Kaypro 4 (81-004 & 81-006) - Revision history

FrankRahman at 16:41, 17 August 2026

2026-08-17T16:41:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:41, 17 August 2026
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	\| Price at introduction: \|\| $1,995.00 (June 1983)		\| Price at introduction: \|\| $1,995.00 (June 1983)
	\|}		\|}

			"the Kaypro 4 was reduced to $1,795 in October, 1983."<br>
			(Annual Report, 1983)

	==Why 2 model numbers?==		==Why 2 model numbers?==

FrankRahman at 11:36, 17 August 2026

2026-08-17T11:36:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:36, 17 August 2026
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	First Units: May 1983		First Units: May 1983 (Annual Report 1983)

	{\|		{\|

FrankRahman at 11:35, 17 August 2026

2026-08-17T11:35:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:35, 17 August 2026
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			First Units: May 1983

	{\|		{\|
	\|-		\|-

FrankRahman at 19:25, 13 August 2026

2026-08-13T19:25:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:25, 13 August 2026
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	\| Memory: \|\| 64K		\| Memory: \|\| 64K
	\|-		\|-
	\| Disk Storage: \|\| Two Double Density Double Sided Tandem floppy drives (~~400K~~)		\| Disk Storage: \|\| Two Double Density Double Sided Tandem floppy drives (394K)
	\|-		\|-
	\| Ports: \|\| Modem/RS232C Interface, Centronics parallel printer interface		\| Ports: \|\| Modem/RS232C Interface 19K bits/second, Centronics parallel printer interface
	\|-		\|-
	\| Keyboard: \|\| Detachable full typewriter keyboard with 14 key numeric pad and 4 cursor control keys. Upper and lower case.		\| Keyboard: \|\| Detachable full typewriter keyboard with 14 key numeric pad and 4 cursor control keys. Upper and lower case.
			\|-
			\| Display: \|\| 9" green phospor, 80 columns x 24 rows
			\|-
			\| OS: \|\| CP/M 2.2
			\|-
			\| Dimensions: \|\| 18" x 8" x 15.5"
			\|-
			\| Weight: \|\| 26 lbs.
			\|-
			\| Price at introduction: \|\| $1,995.00 (June 1983)
	\|}		\|}

FrankRahman: /* News */

2026-08-09T23:37:06Z

News

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:37, 9 August 2026
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	(New York Times, October 8, 1983)		(New York Times, October 8, 1983)

	~~<blockquote>~~		"Within months of its birth, the Kaypro II had become a classic. It was joined in 1983 by the Kaypro 4, which sported double sided, double density disk drives for more storage," <br>
	Within months of its birth, the Kaypro II had become a classic. It was joined in 1983 by the Kaypro 4, which sported double sided, double density disk drives for more storage, <br>
	([[Kaypro: Thirty Years of Innovative Experience]], 1983)		([[Kaypro: Thirty Years of Innovative Experience]], 1983)
	~~</blockquote>~~

	==FCC ID==		==FCC ID==
	This machine's FCC ID was issued Jan. 4, 1984.		This machine's FCC ID was issued Jan. 4, 1984.

FrankRahman: /* News */

2026-08-09T23:36:04Z

News

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:36, 9 August 2026
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	"The Kaypro Corporation, a Solana Beach, Calif., computer manufacturer, announced that it had reduced the price of its Kaypro 4 personal portable computer by $200, to $1,795. Kaypro said the price reduction, which does not affect the Kaypro 10 model, is a result of supplier cost reductions in both disk drives and video display screens, coupled with increasing volume orders. The Kaypro 4, which uses double-density disks, features 392K of formatted storage per disk for a total of 784K for the unit's two disk drives."<br>		"The Kaypro Corporation, a Solana Beach, Calif., computer manufacturer, announced that it had reduced the price of its Kaypro 4 personal portable computer by $200, to $1,795. Kaypro said the price reduction, which does not affect the Kaypro 10 model, is a result of supplier cost reductions in both disk drives and video display screens, coupled with increasing volume orders. The Kaypro 4, which uses double-density disks, features 392K of formatted storage per disk for a total of 784K for the unit's two disk drives."<br>
	(New York Times, October 8, 1983)		(New York Times, October 8, 1983)

			<blockquote>
			Within months of its birth, the Kaypro II had become a classic. It was joined in 1983 by the Kaypro 4, which sported double sided, double density disk drives for more storage, <br>
			([[Kaypro: Thirty Years of Innovative Experience]], 1983)
			</blockquote>

	==FCC ID==		==FCC ID==
	This machine's FCC ID was issued Jan. 4, 1984.		This machine's FCC ID was issued Jan. 4, 1984.

