Kaypro 4

I have two main units.

type computer
country USA
year 1984
os CP/M 2.2
cpu  Zilog Z80
speed 4 MHz
ram 64 KB
graphic 25×80 text, 160 x 100 graphical characters
colors mono
storage two 5.1/4″ SS/DD 390K disks
ports two Serial, parallel, RJ11C telephone jack

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The Kaypro 4 — The Refined CP/M Luggable

The Kaypro 4, released in 1984, was part of Kaypro’s second generation of CP/M luggable computers — an evolution of the original Kaypro II that offered double-sided, double-density floppy drives providing significantly more storage capacity. Using the same Z80A processor architecture and 9-inch green phosphor CRT display that had made the Kaypro II a bestseller, the 4 refined the formula with improved drive specifications and the same comprehensive software bundle — including WordStar word processor, CalcStar spreadsheet, and DataStar database — that had made Kaypro machines so commercially attractive.

Kaypro’s Software Bundle Strategy

Kaypro’s most significant competitive advantage over rivals was its software bundle strategy. Where the Osborne 1 had pioneered bundled software, Kaypro refined the concept into a comprehensive office suite that provided immediate productivity from day one. WordStar combined with spreadsheet and database software meant that a Kaypro buyer had a complete business computing environment out of the box. This ”turnkey” approach to business computing directly anticipated the complete software bundles that consumer PC manufacturers would adopt throughout the 1990s.

Arthur C. Clarke’s Choice

The Kaypro family achieved literary fame when science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke used a Kaypro to write ”2010: Odyssey Two” — sending the final manuscript from Sri Lanka via modem. This unlikely connection between cutting-edge science fiction and rugged CP/M computing gave Kaypro an unusual cultural cachet among its admirers.