HP Computer Compatible with IBM PC AT

What's New

BYTE Magazine

January 1986

The Vectra PC from Hewlett-Packard is an 80286-based computer compatible with the IBM PC AT. The Vectra's processor runs at 8 MHz. as opposed to 6 MHz for the AT. A socket is provided for an optional 80287 numeric coprocessor.

Hewlett-Packard's Vectra PC

The base unit measures 16.7 by 15.4 by 6.3 inches, for a footprint approximately 30 percent smaller than that of the IBM PC AT. Inside, the Vectra PC has five full-size and two half-size expansion slots and room for three stacked disk drives. Drives from either HP or other manufacturers fit into plastic carriers that snap into the chassis, allowing for a wide assortment of mass-storage devices, including 3 1/2-inch and 5 1/4-inch floppydisk drives, 20- and 40-megabyte hard disks, and tape backup.

The keyboard has a bank of 10 function keys at the side for use with IBM PC-compatible software; a row of 8 additional function keys across the top provides compatibility with programs for earlier HP personal computers. Theoretically, all 18 keys could be used by a program. The keyboard is connected through the HP-HIL (Hewlett-Packard Human Interface Loop), which allows for multiple input devices without wasting either ports or expansion slots. Both a touchscreen bezel and a mouse are available.

The three basic configurations of the Vectra PC are the Model 25, with 256K bytes of RAM and one 360K-byte floppy-disk drive for $3199; the Model 35, with 256K bytes of RAM and a 1.2-megabyte drive for $3399; and the Model 45, with 640K bytes of RAM and a 1.2-megabyte drive for $3599. A floppy-disk controller is built into the system electronics. Prices include a color-graphics adapter but not a monitor. Prices do not cover MS-DOS 3.1, but if you buy the operating system, you also get HP's Personal Applications Manager. For further information, contact Hewlett-Packard Co., 1801 Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94304, (800) 367-4772.