{"id":19716,"date":"2024-10-16T14:30:31","date_gmt":"2024-10-16T18:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=19716"},"modified":"2026-06-19T15:34:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T19:34:51","slug":"vin1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin1\/","title":{"rendered":"Hewlett-Packard HP9830A"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Hewlett-Packard HP9830A\n <\/h1>\n \n \n <\/header>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hewlett-Packard HP9830A<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\"Hewlett-Packard<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Hewlett-Packard HP 9830A, launched in 1972, was a landmark in the evolution of desktop computing, integrating a full BASIC programming language interpreter in ROM to offer immediate programmability without external loading. It featured a 16-bit bit-serial CPU derived from HP\u2019s minicomputer architecture, a 32-character alphanumeric LED display, a full QWERTY keyboard, and a cassette tape drive for storage. Weighing around 20 kg, the HP 9830A combined calculator convenience with general-purpose computing power, supporting advanced programming features like recursion and immediate mode execution. Designed for engineers and scientists, it was notable for expanding the concept of programmable calculators into a true desktop computer form factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hewlett-Packard HP9830A stands out as the very first desktop computer. No earlier device combines all these: high-level language (BASIC) in ROM, alphanumeric display, keyboard, and storage in one portable-like package. Some notable computers were released earlier like the Olivetti Programma 101 (1965\/Calculator), Datapoint 2200 (1970\/terminal computer), Kenbak-1 (1971\/did not run a high level programming language), and the Q1 computer (1972\/was released several months later). Intel had just released their first 4-bit CPU the 4004 which was not powerful enough for a modern computer. The landmark 8-bit Intel 8008 was released during the same year as the release of the HP9830A which started\/enabled\/fuelled the microcomputer revolution of the 1970’s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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