FrankRahman: /* News */

2026-08-04T23:16:30Z

News

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:16, 4 August 2026
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	==News==		==News==

			<blockquote>
			Non-Linear Systems, Inc., manufacturers of the fast-selling line of Kaypro portable personal computers, has announced the introduction of the Kaypro 4 portable personal computer, featuring a total floppy disk capacity of 788K. ...

			The new Kaypro 4, which will be priced at $1,995, is designed for use with double-sided double-density disks with 394K memory per disk for a total of 788K for the unit;s two disk drives. As with all computers in the Kaypro line of personal portables for the business market, the machine will be sold with all programming bundled and packaged with the machines on delivery from the factory. The programming itself, which is provided at no additional charge, is itself worth over $2,800 if purchased seperately.

			The Kaypro 4 employs the 8-bit Z-80 microprocesor and features a full-featured, standard professional keyboard with 72 keys including 20 programmable keys plus a 14 key calculator-type numeric keyboard. The portable machine has a high-resolution 9-inch green phosphor screen which offers the optimum full page display capable of 80 columns across by 24 lines deep, the characteristics required of a computer that displays a full page of typewritten information.

			According to David Kay, "the Kaypro 4 is completely compatible with the existing lines of Kaypro II and Kaypro 10 machines. The double-sided double density disks for the Kaypro 4 can be used interchangeably with the single-sided double-density disks normally used on the Kaypro II."<br>
			(NLS Introduces Expanded-Capacity Kaypro 4 Computer, June 1983)
			</blockquote>

	"We just started shipping the KAYPRO 4 which has double sided floppy disks for more memory."<br>		"We just started shipping the KAYPRO 4 which has double sided floppy disks for more memory."<br>

FrankRahman: /* What happened to the Kaypro IV */

2026-07-28T23:26:33Z

What happened to the Kaypro IV

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:26, 28 July 2026
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	While there are no Kaypros with the roman numeral IV there is strong evidence that the roman numeral version was strongly considered as the name during it's development. Some software had it printed on it and the early versions of the screen text included it as Kaypro IV. There is marketing material that labeled it as the Kaypro IV.		While there are no Kaypros with the roman numeral IV there is strong evidence that the roman numeral version was strongly considered as the name during it's development. Some software had it printed on it and the early versions of the screen text included it as Kaypro IV. There is marketing material that labeled it as the Kaypro IV.

			{\|
			\|-
			\|
			[[File:KIV labeled disks.jpg]]
			\|\|
			\|-
			\| \|\|
			\|}

	==News==		==News==

FrankRahman at 03:58, 5 July 2026

2026-07-05T03:58:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:58, 5 July 2026
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	[[File:K4 Label 81-006.jpg\|400px]]		[[File:K4 Label 81-006.jpg\|400px]]
	\|}		\|}

			==What happened to the Kaypro IV==

			While there are no Kaypros with the roman numeral IV there is strong evidence that the roman numeral version was strongly considered as the name during it's development. Some software had it printed on it and the early versions of the screen text included it as Kaypro IV. There is marketing material that labeled it as the Kaypro IV.

FrankRahman at 15:49, 1 January 2026

2026-01-01T15:49:42Z

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 | Keyboard: || Detachable full typewriter keyboard with 14 key numeric pad and 4 cursor control keys. Upper and lower case.
 |}
 "We just started shipping the KAYPRO 4 which has double sided floppy disks for more memory."<br>
@@ Line 41: / Line 56: @@
 (New York Times, October 8, 1983)
 This machine's FCC ID was issued Jan. 4, 1984.