Kaypro 2000 - Revision history

FrankRahman: /* Kaypro 2000 Multi Adapter */

2026-10-14T01:58:05Z

Kaypro 2000 Multi Adapter

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:58, 14 October 2026
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	How it works: Snap Adapter into bottom of Kaypro 2000 (Computer will tilt up at slight angle.) Plug disk dirves and parellel printer into connection on rear of Adapter. Standard RGB color video half-card (such as Hercules, ''?Perryst''?, etc.) plugs into IBM-type slot and installs completely inside housing.<br>		How it works: Snap Adapter into bottom of Kaypro 2000 (Computer will tilt up at slight angle.) Plug disk dirves and parellel printer into connection on rear of Adapter. Standard RGB color video half-card (such as Hercules, ''?Perryst''?, etc.) plugs into IBM-type slot and installs completely inside housing.<br>
	(Kaypro 2000 Accessories Preliminary Price List)		(Kaypro 2000 Accessories Preliminary Price List)
			</blockquote>

			<blockquote>
			The expansion slot in the Multi-Adapter cannot be used for a hard drive controller for two reasons: One, a hard drive requires more power than the Multi-Adapter can deliver, and two, even if the hard drive is powered independently, the Multi-Adapter connot handle the DMA functions that some software uses.

			Kaypro Corporation, sells the Kaypro 2000 Base Unit, available from your dealer with an optional hard drive. ...

			The expansion port on the Multi-Adapter is intended for half-length video boards only. In fact, Kaypro Corporation recommends its use with only one board: The Persyst Color II Card,...<br>
			(Profiles, October 1987)
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

FrankRahman: /* Manufacturing */

2026-10-02T13:42:27Z

Manufacturing

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:42, 2 October 2026
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	In the press there was talk of a partnership between [[Mitsui connection\|Mitsui]] and Kaypro to develop a small laptop. Mitsui ended up not making the Kaypro 2000. In an interview in 2025 for the Floppy Days Podcast David Kay says that Citizen made the 2000 for Kaypro.<br>		In the press there was talk of a partnership between [[Mitsui connection\|Mitsui]] and Kaypro to develop a small laptop. Mitsui ended up not making the Kaypro 2000. In an interview in 2025 for the Floppy Days Podcast David Kay says that Citizen made the 2000 for Kaypro.<br>
	([https://floppydays.libsyn.com/floppy-days-158-interview-with-david-kay-kaypro-part-2 David Kay Interview #2])		([https://floppydays.libsyn.com/floppy-days-158-interview-with-david-kay-kaypro-part-2 David Kay Interview #2])

			==Known Issues==
			<blockquote>
			In the past, some people have had problems using the serial port on thier Kaypro 2000s. Some software designed to use the serial port does not seem to work, and checking the status of the port with KSTATUS (a program that is a part of your bundled software), indicates that the port is operating.

			The port may have been deselected--meaning that it is simply inactive. To select the serial port (make it active), use KSTATUS. First run KSTATUS, then call up the KSTATUS menu by pressing CTRL, ALT, and S. Move the highlighted bar to the PORT section of the menu. Even though the option under PORT may say RS-232, the port itself may not be active. Press RETURN a few times. This toggles the communications output between the serial port and the internal modem, and if the serial port is deselected, it activates it. Leave the RS-232 port selected, then exit the program by pressing ESC.<br>
			(Profiles, December 1986)
			</blockquote>

	==Derived Machine==		==Derived Machine==

FrankRahman: /* Accessory Prices */

2026-09-29T13:34:12Z

Accessory Prices

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:34, 29 September 2026
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	=== Accessory Prices ===		=== Accessory Prices ===
	[[File:Kaypro 2000 Accessory Prices Profiles June 88.png\| 600px]]		[[File:Kaypro 2000 Accessory Prices Profiles June 88.png\| 600px]]

			==Non-Kaypro Accessories==
			Axonix produced not just the backlight mod for the Kaypro 2000 they also had a Hard Drive and Expansion Unit.<br>
			[[File:Axonix HD add-on ad.jpg\|300px]]

FrankRahman: /* Screen Size Change */

2026-09-23T01:46:11Z

Screen Size Change

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:46, 23 September 2026
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	===Screen Size Change===		===Screen Size Change===

	The originally released Kaypro 2000 had a large border around the LCD screen. Typically, the small screen had a had a green colored border. My guess would be that they had designed the machine to have a larger screen than the smaller screen it initially shipped with. Having lived during this time I remember the challenges that manufacturers had producing flat panel displays with acceptable numbers of defective pixels. They likely settled with a smaller screen to keep the cost down and supply higher.		The originally released Kaypro 2000 (what I call Version 1) had a large border around the LCD screen. Typically, the small screen had a had a green colored border. My guess would be that they had designed the machine to have a larger screen than the smaller screen it initially shipped with. Having lived during this time I remember the challenges that manufacturers had producing flat panel displays with acceptable numbers of defective pixels. They likely settled with a smaller screen to keep the cost down and supply higher.

	When the base memory was changed to 768K they also upgraded the screen to one that was “28% larger”. These later machines have a screen that appears more appropriately sized to the designed area, it had a black border. It appears that the number of characters was not changed with the larger screen since they both have 80 by 25 characters. In the news section of this page it is hinted that the larger screen required more memory which isn't likely since the resolution did not change. The larger screen has a slightly better contrast which does make it more readable but it is still a challenge.		When the base memory was changed to 768K they also upgraded the screen to one that was “28% larger” (Version 2). These later machines have a screen that appears more appropriately sized to the designed area, it had a black border. It appears that the number of characters was not changed with the larger screen since they both have 80 by 25 characters. In the news section of this page it is hinted that the larger screen required more memory which isn't likely since the resolution did not change. The larger screen has a slightly better contrast which does make it more readable but it is still a challenge.

