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[ Retro Scan of the Week ] HP’s First Handheld Computer

January 19th, 2015 by Benj Edwards

Hewlett-Packard HP-75C calculator pocket computer handheld computer advertisement - Interface Age May 1983It’s a lot like an HP-11C, but freakin’ huge

Plenty of companies experimented with pocket and handheld computers in the early 1980s. Among them we must count HP, which introduced its HP-75C in 1982.

I peronally own an HP-75D (the successor model of this machine) that allows use of a bar code wand. I bought it on eBay around 2000, messed around with it a few times, and I think it’s been sitting in a box or a closet since. I couldn’t get into it, for some reason, like I could my TRS-80 Pocket Computer. Perhaps it’s time to revisit the 75D and try again — if it still works.

Still, I have a soft spot for the HP-75 series because it features similar industrial design as my beloved HP-11C calculator, which I’ve been using since middle school. RPN for the win!

[ From Interface Age – May 1983, p.143]

Discussion Topic of the Week: Are you a fan of HP calculators? Which model is your favorite?

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See Also: BASIC in your Pocket (RSOTW, 2009)
See Also: Asimov’s Pocket Computer (RSOTW, 2011)
See Also: Sharp Pocket Computer (RSOTW, 2013)
See Also: Quasar Pocket Computer RSOTW, 2014)


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This entry was posted on Monday, January 19th, 2015 at 7:24 am and is filed under Computer History, Regular Features, Retro Scan of the Week, Vintage Computing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

4 Responses to “[ Retro Scan of the Week ] HP’s First Handheld Computer”

  1. Ed Says:
    January 21st, 2015 at 11:17 am

    I have a new-model 15C, which I think has to be my favourite, even though the 16C is something special. I also have one of Chris Chung’s NP-25, which is a three-in-one, very impressive.

  2. Moondog Says:
    January 22nd, 2015 at 12:20 am

    When I think of HP handheld pc’s, the Jornada series comes to mind.

  3. Stan Says:
    January 22nd, 2015 at 3:12 pm

    RPN (and RPL) Forever!

    I bought an HP-48G for college in 1993. It’s been through hell, including being stolen from my car and spending one winter outside in the rain, but it still has a place on desk today. In terms of hardware and software quality, it’s one of the finest mobile devices ever made.

  4. Galactus Says:
    January 23rd, 2015 at 10:35 pm

    I bought an HP12c in the early 90s and an HP19b in the mid 90s.

    To be honest I didn’t like them that much because it was kinda complicated to input data in a certain order and if you made a small mistake you had to input data all over again. Also the keys felt somewhat hard to press and uncomfortable to my fingers, I remember ending with sore fingers after long sessions.

    I went back to use my trusty Casio Calculator, nothing fancy just a basic model combined with Lotus 123 and Excel and never looked back. So that was my experience with the Hp calcs, I have to give them credit that they looked nice and well built.

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