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Epson HX-20 (Epson HC-20)

Made in Japan by Epson in 1981-11
Units sold: 250000
50
games

Released games per year

8283 82460
Epson HX-20 (HC-20) is often called the first true laptop computer. It weighed 3 pounds and was also referred to as 'handheld' because it could be held in one hand while typing with the other. First available in November 1981 but not a mass-market product until July 1982. It was the same size as an A4 notebook. Ads in magazines proudly labeled photos of the HX-20, "Actual Size" (because it would actually fit magazine pages). The CPUs used a master-slave arrangement. Both RAM and ROM were 'expandable'. An expansion port allowed direct access to the master CPU's memory bus. The on-board RAM _and ROM_ could be used by expansion hardware or replaced (switched off). But, the bypassing of on-board memory was not an all-or-nothing operation. An expansion could switch off address ranges. Thus providing the nearly unique ability of temporarily replacing the system ROM and BIOS in whole or part. This was used, for example, to run a different version of BASIC as an alternative ROM BASIC to the Epson's built-in ROM BASIC. Other uses were possible, such as redefining keys and buttons that otherwise were hard-coded in the BIOS (only 5 buttons were defined by default). Complicated bank-switching across the on-board and expansion RAM was also possible (but never used?). The built-in OS consisted of Epson BASIC and a monitor program. Despite this, critics at the time complained about "the lack of an operating system" (did they mean "lack of MS-DOS"?). The monitor program was also a debugging mode. It could be entered at any time using a keystroke, BASIC command, or automatically in the event of any error. The system was strictly powered by a battery pack with no wall power option. But the pack could be charged in the unit by a charging cable. It is a trivial matter to replace the pack with 4 AA NiMH batteries (or 4 SubC*) which is necessary as the original NiCad packs are useless after all this time. The original charge cord is suitable for NiMH batteries, although faster [than 8 hours] external charging options than the original charger is available. An external battery pack of equivilent voltage and arbitrary size (a 6-volt NiMH lantern battery is not the least used option for an HX-20) is not that hard to make either (in case you need to leave your game paused and unplugged for several more months than the stock system allows LOL).
It saw use in warehouse inventory keeping. Stock brokers loved it for not being 30 pounds (like other 'portable computers') and the acoustic coupler meant they could trade using a standard phone. It was a terrific lab computer being able to quickly change between experiments even from room-to-room collecting, transferring, and printing data using a huge variety of interfaces if required. Journalists could report, write, edit, submit, and even see the editor's final draft using any standard phone to send documents both directions. It was a computer to use anywhere and move to anywhere else. But, it had another role too. Designed to be customizable and upgradeable. A door on the bottom could be used to access the memory. Another door for the CPU. The chips were socketed therefore replaceable by the end user so the HX-20 could be transformed into the device the user needed. There was an empty 8k ROM socket, ideal for adding whatever minimal changes were needed to the on-board BIOS to integrate whatever peripheral was to be used without the need of further expansion. Even the built-in peripherals were modular. The tape deck and printer could be unplugged to make room for upgrades or other accessories. And the keyboard also could be snapped out and an item board or other control board could change the HC-20 into a smart cash register or some other specialized piece of smart equipment. Critics at the time complained about the lack of HX-20 software provided by Epson. But in a way, that was the point. If the shipped system had even a basic software library, then it would have to be sacrificed when the system was specialized by the user. Instead, Epson provided a large selection of peripherals that the system could be adapted for. An HX-20 could turn any dumb device into a smart one.

What didn't happen:
While Epson was pleased to have sold 250,000 units, this turned out to be tiny compared to the potential of the PC and even the laptop PC market. Even though it was annonced, availble to customers, and praised by giants of the PC community in November of 1981, Epson didn't offer it as a mass-market product untill July 1982. The TRS-80 Model 100 hit the mass-market about 9 months later and pretty much halted HX-20 sales (despite MSRP of $1099, $304 more). It offered a much larger screen and all arround friendier user experience. But, many other lightweight small portables split the market in the early 80s as well. The personal computer market had changed from one the expected to specialize a system to their own use via hardware and self-made software to one where customers expected an out-of-the-box system to already be compatible with a wide range of 'standard' perriferals and all types of software pre-existing. The compeating products were all better at this. Even the DVW Husky was a friendlier product
Adding hardware to change a computer into a gaming device had been the norm in the late 70s. Color graphics cards, sound chips, DMA hardware, CPU upgrades, where all the rage on Altair, Ohio Scientific, IMASI, TRS-80 Model I, Sol-20, etc... Heck, these systems often lacked a screen and keyboard. But, Epson offered no gaming hardware at all. Thus, none for the HX-20. And the home gaming market had changed. Apple, Commodore, and Tandy PCs were ready for games as soon as the first plug-in. As far as I can tell, there aren't even any games that used the Hitachi 6301, ever. No assembly language games to port. That left only BASIC. The tiny screen and printer were not inviting features for any developer. It was really only suitible for ports and games as seen from 1970s mainframes. There is infact at least one HX-20 that uses the screen exclusivly for graphics and prints all text-based information using the printer. Making it an expensive game to play. Nevertheless, people made some games for it.


CPU: Two Hitachi 6301 @ 614 kHz*
RAM: 16k-32k (Static RAM)
ROM: 32k-64k
Display: 20x4 Text, 120×32 graphics.
External Display: 20x4x4 Text
Sound: (Square wave from a speaker)
Input: 60-key Keyboard, 7 face buttons
Media: Built-in Micro Cassette drive
Built-in Printer
Power: NiCad battery pack (4xAA Equivilent*)
Battery Life: 50 hours at peak CPU usage
I/O: 8-pin DIN RS-232, 5-pin DIN RS-232
Options: Video Output, Acoustic Coupler modem, Floppy Drive, Barcode Reader, RealVoice speech synthesis, 40x24 text terminal (dumb terminal), Docking Station

250,000 units sold

It has games written in Assembly and written in BASIC (and some are just a series of DATA, PEEK and POKE statements). A PASCAL compiler was released for the system.

*Some units used SubC batteries. 4 unmodified AA batteries will not fit into these.

Officially supported until 2003. In use by the German Airforce until 2003 (probably not a coincidence)

Scan bardcodes without using power cords
HX-20 CHECK
SMARTPHONE & NOTEBOOK CHECK
Scan QR Codes without using power cords
HX-20 CHECK
SMARTPHONE & NOTEBOOK CHECK
Now print QR Codes on this roll of labels without using power cords
HX-20 CHECK
SMARTPHONE & NOTEBOOK ... (buying $99 accessory) CHECK
Now print 1000 rolls (without using power cords)
HX-20 CHECK
SMARTPHONE ... (buying pre-charged batteries) ... (buying more pre-charged batteries) ... (buying more pre-charged batteries) ...

#

tech info

resolution: 120x32 graphics, 20x4 text, 40x24x4 text (external)
memory: 16k-32k
CPU: 2 x Hitachi 6301@614kHz
sound: Speaker
BOMBER
? *
Triplets
? *
Trax
? *
Attack of the Sine Wave from Outer Space!
? *
Awari
1982
TILE
? *
Pong, Anyone?
? *
Othello
? *
Buried Treasure
? *
CAVERN
? *
Ohio Lottery
? *
Chess
? *
NIM
? *
Mine Sweeper
? *
Columns
? *
Fireman! Fireman!
? *
Cootie
? *
Escape of the Free Radical from Outer Space!
? *
Milk
? *
Hit & Miss
1982-07
Master Mind
? *
UArtilery
? *
Blackjack
? *
Follow Me
? *