapes of the time. Another later model used floppy disks, and supported drawing forms etch-a-sketch style and would compute intersections. Also notable was the use of paper labeled function keys on the upper left. These would always get lost, so users would scroll lock the top 2 lines of the screen and used these for labels. These were built into the next generation of terminals. The values of these keys could be programmed.

• The HP 2648 was a graphics terminal which featured hardware zoom, and "autoplot". It utilized separate memory for graphics and text, allowing the user to turn off either type of display at will.

• The HP 2647 had a variant of Microsoft BASIC with AGL (HP's standard for plotting) built in, and perhaps the first real business charting for a microcomputer, complete with 3D cross-hatched pie charts.
  • 02647-13301 Graphics: 2647 Multiplot and Slide Software. Multiplot was the model for the PC based Chartman by the Cambridge company that also produced the Twin spreadsheet 1-2-3 clone which introduced HP 2640 style forms to PC applications.
  • 13257B Graphics: 2647 Graphics Presentation Resource Pac
  • 13257D Statistics/Mathematics: 2647 Statistical Analysis Resource Pac
  • 13257C Statistics/Mathematics: 2647 Mathematics Analysis Resources Pac
  • 13257F Business: 2647: Project Management Analysis Resource Pac
  • 13257K General/Utilities: 2647 2647/1351 Basic

• The HP262X series introduced the "periscope" look, "soft" key labels along with a 4 + 4 key display at the bottom of the screen, a hierarchical setup tree, 12" screen and an optional internal Thermal printer. The HP-125 45500A Dual Z80 CP/M used the form factor and terminal emulation of the HP 2621 terminal. The HP-150 had the terminal capabilities of the HP 2623 graphics terminal in a smaller package (9" screen).

• The HP2382 "munchkin" repackaged the HP 2622 in a 9" screen package. The HP-120 45600A packaged the HP-125 into the HP2382 form factor.

• The "Therminal" was an unusual implementation of a screen-less printing terminal which used the thermal print mechanism. It was one of the first projects of the Vancouver division. It even supported tape cartridge local storage, but it was not successful.

The great over-reach was a color graphics terminal that cost more than the HP 2647 monochrome graphics workstation that sold very few units but cost a huge effort to develop.

Eventually, HP ended up selling essentially a low-cost version of the HP 2640. Today, terminal emulators by companies such as Attachmate and Rogue Wave still implement the late 1970s feature set of these terminals on common PCs.

See also List of HP 26xx terminals (introduction, price, discontinuation)