Robie (81-012 & 81-013) - Revision history

FrankRahman: /* Drives Used */

2026-10-27T11:25:17Z

Drives Used

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:25, 27 October 2026
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	We are getting reports that Kaypro is recalling the Robies that wander back to dealers because of bad drives. What initially appeared to be disk problems are turning out to be problems with the disks, the drives, and the Kaypro.		We are getting reports that Kaypro is recalling the Robies that wander back to dealers because of bad drives. What initially appeared to be disk problems are turning out to be problems with the disks, the drives, and the Kaypro.

	I've heard that Kaypro is letting folks trade in their flaky Robies for Kaypro ~~1Os~~. You give them your Robie and $100 and they give you a 10. That's not a bad deal. (I understand that Drivetec has gotten back a whole slew of units from Kaypro.)		I've heard that Kaypro is letting folks trade in their flaky Robies for Kaypro 10s. You give them your Robie and $100 and they give you a 10. That's not a bad deal. (I understand that Drivetec has gotten back a whole slew of units from Kaypro.)

	Kaypro thinks it has straightened out the problems with the Robie and they are beginning to release a few with new drives, new media, and modified boards. But even if they work flawlessly, I think people will be a little reluctant to purchase a system that requires special preformatted disks which retail for $11 each. If the drives aren't very popular, where are folks going to get the disks?<br>		Kaypro thinks it has straightened out the problems with the Robie and they are beginning to release a few with new drives, new media, and modified boards. But even if they work flawlessly, I think people will be a little reluctant to purchase a system that requires special preformatted disks which retail for $11 each. If the drives aren't very popular, where are folks going to get the disks?<br>

FrankRahman: /* Drives Used */

2026-10-27T11:24:56Z

Drives Used

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:24, 27 October 2026
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	==Drives Used==		==Drives Used==
			I don't usually lead off with problemed hardware but in this case I need to.

			<blockquote>
			We are getting reports that Kaypro is recalling the Robies that wander back to dealers because of bad drives. What initially appeared to be disk problems are turning out to be problems with the disks, the drives, and the Kaypro.

			I've heard that Kaypro is letting folks trade in their flaky Robies for Kaypro 1Os. You give them your Robie and $100 and they give you a 10. That's not a bad deal. (I understand that Drivetec has gotten back a whole slew of units from Kaypro.)

			Kaypro thinks it has straightened out the problems with the Robie and they are beginning to release a few with new drives, new media, and modified boards. But even if they work flawlessly, I think people will be a little reluctant to purchase a system that requires special preformatted disks which retail for $11 each. If the drives aren't very popular, where are folks going to get the disks?<br>
			(Micro Cornucopia, Feb-Mar 1985)
			</blockquote>

	While the Robie is famous/infamous for using the Drivetec drives they were not the only drives used in the machines. In the May 1987 issues of Profiles a user submitted a question that included this statement: "I own a 4'84 and a Robie with standard double-sided, double-density drives."		While the Robie is famous/infamous for using the Drivetec drives they were not the only drives used in the machines. In the May 1987 issues of Profiles a user submitted a question that included this statement: "I own a 4'84 and a Robie with standard double-sided, double-density drives."

	==81-012==		==81-012==

FrankRahman at 13:08, 29 September 2026

2026-09-29T13:08:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:08, 29 September 2026
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	\| [[File:Andrew Kay w Robie and K4.jpg\|400px]]		\| [[File:Andrew Kay w Robie and K4.jpg\|400px]]
	\|}		\|}

			==Drives Used==
			While the Robie is famous/infamous for using the Drivetec drives they were not the only drives used in the machines. In the May 1987 issues of Profiles a user submitted a question that included this statement: "I own a 4'84 and a Robie with standard double-sided, double-density drives."

