{"id":21618,"date":"2025-07-09T11:33:46","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T15:33:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=21618"},"modified":"2025-07-09T12:57:38","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T16:57:38","slug":"vin81","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin81\/","title":{"rendered":"Epson PX-8"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Epson PX-8<\/h2>\n<p>[Vin81]<\/p>\n<p>The Epson PX-8 &#8220;Geneva&#8221; was a pioneering portable computer from 1984, notable for its compact, laptop-style design, Z80-compatible processor, and use of a non-backlit 80-column by 8-line LCD display. Its claim to fame was running the CP\/M operating system entirely from ROM, offering a microcassette drive for storage, and supporting modular ROM cartridges for software like WordStar and dBase II, making it one of the most flexible and advanced 8-bit portables of its era. Although it struggled commercially against competitors like the TRS-80 Model 100, the PX-8 is remembered for its innovative approach to portability and expandability, and it found a niche among enthusiasts and professionals\u2014especially after price reductions\u2014cementing its place in computing history.<a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_154908663-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-large wp-image-21623\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_154908663-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Epson PX-8\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_154908663-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_154908663-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_154908663-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_154908663-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_154908663-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_154908663-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_154908663-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_154908663-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: Epson Corporation (Japan)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Laptop<\/li>\n<li><strong>Model<\/strong>: PX-8<\/li>\n<li><strong>Release Date<\/strong>: 1984<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost at release<\/strong>: USD $995\u00a0 (CAD ~$3,400 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost with peripherals<\/strong>: USD $2,484 (CAD ~$8,500 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: 0.3 (300 KIPS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"TextRun SCXW36078203 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36078203 BCX0\">Hardware Specifications<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>CPU<\/strong>: Z80-compatible microprocessor, 2.45 MHz (some sources mention up to 4 MHz).<\/li>\n<li><strong>RAM<\/strong>: 64 KB standard, expandable up to 128 KB (with optional RAM disk modules).<\/li>\n<li><strong>ROM<\/strong>: 32 KB (expandable via ROM cartridge slots for software like WordStar, BASIC, etc.).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Display<\/strong>: 80-column by 8-line monochrome LCD (non-backlit); graphics mode 480 \u00d7 64 pixels.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Storage<\/strong>: Built-in microcassette tape drive for data storage; optional external RAM disk (64 KB or 128 KB) and external floppy disk drive.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ports\/Interfaces<\/strong>: RS-232 serial, proprietary serial for disk drive or printer, analog input, bar code reader interface.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Power<\/strong>: Internal rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery (6\u20138 hours typical usage).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sound<\/strong>: Built-in speaker (beeper).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keyboard<\/strong>: Full-stroke 72-key keyboard with function and cursor keys.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dimensions<\/strong>: 29.7 cm (W) \u00d7 21.6 cm (D) \u00d7 4.6 cm (H) (A4 size).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Weight<\/strong>: 2.3 kg (5 lbs)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"TextRun SCXW136206418 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW136206418 BCX0\">Operating System &amp; Programming Languages<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW136206418 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_165227265-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-large wp-image-21625\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_165227265-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Epson PX-8 with printer\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_165227265-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_165227265-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_165227265-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_165227265-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_165227265-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_165227265-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_165227265-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250709_165227265-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"my-0\"><strong>Operating System<\/strong>: Customized version of\u00a0<strong>CP\/M 2.2<\/strong>\u00a0as its operating system, stored in ROM rather than on disk.<\/li>\n<li><strong><strong>Supported Languages:<\/strong><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>BASIC: The PX-8 included an Epson-enhanced version of Microsoft BASIC in ROM, allowing users to write and run BASIC programs directly on the machine.<\/li>\n<li>CP\/M Languages: Because it ran CP\/M 2.2, the PX-8 could also run a wide variety of CP\/M-compatible languages and tools, such as:<\/li>\n<li>Assembler (ASM)<\/li>\n<li>FORTRAN<\/li>\n<li>COBOL<\/li>\n<li>Pascal<\/li>\n<li>C (with available CP\/M compilers)<\/li>\n<li>Other interpreters and utilities available for CP\/M, provided they were compatible with the PX-8\u2019s hardware and display limitations.<\/li>\n<li>ROM Cartridges: Additional languages and applications (such as dBase II, WordStar, and others) could be loaded via ROM cartridges, further expanding the PX-8\u2019s software capabilities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Notables<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The laptop&#8217;s nickname was &#8220;Geneva.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Triple Processor Design: Featured a main Z80 CPU and additional processors in its intelligent RAM disk and ROM modules, making it unusually complex for its size.<\/li>\n<li>ROM Cartridge Drives: Supported swappable ROM modules for software, which appeared as virtual disk drives, users could even create their own custom ROM&#8217;s.<\/li>\n<li>Used a built-in microcassette tape drive for data storage, a rare choice compared to floppy disks at the time.<\/li>\n<li>Its external RAM disk module included its own Z80 CPU and backup battery, making it one of the earliest battery-backed RAM storage solutions.<\/li>\n<li>Y2K Quirk: The PX-8&#8217;s date system only accepted years from 1977 to 1999, making it &#8220;Y2K-proof&#8221; in a limited sense.<\/li>\n<li>Early Notebook Pioneer: Among the first true laptop computers, following Epson&#8217;s own HX-20, and notable for its CP\/M compatibility in a portable form<\/li>\n<li>One of the first portables to run CP\/M entirely from ROM as well as a WordStar word processor via ROM, enabling instant boot and reliability in the field<\/li>\n<li>Audio Playback: The microcassette drive could play voice or music through the built-in speaker<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>Donated by<\/strong>: Arlen Michaels<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Epson PX-8 [Vin81] The Epson PX-8 &#8220;Geneva&#8221; was a pioneering portable computer from 1984, notable for its compact, laptop-style design, Z80-compatible processor, and use of a non-backlit 80-column by 8-line LCD display. Its claim to fame was running the CP\/M operating system entirely from ROM, offering a microcassette drive for storage, and supporting modular ROM [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Epson PX-8 - 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