Epson PX-8

Epson PX-8

Epson PX-8

I have two main units (H1010A) and Epson RAM disk unit 120 (H103A).

type computer
country Japan
year 1984
os CP/M, build in Microsoft Basic
cpu Zilog Z80
speed 2.45 MHz
ram 64 KB
rom 32 KB
graphic LCD 480 x 64 dots
colors mono
sound beeper
ports RS323, bus, cartridge, two analog in, bar code reader

The Epson PX-8 Geneva — The CP/M Laptop

Released in 1984, the Epson PX-8 Geneva was the successor to the groundbreaking HX-20 — a more powerful laptop computer that ran CP/M, the dominant business operating system of the early 1980s, on a Zilog Z80 processor. The ”Geneva” name reflected Epson’s international marketing strategy, and the machine was sold under various names in different markets. At $995 at launch, it offered genuine CP/M business computing capability in a battery-powered, portable package that weighed approximately 1.6 kg — maintaining the HX-20’s compact form factor while dramatically expanding software compatibility.

CP/M Compatibility

Running CP/M gave the PX-8 access to an enormous library of business software that had accumulated on desktop CP/M machines throughout the early 1980s — word processors like WordStar, spreadsheets like SuperCalc, and database systems like dBASE II were all available. This made the PX-8 a genuinely useful business tool rather than a novelty, and it found customers in professional and scientific environments that needed serious software in portable form.

ROM-Based Software

Like the HX-20, the PX-8 supported ROM cartridges for instant-loading software — applications stored in ROM chips that loaded in seconds rather than the minutes required for cassette or disk loading. Epson offered ROM cartridges for word processing, spreadsheet, and other applications, making the PX-8 practical for users who needed quick access to specific tools without the complexity of disk management. The built-in microcassette drive provided mass storage for data files.

Legacy

The PX-8 Geneva represented Epson’s continued commitment to pioneering portable computing after the HX-20’s success. It demonstrated that CP/M — not just simple BASIC interpreters — could run effectively on battery-powered portable hardware, further establishing the viability of the laptop computer concept that Epson had introduced with the HX-20.