braun@drivax.UUCP (Karl T. Braun (kral)) (01/15/87)
I've just started reading this group, so forgive me if some of this has
already been covered.
A friend of mine has an hp-150b. I assume that the 15 meg hard disk he
has is standard equipment. He would like to get some information on the
following:
1) Any hp-150 user groups in the South Bay (preferably Monterey Bay)
area.
2) What are the best comm programs for the 150 (in terms of
cost/benifits).
3) What are the best modems for the 150 (internal and external).
4) We have discovered that the removable disk format is not exactly
like ibm's. I know quite a bit about ibm disk formats, but haven't
gotten around to probing his disk. Can anyone give details on this?
Is their any compatibility at all between the two (like format only
with one them)?
Thanx for any help you can provide.
--
kral 408/647-6112 ...!{amdahl,ihnp4}!drivax!braun
"Who is Number One?" "You are, Number Six!"ericr@hpvcla.HP.COM (Eric Ross) (01/20/87)
> 4) We have discovered that the removable disk format is not exactly > like ibm's. I know quite a bit about ibm disk formats, but haven't > gotten around to probing his disk. Can anyone give details on this? > Is their any compatibility at all between the two (like format only > with one them)? > There is an upgrade for the 150B which will provide it with the same ROMS as the Touchscreen II (150C) and allow you to run MSDOS 3.2. With this upgrade(assuming you have a double-sided floppy drive(700+ Kbytes)) you can read, write and format IBM 3.5" format floppies. Additionally, there is a 5.25" floppy drive available(9125S) which can read and write IBM 5.25" floppies. The upgrade kit is part number 45849-63024($140). If you have a Touchscreen II already then you can buy just the software with part number 45849-63031 ($85). You might check with your local dealer, but chances are that you will have to order these parts from your nearest Hewlett Packard sales office. Additionally, if you plan to use Microsoft Windows, then the upgrade is required. Caution: At this time it is known than the following applications will break if you install the upgrade. 1) Condor (database manager) 2) Graphics/100(drawings can be used by Graphics Gallery instead) The following must be the indicated revisions or later to work: 1) Wordstar 3.34 (upgrade kits are available) 2) GW Basic 2.0 A.01.03 (upgrade kits are available) Eric Ross Hewlett Packard Vancouver Division(Home of the Thinkjet and QuietJet printers) ihnp4!hpfcla!hpvcla!ericr
slf@well.UUCP (Sharon Lynne Fisher) (01/21/87)
You know, you don't necessarily need a communications program with a 150 because it has a built-in terminal emulator. If you do, Reflection by Walker Richer & Quinn is well thought of. (206) 324-0350. I think only one internal modem is aavailable - one by Ven Tel that HP sells. I've used the 150 with Hayes and I think a Ven Tel (whichever one lets you dial with the K command) and both work fine.
billw@navajo.STANFORD.EDU (William E. Westfield) (01/22/87)
MSDOS kermit is available for the 150 - I have a version with a recoded keyboard scanner that implments META on extend and sends Emacs commands on touch screen input... What Id like to know is if there are any newer versions of DOS available for the HP150 - I have an original HP150 (single sided 3.5inch disk, old ROMs, etc), but wouldn't mind getting, say, version 3.x of DOS... BillW
waynec@hpsrlc.HP.COM (Wayne Cannon) (01/22/87)
> / hpsrlc:comp.sys.hp / braun@drivax.UUCP (Karl T. Braun (kral)) / 7:58 pm Jan 14, 1987 / > > A friend of mine has an hp-150b. I assume that the 15 meg hard disk he > has is standard equipment. He would like to get some information on the > following: There is no standard equipment disc that comes with the HP-150. It can be purchased with only floppies (3 1/2-inch single and double drive, or 5 1/4-inch; The 3 1/2-inch is the dominant 150 floppy), or hard disc's in a myriad of sizes, some with a built-in 3 1/2-inch floppy. > 2) What are the best comm programs for the 150 (in terms of > cost/benifits). There is an excellent internal terminal emulator -- a true HP terminal, versus an emulation program as is used with the Vectra or PCs. It will run 19,200 baud of straight text (no insert line, delete line, etc.) with no handshaking. For programs that include mode control and/or file transfer, there are several Kermits, several Xmodem/modem7 protocol programs, and HP's Advancelink. The latter provides very flexible programmable interaction with the host computer, but uses its own protocol for file transfer. It is especially suitable if the host is an HP3000, for example. I know Reflection is well-thought-of for PCs and the HP Vectra, but am not sure if it is available for the HP-150. > > 3) What are the best modems for the 150 (internal and external). There were some problems with the internal modem sold for the HP150 by HP (made by Ven-Tel). I don't know the severity of the problems, or if they have been fixed or not. I use an external Hayes modem, which has the advantage of saving the two accessory board slots (e.g. for memory expansion, and special I/O such as Centronics). > > 4) We have discovered that the removable disk format is not exactly > like ibm's. I know quite a bit about ibm disk formats, but haven't > gotten around to probing his disk. Can anyone give details on this? > Is their any compatibility at all between the two (like format only > with one them)? The latest version of the operating system, 3.2 supports both HP's and IBM's 3 1/2-inch disc formats, but the earlier versions do not. There are both ROM and Operating System upgrades available. Some of the OS upgrades require ROM upgrades. The lastest (3.2) version also suppports MS-Windows, which is supposed to provide support for a lot more PC software than the 150 by itself. --Wayne Cannon {...hpcea!}hpsrla!waynec (telco) (707)-577-3631
kk@hpl-opus.HP.COM (Konstantinos Konstantinides) (01/22/87)
There is MS-DOS 3.2 available for the hp150/touchscreen It offers support for non-HP 3.5-inch disc formats read-write of IBM compatible format 12 new DOS commands, et.c I think it is sold as an upgrade kit ( approx $85)
scott@hpcvck.HP (Scott Linn) (01/22/87)
MSDOS 3.2 is now available for the HP150. It has a few bugs now, so you might want to look for Rev B. Scott Linn HP - Northwest IC Division
waynec@hpsrlc.HP.COM (Wayne Cannon) (01/23/87)
The HP9127A is the new drive recommended for 5 1/4-inch IBM compatibility, rather than the HP9125A. I believe that the difference is the higher density for IBM PC/AT compatibility. I have all the upgrade part numbers for HP-150 ROMS areound here somewhere if someone wants them bad enough for me to look them up.