{"id":21426,"date":"2025-06-23T14:52:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T18:52:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=21426"},"modified":"2026-06-19T15:34:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T19:34:03","slug":"vin86","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin86\/","title":{"rendered":"Hewlett-Packard HP110 Portable Plus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        Hewlett-Packard HP110 Portable Plus\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"hewlett-packard-hp110-portable-plus\" class=\"wp-block-heading group\/query relative whitespace-pre-line break-words [word-break:break-word] max-h-[144px] font-sans text-pretty font-medium text-textMain dark:text-textMainDark selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-textMain dark:selection:bg-superDuper\/10 dark:selection:text-superDark\">Hewlett-Packard HP110 Portable Plus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>[vin86]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250623_174215000-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250623_174215000-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Hewlett-Packard HP110 Portable Plus\" class=\"wp-image-21433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250623_174215000-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250623_174215000-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250623_174215000-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250623_174215000-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250623_174215000-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250623_174215000-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250623_174215000-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250623_174215000-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The HP 110 Portable Plus, released in 1985, was a groundbreaking MS-DOS-compatible laptop notable for its built-in software (including Lotus 1-2-3, MemoMaker, and a terminal emulator in ROM), long battery life (up to 16\u201320 hours), and a tiltable, high-resolution LCD display that folded over the keyboard for portability. Its claim to fame was being Hewlett-Packard\u2019s first true laptop, offering unprecedented portability and performance for its time, with advanced power-saving features, a robust build, and the largest memory available in a portable computer when launched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: Hewlett-Packard (HP)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Laptop<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Model<\/strong>: HP110 Portable Plus<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Release Date<\/strong>: 1985<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost at release<\/strong>: USD $2,295 (CAD ~$8,000 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: 0.3 (300 KIPS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"hardware-specifications\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hardware Specifications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>CPU<\/strong>: Motorola 68030, 20 MHz (optional Motorola 68882 FPU coprocessor)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>RAM<\/strong>: 1 MB soldered onboard, expandable to 17 MB (4 \u00d7 30-pin SIMM slots, 100 ns)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ROM<\/strong>: 512 KB<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hard Drive<\/strong>: 40 MB, 80 MB, or 160 MB internal SCSI hard drive; 1.44 MB SuperDrive floppy disk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Video<\/strong>: Uses system RAM as VRAM; supports up to 8-bit color at 640 \u00d7 480 resolution<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expansion<\/strong>: 1 NuBus or Processor Direct Slot (PDS)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ports<\/strong>: ADB (keyboard\/mouse): 1, SCSI: 1 (DB-25), Floppy: 1 (DB-19), Serial: 2 (Mini DIN-8), Audio: 8-bit stereo out, 8-bit mono in (3.5mm jacks), Printer and modem ports<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Modem<\/strong>: Internal 1200 bps (baud) modem<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keyboard<\/strong>: Mechanical, 75 keys, 8 function keys<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage<\/strong>: No built-in floppy or hard drive; supports external 3.5&#8243; floppy drive via HP-IL<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"operating-system-programming-languages\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Operating System &amp; Programming Languages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>OS<\/strong>: MS-DOS 2.11 in ROM<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Programming Languages<\/strong>: While it did not have a built-in BASIC interpreter, users could run standard MS-DOS-compatible programming languages\u2014including BASIC (when loaded from external storage), Pascal, C, and assembly language\u2014by installing them via external floppy drive or RAM disk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Built-in Applications<\/strong>: Lotus 1-2-3, MemoMaker, Terminal Emulator (all in ROM)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"notables\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Notables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The HP 110 Portable Plus was Hewlett-Packard\u2019s first true laptop and was internally codenamed \u201cNomad\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At launch, it had the largest memory available in any portable computer, with 384 KB ROM and up to 1 MB RAM.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its suite of built-in software in ROM\u2014including Lotus 1-2-3, MemoMaker, and a terminal emulator\u2014was unusual and allowed instant-on productivity without loading from disk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The display could tilt for better visibility and folded over the keyboard, a novel design for the era.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It boasted exceptional battery life (up to 16\u201320 hours), thanks to advanced power-saving features and a sealed lead-acid battery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The HP-IL interface allowed daisy-chaining up to 30 devices, including printers and external floppy drives, which was rare for laptops at the time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The RAM could be partitioned to act as a RAM disk, preserving data for months on a single charge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was praised as the \u201calmost perfect portable\u201d and \u201cthe finest notebook computer available on the market today\u201d by Creative Computing magazine, which annoyed some competitors\u2019 fans.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The HP 110 was not a mass-market hit due to its high price and business focus, but it was highly respected and influential among early mobile professionals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Donated by<\/strong>: Arlen Michaels<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hewlett-Packard HP110 Portable Plus [vin86] The HP 110 Portable Plus, released in 1985, was a groundbreaking MS-DOS-compatible laptop notable for its built-in software (including Lotus 1-2-3, MemoMaker, and a terminal emulator in ROM), long battery life (up to 16\u201320 hours), and a tiltable, high-resolution LCD display that folded over the keyboard for portability. Its claim [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cu_dining_location_slug":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_page_type":[90,123],"class_list":["post-21426","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","cu_page_type-vintage-computing","cu_page_type-vintage-inventory"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21426","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21426"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21426\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24972,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21426\/revisions\/24972"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21426"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_page_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_page_type?post=21426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}