Kaypro 2000

Kaypro 2000

[Vin79]

The Kaypro 2000 was notable as Kaypro’s first and only MS-DOS/IBM-compatible portable computer, marking the company’s shift from CP/M-based systems to the emerging industry standard of the mid-1980s. Its rugged, brushed-aluminum “laptop” design featured a detachable keyboard, a pop-up 3.5″ floppy drive, and an internal rechargeable battery offering up to four hours of use—features that were innovative for its time and targeted at mobile professionals.

Its claim to fame lies in being one of the earliest truly portable, battery-powered IBM-compatible computers, blending style with practical portability and helping to bridge the gap between “luggable” computers and modern laptops. While it was praised for its design and compatibility, it was released into a rapidly evolving market and did not achieve widespread popularity, overshadowed by competitors like Tandy and Toshiba.

• Manufacturer: Kaypro Corporation
• Released: 1985
• Type: Laptop
• Cost at release: USD $1,995 (CAD ~$7,000 adjusted for inflation)
• MIPS: 0.33 (330 KIPS)

Hardware Specifications

• CPU: Intel 8088, 4.77 MHz
• RAM: 256 KB standard (expandable up to 768 KB)
• Storage: Single 3.5″ 720 KB floppy disk drive (pop-up mechanism)
• Display: 9-inch monochrome LCD screen
• Keyboard: Detachable, full-sized
• Ports: Serial, parallel, and external floppy drive ports
• Modem (optional): 1200 baud internal modem
• Battery: Internal rechargeable battery (up to 4 hours of use)
• Case: Rugged, brushed aluminum “laptop” design
• Weight: Approximately 13 pounds (5.9 kg)

Operating System & Programming Languages

• Operating System: MS-DOS 2.11 as its primary operating system
• Programming Languages:
  • GW-BASIC (included with the system)
  • BASICA-compatible interpreters
  • Turbo Pascal
  • Microsoft BASIC
  • C (various compilers)
  • FORTRAN
  • dBase II (for database programming and scripting)
  • Other languages compatible with the IBM PC and MS-DOS, such as Assembly and Pascal variants

Notables

• First & Only Kaypro Laptop: The Kaypro 2000 was Kaypro’s first and only portable MS-DOS/IBM-compatible laptop, marking the company’s attempt to enter the rapidly growing DOS market.
• Industrial Design: Its rugged, brushed-aluminum case with rubber protection grips gave it a distinctive, industrial look. The design was so striking that it earned nicknames like the “Darth Vader of laptops” and was described as “more Ferrari than Jeep”.
• Pop-Up Floppy Drive: Featured an innovative pop-up 3.5″ floppy drive, which was unusual for laptops of the era.
• Detachable Keyboard: One of the few laptops of its time with a fully detachable, full-sized keyboard.
• Automatic Power-On: Powering on was as simple as opening the cover, a rare feature in the mid-1980s.
• Battery-Powered: Offered up to four hours of use on its internal battery—impressive for its time.
• “Porsche of lap-sized computers” (Chicago Tribune).
• “Snazzy” and “more Ferrari than Jeep” (PC Magazine).
• Transitional Device: Helped bridge the gap between bulky “luggables” and modern laptops, but arrived late to the market as competitors were already advancing portable computing

Donated By: Arlen Michaels