I have the main unit, FP-201 ram memory pack
and power adapter.
type handeld computer
country Japan
year 1982
os Basic
cpu Intel 8085
speed 3MHz
ram 8 KB
rom 32 KB
graphic 160 x 64 mono LCD
colors mono
sound beeper
ports expansion bus, serial, parallel, cartridge port
The Casio FP-200 — A Pioneering Portable Computer
The Casio FP-200, introduced at the Tokyo Microcomputer Show in the early summer of 1983, was one of the earliest portable computers in the A4 form factor — a flat, book-sized machine that could genuinely be used on a desk, a lap, or a briefcase. Using an Intel 80C85 processor at 4 MHz with 8 KB of RAM (expandable to 32 KB via cartridges), the FP-200 offered a comprehensive C85-BASIC interpreter, a built-in spreadsheet, and a remarkable range of expansion options in a 1.5 kg package. At its launch price of 3,850 French francs, it was expensive — but it represented a genuine portable computing capability that few machines of its era could match.
Casio’s Computing Heritage
The FP-200 built on Casio’s already-strong reputation in programmable calculators and pocket computers. The company had launched the world’s second programmable computer with BASIC in 1981 (after the Sharp PC-1211) with the FX-702P, which became a worldwide success. The FX-702P was followed by the FX-801P and the FX-9000P, each advancing Casio’s computing capabilities. The FP-200 represented a step-change in ambition — a machine designed not as a calculator but as a portable computer with genuine productivity capabilities.
Modular Design and Expansion
The FP-200’s most distinctive feature was its exceptional modularity. Three RAM/ROM cartridge slots allowed memory expansion and additional software; an optional single-sided 5.25-inch floppy disk drive (70 KB capacity) added mass storage; and a 4-colour plotter of identical dimensions to the main unit could be attached for graphical output. This modular approach allowed users to configure the FP-200 for their specific needs — from a basic portable BASIC computer to a complete mobile workstation with storage and printing capabilities.
Museum Recognition
Notably, the Casio FP-200 held in the Computer Museum Ata collection has achieved an unusual distinction: its photograph appears on the machine’s Wikidata entry, attributed to ”Tietokonemuseo.JPG” — meaning this very collection’s example has contributed to the public record of this rare machine’s documentation. The FP-200 is genuinely scarce today, and the Computer Museum Ata’s example is an important artefact of early portable computing history.