Kaypro 2000 laptop
Released:mid-1985
Price:US $1,995 w/ 256K RAM
 US $2,490 w/ 768K RAM
Weight:12 lbs
CPU:Intel 80C88 / NEC V20 @ 4.77MHz
RAM:256K base, 768K max
Display:monochrome non-backlit LCD
80 X 25 text, 640 X 200 graphics
Ports:serial port
1200 baud phone modem ($295)
expansion bus
Storage:one 3.5-inch 720K floppy
Power:internal: 4-hour battery
external: 7.5vdc, 2amp, pin (-)
OS:MS-DOS 2.11






Characterized as the "Volkswagen of computer manufacturers", Kaypro "set the world on fire" three years earlier, back in 1982, with their first and highly successful Kaypro II portable CP/M computer.

After numerous other systems similar to the earlier Kaypro II, in 1985 they release their first and only laptop computer, the Kaypro 2000. Like all of the Kaypro computer, it has a very "industrial" design - this one has a black brushed-aluminum shell, sculpted edges, and rubber protection grips all the way around - some call it the Darth Vader of laptops. PC Magazine called it "snazzy", and "more Ferrari than Jeep". The Chicago Tribune called it the "The Porsche of lap-sized computers".

More important than looks - the Kaypro 2000 is MS-DOS compatible. All of the earlier Kaypro computer system ran on the CP/M operating system, which by the mid-1980s was quickly becoming obsolete - most new computers now support only the Microsoft MS-DOS operating system.

The first version of the Kaypro 2000 had an early LCD screen with an unusual aspect ratio - much wider than it is tall. While it displays a full 25 lines of text, it displays only 640x200 graphics resolution - half that of the IBM PC, which theKaypro 2000 was intended to emulate. LCD screens were new to the industry, and this is the best they could do at the time, at least at this price-point.

The detachable keyboard was very unique for a laptop computer, and the built-in 3 1/2-inch floppy drive cleverly pops-up for use.

Eventually a newer version was released, which had a full-size 640x400 LCD screen, once the technology became available.

In order to compete with desktop system, Kaypro released these expansion options:
  • Expansion Chassis $795 - serial and parallel I/O ports, two card slots, 5 1/4-inch floppy drive.
  • Multi-Adapter $155 - serial and parallel I/O ports, one card slot, disk-drive connection.
  • Disk-Adapter $115 - connects to an IBM PC and use its disk drives as slave units. Required $45 card to install in PC.


    • Like all Kaypro computers, the Kaypro 2000 came with a large bundle of software, making the Kaypro computers an excellent deal for the price. The software package includes MS-DOS, WordStar, Mailmerge, CalcStar, InfoStar, and more.

    Kaypro later released the Kaypro 2000 Plus with a cold-cathode back-lit LCD 640x400 screen, among other improvements.

    But it wasn't enough to fight the competition - Kaypro filed for bankruptcy in 1990. Kaypro's chairman and founder, Andrew Kay, said the company's bankruptcy filing had been caused by a softening in the microcomputer market. The high price of computer chips also hurt Kaypro, he said. The company also cited an unfavorable financing arrangement that left it with insufficient working capital.


    Related Links

  • Kaypro 2000 from Obsolete Computer Museum
  • Review from Classic Computer Magazine Archive
  • Kaypro 2000 from Selectric Typewriter Museum
  • InfoWorld Apr 22, 1985
  • Kaypro "2000 Plus" system


    • History of Kaypro Computers

    • 1952: Andrew Kay founds Non-Linear systems, the first manufacturer of digital voltmeters.
    • 1982: March - Non-Linear Systems introduces the Kaypro II for US$1795.
    • 1982: Non-Linear Systems shows the prototype Kaypro 5, with 5 MB hard drive.
    • 1982: Computer sales quickly $120 million.
    • 1983: June - Non-Linear Systems introduces the Kaypro 4, like the Kaypro II but with 380KB double-sided disk drives. Price is US$1995.
    • 1983: June - Non-Linear Systems introduces the Kaypro 10, like the Kaypro 4 but with one 380KB double-sided disk drive and a 10-MB internal hard drive. Price is US$2795. Weight is 31 pounds.
    • 1983: July - Non-Linear Systems changes its company name to Kaypro Corporation.
    • 1983: Kaypro was rated the 5th largest personal computer manufacturer in the world.
    • 1990: March - Kaypro Corporation files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
    • 1992: June - Kaypro Corporation files for Chapter 7 liquidation to satisfy some $20 million in claims.
    • 1995: Kaypro property sold for $2.7 million.
      Source: Chronology of Events in the History of Microcomputers



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