Epson PX-8 Geneva

Epson PX-8
The Epson PX-8
Also known as	Geneva
Manufacturer	Epson
Type	laptop
Release date	1984; 40 years ago (1984)
Operating system	CP/M-80
CPU	Z80 compatible
Storage	built-in microcassette drive
Removable storage	2 x ROM sockets, External RAM disk
Display	Monochromatic non-backlit 80 column by 8 line LCD display
Successor	PX-4

The Epson PX-8 a.k.a. Geneva was a small laptop computer made by the Epson Corporation in the mid-1980s.

It had a Z80 compatible microprocessor, and ran a customized version of the CP/M-80 operating system as well as various applications from a pair of ROM sockets which were treated as drives.^[1] For file storage, it had a built-in microcassette drive. The microcassette drive is integrated into CP/M as a disk drive,^[1] default designation H:.

The PX-8 did not have an internal disk drive, and instead allowed either memory to be partitioned into application memory and a RAM disk, or an external 60 KB or 120 KB intelligent RAM disk module to be attached (64K and 128K internally but some used for the processor). The intelligent RAM disk module had its own Z80 processor with a backup battery.^[2]

The PX-8 had an 80 column by 8 line LCD display, which was monochromatic and non-backlit. It used an internal nickel-cadmium battery, and had a battery life in the range of 6–8 hours when using word-processing software. An additional battery provided backup for the internal RAM.

There were a number of proprietary accessories available including a portable printer, bar code reader, and an early 3.5-inch diskette drive, the PF-10.^[3] The disk drives from the HX-20 could also be used. For the ROM cartridge slots a number of applications were available: Basic, CP/M utilities, Portable WordStar, CalcStar, Scheduler, dBase II and Portable Cardbox-Plus.^[4]

The PX-8 was not initially a commercial success, especially compared against the TRS-80 Model 100 portable computer but achieved some increased success after a large number were sold discounted in the United States through the DAK Catalog. The PX-8 combined some of the features from its predecessors, the HX-20 being portable, battery operated and the QX-10 being CP/M compatible.

In 1985, Epson introduced the PX-4, combining features from both the PX-8 and the HX-20.

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Reception

BYTE in February 1985 called the PX-8 "a good second computer, especially for people with CP/M systems" or WordStar users. The magazine approved of its documentation and tape storage, and described the display as "acceptable" but less legible than the Model 100's. BYTE concluded that "after the disappointment of the Epson HX-20, the Geneva PX-8 represents a giant improvement. It is, at this time, the most powerful 8-bit portable available".^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b EPSON PX-8 User's Manual - H8394044-1 / Y203990001, Epson Japan 1983, page 3-6
^ EPSON Technical Manual PX-8 - H8490021-1, Epson Japan 1984, page 3-18
^ Epson PF-10 Operating Manual (PDF). Nagano, Japan: Epson Corporation. 1984. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-06-19. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
^ "Cardbox History". Retrieved 2010-12-07.
^ Malloy, Rich (February 1985). "The Epson Geneva PX-8". BYTE. pp. 302–308.