Robie

Pronounced /ˈrōˌbē/ as in a diminutive version of robot.
(Andrew Kay, May 2025, In Person Interview)

"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.
(CommuniKay, June 1983)

Kaypro Corporation is unveiling a new desktop microcomputer, the Robie, this week at COMDEX in Las Vegas. The 24-pound machine is targeted at companies that need a "dedicated workstation," says David Kay, vice-president of marketing.

"It is an unusual computer, very different than anything else out on the market," says Kay. "It has a unique design." As homage to its "unique design," Kaypro has decided to use its original code name for the new portable. "Some people thought it looked like a robot in the early prototype stages," Kay says.

The Robie is similar to the company's Kaypro 4, but is much smaller and includes a built-in modem, real-time clock/calendar and fan. It promises to have one of the smallest footprints of any portable business micrcomputer currently available. Kay says the new machine measures 10 x 10 x 14-inches. (The term footprint refers to the amount of space a machine occupies on a desktop.)

Otherwise the Robie has the same capabilities and specifications as the Kaypro 4. It comes with 64K RAM, a Z80 microprocessor and the CP/M 2.2 operating system. The system houses two 5¼-inch, double-density, double-sided disk drives with 394K formatted storage per diskette (for approximately an 800K capability) and 2K of ROM.

The 9-inch green-phosphor screen displays 24 lines by 80 columns. The Robie's keyboard is detachable. It includes a numeric keypad, 72 keys, 20 programmable keys and programmable cursor keys. The Robie's bundled software will include WordStar, Perfect Writer and a spreadsheet program. Kay says that adding Kaypro's Plus 88 expansion board will make the Robie IBM PC-compatible. Running it with Kaypro's KayLink software will give the machine the ability to communicate with minicomputers and mainframes.

Kaypro is downplaying the Robie's weight and size. In fact, says Kay, the company made a deliberate decision to design a machine that won't fit under an airline seat. Rather, Kaypro sees the Robie primarily being used in the office rather than by traveling executives or salesmen.

"Robie is portable in the same way a [standard size] TV set is portable," Kay says.

"We can't be thought of in a class [with the Model 100]. It hurts the image of Kaypro. We compete head to head with Apple and IBM for the small-business-computer market," continues Kay. "Robie is a dedicated workstation."

Kaypro plans to make approximately 1000 Robies by the end of the year, but a positive response at COMDEX could increase production. Although the exact price hasn't been established, Kay says the Robie will cost under $2000 and will be in the stores by the end of the year.
(Daniel Janal, Unknown source from news clipping in David Kay's collection.

Another new product from the Kaypro family of computers has just been unveiled at this year's COMDEX. The Robie is its name, and desktop computing is its game.

The Robie is our smallest model yet, with a footprint measuring slightly over a square foot. It has a nine-inch green monitor with anti-glare screen, two half-height floppy drive which can hold 2.6 megabyte of information each, a slimmed-down detachable keyboard, an internal 300 baud modem, and a real-time clock/calendar. The popular CP/M operating system, with its many applications, runs the unit. The drives use pre-formatted diskettes, which will also be produced by Kaypro.

Robies are being produced in two different colors, white and black, with the distinctive handwritten signature in cherry red. Architect, Janice Kay, is responsible for its modern look which allows it to blend into any office decor.

Prototye Robies were introduced to the rest of the industry at COMDEX in Las Vegas. Vice-president, David Kay, and Promotions Coordinator, Henry Hester, were on hand to announce the new product and demonstrate its features to the press and other industry officials. Advertising material on the new model was also available.

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.

(ComminiKay, Nov/Dec 1983)

"Kaypro produced less than 500 of the tardy, touchy Robies before taking a staggering $3-million writedown on the machines." (The Executive (Southern California), August 1987, pg 21)

	Robie Prototype Note that the case is white and that the keyboard case looks more like the the other CPM Kaypro keyboards (The top of the case is inset within the base).

"The Robie has two 2.6-megabyte floppy drives for a total of 5.2 MB of disk storage. In addition, this computer has a real-time clock and an internal 300-baud modem.

Software included with the Robie is the same as for the 2X, plus Kaypro's Master Menu program. MasMenu is a menu-driven front end for CP/M that lets you operate the computer without regard to what programs are in which user areas. MasMenu already knows what is in each user area, so all you need to do is select a program from the menu on your screen."
(Profiles V3 N6)

As far as I can tell a Robie has not been sold on eBay in the last 10+ years.

See Drivetec Drives for more information on the drives