	The Kaypro 16 had a 80 by 40 display like the previous CPM Kaypros. So the Kaypro 2000 always had a slightly disadvantaged screen compared to the luggable versions, especially when you consider screen contrast.		The Kaypro 16 had a 80 by 40 display like the previous CPM Kaypros. So the Kaypro 2000 always had a slightly disadvantaged screen compared to the luggable versions, especially when you consider screen contrast.

	{\|		{\|
	!Original Screen !! 28% Larger Screen		!Original Screen (Version 1) !! 28% Larger Screen (Version 2)
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|

FrankRahman: /* Kaypro 2000 */

2026-09-23T01:44:28Z

Kaypro 2000

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:44, 23 September 2026
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	== Kaypro 2000 ==		== Kaypro 2000 ==
	Model Number 81-040 (Version 1) and 81-043 (Version 2)<br>		Model Number 81-040 (Version 1) and 81-043 (Version 2)<br>
	(81-043 sticker added on the bottom of the Version 2) See		(81-043 sticker added on the bottom of the Version 2) See [[#Screen_Size_Change\|Screen Size Change]] for more information on the different versions
	{\|		{\|
	\|-		\|-

FrankRahman: /* Kaypro 2000 */

2026-09-23T01:42:49Z

Kaypro 2000

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:42, 23 September 2026
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	== Kaypro 2000 ==		== Kaypro 2000 ==
	Model Number 81-040		Model Number 81-040 (Version 1) and 81-043 (Version 2)<br>
	(~~Some units have a P/N~~ 81-043 sticker added on the bottom)		(81-043 sticker added on the bottom of the Version 2) See
	{\|		{\|
	\|-		\|-

FrankRahman: /* Kaypro 2000 */

2026-08-20T21:48:30Z

Kaypro 2000

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:48, 20 August 2026
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	[[File:2000 Inside.jpg]]		[[File:2000 Inside.jpg]]
	\|}<br>		\|}<br>

			"During 1985, Kaypro expects to introduce its "laptop" portable computer. Designed to fit into a briefcase and weigh less than 10 lbs., this machine will have a standard keyboard, full page 80 x 25 line display screen and 3 1/2" disk drive. It will use the MS/DOS operating system, be IBM-compatible, come with a standard bundle of applications software and be upgradeable to include a second disk drive."<br>(Annual Report, 1984)

	Press release cover letter dated April 22, 1985.		Press release cover letter dated April 22, 1985.

FrankRahman: /* Mods */

2026-08-18T19:24:07Z

Mods

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:24, 18 August 2026
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	[[File:K2000 with back light.jpg]]<br>		[[File:K2000 with back light.jpg]]<br>
	The owner of this machine states: "I believe it's an Axonics unit out of Utah." (eBay, gameboy3800yt, 8 June 2026)<br>		The owner of this machine states: "I believe it's an Axonics unit out of Utah." (eBay, gameboy3800yt, 8 June 2026)<br>

			If it is the Axonics upgrade here is the ad for it<br>
			[[File:Axonix Ad.png]]<br>(Profiles Magazine, March 1987)


	This is a review of the Bondwell 2 laptop:<br>		This is a review of the Bondwell 2 laptop:<br>

FrankRahman: /* Kaypro Serial to Parallel Interface */

2026-08-06T02:52:24Z

Kaypro Serial to Parallel Interface

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:52, 6 August 2026
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	=== Kaypro Serial to Parallel Interface ===		=== Kaypro Serial to Parallel Interface ===

			{\|
			\|-
			\|
	[[File:Kaypro Acc ser to par.jpg]]		[[File:Kaypro Acc ser to par.jpg]]
			\|\|
			[[File:K2000 Serial to Parallel Conv Ebay.jpg]]
			\|}

	<blockquote>		<blockquote>

FrankRahman: /* Kaypro 2000 */

2026-07-31T23:54:52Z

Kaypro 2000

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:54, 31 July 2026
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	Press release cover letter dated April 22, 1985.		Press release cover letter dated April 22, 1985.

			<blockquote>
			The Kaypro 2000 is Kaypro's lucky number. The company's new lap top computer is priced under $2000, targeted at the Fortune 2000 executive, and designed to take the user into the next century. ...<br>
			The Kaypro 2000 is IBM compatible, of course. In fact, it is Kaypro's fourth IBM compatible machine. In the last three months Kaypro has brought out the Kaypro 16, the Kaypro 16<sub>2</sub>, the 286i AT-compatible, and now the Kaypro 2000 in quick succession, making Kaypro a key player in the personal computer market.<br>
			("For the Fortune 2000, the Kaypro 2000", Kaypro Press Release)
			</blockquote>

	The Kaypro 2000 had two notable changes during its lifetime. Initially in the spring of 1985 it came with 256K of RAM with upgrade options of 512K and 768K. If configured with 768K then the upper 128K could be used as a RamDisk since the operating system was limited to the lower 640K. The start-up RAM check only tests the lower 640K and doesn't report the entire memory of the 768K version. In the summer of 1986 the base configuration was changed to include 768K of RAM.		The Kaypro 2000 had two notable changes during its lifetime. Initially in the spring of 1985 it came with 256K of RAM with upgrade options of 512K and 768K. If configured with 768K then the upper 128K could be used as a RamDisk since the operating system was limited to the lower 640K. The start-up RAM check only tests the lower 640K and doesn't report the entire memory of the 768K version. In the summer of 1986 the base configuration was changed to include 768K of RAM.