	==81-012==		==81-012==

FrankRahman: /* News (81-013) */

2026-08-12T12:57:01Z

News (81-013)

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:57, 12 August 2026
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	When placing orders for the NEW ROBIE, make sure and state on the order NEW ROBIE.<br>		When placing orders for the NEW ROBIE, make sure and state on the order NEW ROBIE.<br>
	(Kaypro Dealer Letter, January 1985)		(Kaypro Dealer Letter, January 1985)<br>
			Based on a press release dated February 1, 1985. Wording is nearly identical.
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

FrankRahman: /* Stories */

2026-08-12T12:54:07Z

Stories

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:54, 12 August 2026
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	'''Dave Domanski adds''':<br>		'''Dave Domanski adds''':<br>
	Robie was definitely commercially available. I had it for sale in my computer store (Matrix Computers in Dearborn, ~~Michiga~~) in the early 80s, seems to me it was prior to 1984 but perhaps that is about right.<br>		Robie was definitely commercially available. I had it for sale in my computer store (Matrix Computers in Dearborn, Michigan) in the early 80s, seems to me it was prior to 1984 but perhaps that is about right.<br>
	An ill-advised attempt by Non-Linear Systems (nee Kaypro) to broaden into the desktop market, Robie was the only not-specifically-portable Kaypro, but like the others it ran CP/M on a Z80 family processor. This was, of course, at a time when IBM's PC and MS-DOS were steadily crushing all else before them.<br>		An ill-advised attempt by Non-Linear Systems (nee Kaypro) to broaden into the desktop market, Robie was the only not-specifically-portable Kaypro, but like the others it ran CP/M on a Z80 family processor. This was, of course, at a time when IBM's PC and MS-DOS were steadily crushing all else before them.<br>
	As you can tell from the picture it shared a lot of hardware with its "sewing machine case" Kaypro siblings. If I recall correctly it had a whopping 5 MB hard disk. I do remember that it was jet black, unlike your photo.		As you can tell from the picture it shared a lot of hardware with its "sewing machine case" Kaypro siblings. If I recall correctly it had a whopping 5 MB hard disk. I do remember that it was jet black, unlike your photo.
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	'''Allen Cobb's memories''':<br>		'''Allen Cobb's memories''':<br>
	I remember the Robie from a shop I worked at (WordMovers - Lawndale, Ca) while in school. Time frame was right about 1984, it had two high density 5.25 inch drives - I believe somewhere in the vicinity of 2 megs per drive w/ specially formatted floppies (supposedly available from your KayPro dealer). From what I remember, the Robie did not sell well at all (I never saw one move from the store that sold a high volume of Kaypro products). The only sound was a beep emanating from the keyboard. The Robie made a great paperweight.<br>		I remember the Robie from a shop I worked at (WordMovers - Lawndale, CA) while in school. Time frame was right about 1984, it had two high density 5.25 inch drives - I believe somewhere in the vicinity of 2 megs per drive w/ specially formatted floppies (supposedly available from your KayPro dealer). From what I remember, the Robie did not sell well at all (I never saw one move from the store that sold a high volume of Kaypro products). The only sound was a beep emanating from the keyboard. The Robie made a great paperweight.<br>
	[https://web.archive.org/web/20230202173901/https://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/computer.asp?st=1&c=278 www.old-computers.com archived]		[https://web.archive.org/web/20230202173901/https://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/computer.asp?st=1&c=278 www.old-computers.com archived]
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

FrankRahman: /* News (81-012) */

2026-08-04T03:48:18Z

News (81-012)

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:48, 4 August 2026
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	The Robie is still in the prototype phase and remains open to changes. These could include color selection, keyboard design, and other modifications. The first production run is scheduled at 2,000 units; availability to dealers is expected in the spring of '84. The suggested retail price for this new workstation is around $2295.00.<br>		The Robie is still in the prototype phase and remains open to changes. These could include color selection, keyboard design, and other modifications. The first production run is scheduled at 2,000 units; availability to dealers is expected in the spring of '84. The suggested retail price for this new workstation is around $2295.00.<br>
	(ComminiKay, Nov/Dec 1983)</blockquote>		(ComminiKay, Nov/Dec 1983)</blockquote>

			<blockquote>
			Drivetec's Model 320 SuperMinifloppy is a 5.25-inch flexible disk drive with 3.33 megabytes of capacity in a half-height size. Kaypro will incorporate two drives in its new Robie(tm) desktop computer, which was shown in prototype using the dual disk drives at the recent Condex show in Las Vegas. Kaypro is now the fourth largest producer of personal computer systems. ...

