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From: waynec@hpsrlc.HP.COM (Wayne Cannon)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: Inquiry on hp-150 details.
Message-ID: <3590004@hpsrlc.HP.COM>
Date: Thu, 22-Jan-87 12:59:06 EST
Article-I.D.: hpsrlc.3590004
Posted: Thu Jan 22 12:59:06 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 23-Jan-87 22:51:49 EST
References: <779@drivax.UUCP>
Organization: Network Measurements Div - Santa Rosa, CA
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> / hpsrlc:comp.sys.hp / braun@drivax.UUCP (Karl T. Braun (kral)) /  7:58 pm  Jan 14, 1987 /
> 
> A friend of mine has an hp-150b.  I assume that the 15 meg hard disk he 
> has is standard equipment.  He would like to get some information on the
> following:

There is no standard equipment disc that comes with the HP-150.  It can be
purchased with only floppies (3 1/2-inch single and double drive, or 
5 1/4-inch;  The 3 1/2-inch is the dominant 150 floppy), or hard disc's
in a myriad of sizes, some with a built-in 3 1/2-inch floppy.

> 2)	What are the best comm programs for the 150 (in terms of
> 	cost/benifits).

There is an excellent internal terminal emulator -- a true HP terminal, versus
an emulation program as is used with the Vectra or PCs.  It will run 19,200 baud
of straight text (no insert line, delete line, etc.) with no handshaking.  For
programs that include mode control and/or file transfer, there are several 
Kermits, several Xmodem/modem7 protocol programs, and HP's Advancelink.  The 
latter provides very flexible programmable interaction with the host computer, 
but uses its own protocol for file transfer.  It is especially suitable if the
host is an HP3000, for example.  I know Reflection is well-thought-of for PCs
and the HP Vectra, but am not sure if it is available for the HP-150.
> 
> 3)	What are the best modems for the 150 (internal and external).

There were some problems with the internal modem sold for the HP150 by HP
(made by Ven-Tel).  I don't know the severity of the problems, or if they
have been fixed or not.  I use an external Hayes modem, which has the
advantage of saving the two accessory board slots (e.g. for memory
expansion, and special I/O such as Centronics).
> 
> 4)	We have discovered that the removable disk format is not exactly
> 	like ibm's.  I know quite a bit about ibm disk formats, but haven't 
> 	gotten around to probing his disk.  Can anyone give details on this?
> 	Is their any compatibility at all between the two (like format only
> 	with one them)?

The latest version of the operating system, 3.2 supports both HP's and IBM's
3 1/2-inch disc formats, but the earlier versions do not.  There are both
ROM and Operating System upgrades available.  Some of the OS upgrades require
ROM upgrades.  The lastest (3.2) version also suppports MS-Windows, which is
supposed to provide support for a lot more PC software than the 150 by itself.

--Wayne Cannon
  {...hpcea!}hpsrla!waynec
  (telco) (707)-577-3631