DOS Kaypros

Change in Focus

"As a major step in achieving our goal, our product line will be significantly enhanced and diversified in 1985 by the addition of several exciting new products which mark our entry into the market for computers which can employ the software and the hardware accessories designed for I.B.M. personal computers. We are already shipping our "Kaypro 16", which has been hailed as a "superb" price/performance value by independent market analysts. We also expect to introduce a computer similar to the powerful IBM-AT computer as well as a fully-functional ten-pound notebook size computer."
(Annual Report, 1984)

Bent Vents

Notice that the "bent" vents on the various PCs that Kaypro makes are intended to represent the K in Kaypro according to David Kay.

DOS Versions used

From CPM to MS-DOS

From MS-DOS to DR-DOS

How to's

Installing 3.5 inch Floppy Drives in Kaypro PCs and 286i machines. Profiles Magazine Dec 1987 Page 92

Models

First true 8088 but not truly PC compatible

Kaypro 16

Early Laptops

Kaypro 2000

Kaypro 2000+

Kaypro 2020

Kaypro's first beige boxes

Kaypro PC/XL/EXP/Expansion Unit

Follow IBM or Compaq

Kaypro 286i

Kaypro 286

Kaypro 386

Kaypro Monitors

Kaypro Monitors

Small Machine

Kaypro Micro 1

KC line

Kaypro KC-1 (AKA MC-10)

Kaypro KC-2

Kaypro KC-3 (?AKA MC-30)

Late Laptop?

Kaypro LC15

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In progress PC BIOS

Cards

Video Cards

Full-length multi-video board
This board can provide IBM-standard monochrome (MDA) and color (CGA) video. The jumper at position J3 determines which video mode is selected upon power-up; see Diagram 1. The setting of this jumper should agree with the settings of switches 2 and 3 on the processor board (see "On The Practical Side" in the August 1987 Profiles). The jumper at position J2 determines whether software is allowed to change the video mode (using VSWITCH 1.0 or MODE). Diagram 2 has these settings.
(Profiles, October 1987)

Half-length multi-video board
This board can use IBM-compatible monochrome, CGA color, Hercules monochrome graphics, and color emulation mode. Emulation mode allows you to use color graphics software on a monochrome monitor by displaying varying shades of one color. When using color emulation mode, set up DIP switches on the processor board for 80 by 25 color video, so the computer thinks you are using a color graphics adapter.

The three modes available to you on power-up are monochrome, color, and emulation. The defualt video mode is determined by the upper right corner of the board.

There are two different versions of the HLMV, each with different sets of switch settings. The early HLMVs have the words "Graphics Solution" stenciled on them (see Diagram 3 for switch settings), while later ones say "Graphics Solution Plus" (switch settings in Diagram 4).

The HLMV also offers two 132-column modes for monochrome video: 132 by 25 and 132 by 40. These modes are accessed using the program MS.COM.

Kaypro Corporation makes no promises concerning either 132-column mode. This doesn't mean they don't work, just that Kaypro hasn't tested them and won't guarentee their operation. (These modes have worked on every HLMV/monochrome monitor combination I've used.) To access these modes, your software must allow for 132-column operation.
(Profiles, October 1987)

Notes

"The Torrington Manager Mouse distributed by Kaypro, ..."
(Profiles, November 1987)

"This month we take a look at the newest graphics board provided with Kaypro computers: the Half-Length EGA board. The HLEB is a specially licensed version of the EGA Wonder board by Array Technologies Incorporated." (Profiles, November 1987)