			Kaypro's Robie desktop system incorporates two Drivetec disk drives for a total of 5.2 MB of formatted capacity, along with a built-in 300 baud modem, real-time clock/calendar and full I/O capability. The computer is an ergonomically-designed unit with a compact profile and uses one square foot of desktop space. It also features a 9-inch non-glare screen and a full range of applications software, including spread sheet, word processing, spelling checker, and database management programs. ...

			The Robie, which is expected to retail for $2,295, will be available early in 1984.<br>
			("Kaypro and Drivetec Announce $6.0 Million OEM Pact", December 15 1983)
			</blockquote>

	==81-013==		==81-013==

FrankRahman: /* 81-012 */

2026-08-03T22:36:58Z

81-012

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:36, 3 August 2026
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	==81-012==		==81-012==

			Unveiled November 28, 1983 at COMDEX

	===Prototype Image===		===Prototype Image===
	{\|		{\|

FrankRahman: /* 81-013 */

2026-08-03T17:51:13Z

81-013

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:51, 3 August 2026
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	==81-013==		==81-013==

			This is another version of the Robie. The Badging is lower on the case and the drive section is seperated by an recess rather than a narrowing like the other design. They both are featured with the [[Drivetec Drives\|DriveTEC drives]].

	===Images===		===Images===
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	\|		\|
	[[File:Robie front.jpg\|400px]]		[[File:Robie front.jpg\|400px]]
	\|\| ~~This is another version of the~~ Robie. ~~The Badging is lower on the case and the drive section is seperated by an recess rather than a narrowing like the other design. They both are featured with the DriveTEC drives.~~		\|\|
			[[File:Robie v2 from right.jpg]]
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|

FrankRahman: /* News (81-012) */

2026-01-07T11:25:24Z

News (81-012)

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:25, 7 January 2026
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	===News (81-012)===		===News (81-012)===
	"Other new products in the works include a ~~desk-top~~ model, code named "Roby". It will have two disk drives and be similar to the Kaypro II but will have a smaller footprint on the desk and look more like a small TV set." Note that Roby is how it was spelled in the article.<br>		"Other new products in the works include a desktop model, code named "Roby". It will have two disk drives and be similar to the Kaypro II but will have a smaller footprint on the desk and look more like a small TV set." Note that Roby is how it was spelled in the article.<br>
	(CommuniKay, June 1983)		(CommuniKay, June 1983)

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	The Robie is still in the prototype phase and remains open to changes. These could include color selection, keyboard design, and other modifications. The first production run is scheduled at 2,000 units; availability to dealers is expected in the spring of '84. The suggested retail price for this new workstation is around $2295.00.<br>		The Robie is still in the prototype phase and remains open to changes. These could include color selection, keyboard design, and other modifications. The first production run is scheduled at 2,000 units; availability to dealers is expected in the spring of '84. The suggested retail price for this new workstation is around $2295.00.<br>
	(ComminiKay, Nov/Dec 1983)</blockquote>		(ComminiKay, Nov/Dec 1983)</blockquote>


	==81-013==		==81-013==

FrankRahman: /* Production Images */

2026-01-06T16:07:42Z

Production Images

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:07, 6 January 2026
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	\| [[File:Kaypro Robie.jpg]] \|\|		\| [[File:Kaypro Robie.jpg]] \|\|
	[[File:Kaypro Robie screenshot from movie.jpg]]		[[File:Kaypro Robie screenshot from movie.jpg]]
			\|}

			{\|
			\|-
			\|
			[[File:Robie 81-012 label small.jpg\|400px]]
			\|\|
			Thank you Thomas Brase for this image
	\|}		\|}