Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!shadooby!sharkey!cfctech!fmeed1!hpuinda!hpfcse!hpfcmgw!hpfcso!rjn
From: rjn@hpfcso.HP.COM (Bob Niland)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: Could someone tell me what a HP 9816 is?
Message-ID: <7370056@hpfcso.HP.COM>
Date: 10 Dec 89 16:56:42 GMT
References: <90@van-bc.UUCP>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Lines: 42

re: also emailed

> A friend of mine had just bought an keyboardless HP 9816 in a
> surplus sale today (he thought it was just a monitor) and found
> it to be quite a complex piece of hardware.  Could someone please
> tell me (so that I can tell him) what an HP 9816 is and what it
> is typically used for?

The 9816, in current HP merchandising parlance, is a Series 200 Model 216
computer.  In tech terms, it is an 8 MHz MC68000 computer, with a 400x300x2
built-in monochrome display.  The entire Series 200 line was replaced by the
MC68010/20/30 -based Series 300 in 1985, but the 216 itself is either still
in production or was only recently discontinued.  The processor box has
either 128 or 256 Kbytes of RAM.  Add-on RAM is available in 256K or 1Mb
increments from HP, and other sizes from 3rd parties.  Max RAM is 7Mb.

In any case, you can still get a keyboard for it (98203A or 98203B), and the
current versions of memory-based HP BASIC and HP Pascal workstation
operating systems are supported on the 9816.  You'd need at least 750Kb and
an HP floppy drive to load it.  UN*X was never offered on the 9816, largely
due to the lack of memory management hardware.  There is also a stand-alone
terminal emulator package available (98791B), but our terminals division has
been so agressive about cost reduction that, frankly, you can buy a real HP
terminal for less than the emulator software.

9816s are typically used for some small CAD/CAE applications and in
one-of-a-kind dedicated computer-controlled situations.  The interpreted
BASIC environment is excellent for prototyping.  The 9816 is the smallest
single-box 68K machine we ever made, and they are valued by those who need
them, which is why it took us 4 years to discontinue it.

If your friend doesn't have a use for the 9816, he might consider selling
it to an equipment broker who specializes in HP gear.  I'll bet he can get
more than he paid for it.

Regards,                                              Hewlett-Packard
Bob Niland      rjn%hpfcrjn@hplabs.HP.COM             3404 East Harmony Road
                UUCP: [hplabs|hpfcse]!hpfcla!rjn      Ft Collins CO 80525-9599

This response does not represent the official position of, or statement by,
the Hewlett-Packard Company.  The above data is provided for informational
purposes only.  It is supplied without warranty of any kind.