PDA DEVELOPERS 3.

1 Jan/ Feb 1995

Reprinted from the January/February 1995 issue of PDA Developers. 1995-1997 by Creative Digital Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.
M
gray color and is made from a tough, impact-resistant plastic. The
200LX opens like an egg carton, with the screen in the cover and the
keyboard in the base. The hinge provides a very tight hold on the cover,
allowing you to position the screen at any angle. On the left side of the
200LX is one PCMCIA Type II slot with a slide card-ejector switch. The
right side contains a power jack, an RS-232 serial port (with a non-
standard mini connector), and a small plastic cover that slides off to
reveal the infrared transceiver diodes and a 3 volt lithium backup bat-
tery. The infrared port allows you to connect at up to 115 Kbps to
another HP Palmtop, an HP OmniBook, or any other HP-compatible
IR device. The serial port requires a special HP cable, but it is complete-
ly PC compatible, is addressable as COM1, and can also communicate
at up to 115 Kbps. The only other opening on the case is a battery
compartment, housing two 1.5 volt AA main batteries.
The case opens by pressing a small catch located on the front cover.
The screen, located in the top cover, measures approximately 4.81 x 1.88
inches. The screen is a CGA-compatible, FTN liquid crystal display. It
has a pixel resolution of 640 by 200 and is capable of displaying text in a
80 column by 25 line mode. The screen (and some of the built-in appli-
cations) support an HP feature known as ZOOM. It is also available to
MS-DOSprograms, providing that they run in character mode and not
one of the CGA graphic modes. By pressing the Function and space bar
keys, it is possible to cycle through three different display modes:
80 columns by 25 lines
64 columns by 18 lines
40 columns by 16 lines
The 80 by 25 mode is compatible with a standard CGA text display. The
64 by 18 mode is used by most of the internal software.
Hewl et t Packar d 200LX Pal mt op PC
Mark W. Nelson
markn@well.com
S-DOS-based handheld computers have been around for
years, but have never really lived up to the anytime, anywhere
computing that they profess. Well I am happy to say that the
promise of being able to run thousands of MS-DOSprograms, have
over 600 KB available to DOS, address up to 80 MB of solid state stor-
age (with data compression) and have a great suite of PIM applications
has finally been realized in the latest update to the HP Palmtop PC
family, the 200LX. As a user of early MS-DOShandhelds like the Poqet
and Atari Portfolio, I know that memory constraints, limited DOS
compatibility, and poor screens have been a factor in their lack of suc-
cess. HP seems determined to avoid this fate.
There are those who say that an MS-DOS-based palmtop requires
a fairly PC-literate user to operate the system. The 200LX offers a great
suite of PIM tools in a graphical, menu-driven environment, all run-
ning under a task switcher known as the System Manager. The System
Manager allows hot-key access to the built-in applications and a mecha-
nism to share information between those programs. Users can interact
with this easy-to-use interface and never know that MS-DOSis under-
neath it all. Systems integrators can easily develop applications or draw
from the huge base of existing MS-DOSapplications.
Under t he Ho o d
The HP 200LX is a small, rectangular PDA sized 6.3 x 3.4 x 1 inches.
This makes it amazingly pocketable. It fits in everything from a suit
jacket pocket to the back pocket of a pair of jeans. With the batteries
installed the 200LX weighs just 11 ounces. The case is a dark greenish-
PDA DEVELOPERS 3.1 Jan/ Feb 1995
Reprinted from the January/February 1995 issue of PDA Developers. 1995-1997 by Creative Digital Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.
The keyboard has a complete, though tiny, QWERTY layout, with
a separate numeric keypad, 10 function keys, and eight hot-keys to
provide one-button access to the most common built-in applications.
The keys have a calculator look and feel to them, giving you tactile
feedback when you press them. The shift and function keys are sticky,
which means that you get a shifted-key combination by first pressing
(and releasing) the shift key, then the regular key. You also have the
option of holding both keys down together.
The 200LX uses a 7.91 MHz Intel 80C186 CPU, placing it some-
where around the old IBM PC XT on the performance scale. It uses an
IBM PC-compatible architecture and features 3 MB of ROM and up to
2 MB of RAM. The ROM houses the internal applications, utilities, and
MS-DOS5.0. The RAM is divided between system RAM and a RAM
disk, which is user configurable. On a 2 MB system, the maximum
memory you can give to the system is 636 KB.
The 200LX has some innovative battery and power management
features as a result of HPs many years in the handheld marketplace. It
uses two 1.5 volt AA batteries for its main power. HP claims that with
alkaline batteries you can get up to six weeks of life. Of course this
fluctuates greatly depending on your daily usage of the internal pro-
grams, serial port, and PCMCIA cards. I use the palmtop daily and get
at least four weeks on alkalines, more with lithium-ion batteries. It
automatically turns itself off after a few minutes of non-use. Pressing
the On key returns you to where you left off. When plugged into an AC
adapter, it stays on until you manually turn it off.
The 200LX can use Nickel-Cadmium rechargeable batteries, which
can be charged via the AC adapter. There is a battery setting in the
Setup utility that lets you choose between Alkalines and Nickel Cadmi-
um; for the Ni-Cad setting there is also a checkbox to enable recharging.
These battery settings are used by the system to calculate and display a
gauge showing available battery life. Another power saving feature is the
ability to define whether the serial port should be powered up when you
shell out to MS-DOS. If youre not running a communications program
from DOS, this can help in extending battery life.
One of the great features of the 200LX is its ability to use high
capacity PCMCIA Flash cards. Currently the largest card can store 40
MB. With data compression software you can almost double this to 80
MB, depending on the type of files being stored. This gives the 200LX
the ability to use large databases or custom programs. The large storage
ability is one of the main reasons I use the palmtop. I have also used the
Megahertz Xjack 14.4 fax/modem PCMCIA card in the palmtop, and it
works well. The dilemma is that with only one PCMCIA slot, you have
to use an external modem if you need to use an application that runs
from or writes to a PCMCIA storage card. I do have an external pocket
modem that I use to get around this problem, but this also means
traveling with a collection of peripherals and cables.
200LX users in the United States also get a nice bonus from HP
Express Exchange Service. They will ship a replacement overnight if
your 200LX fails in the first year. You can extend this coverage beyond
the initial year for a fee.
Syst em Manager
The System Manager (SM) is the graphical task-switching application
that the 200LX uses to access the internal programs and to shell out to
MS-DOS. When you first power on the device, assuming no applica-
tions are open, you see the Topcard, a monochrome graphic image, and
a Text box displaying your name and company. You can create your own
image to replace the default.
To run an application, you press one of the eight application hot
keys or an installed program shortcut-key combination. The SM allows
you to have as many open applications and files as you can fit in system
RAM. Switching between them is done via a hot key. The SM runs
special MS-DOSprograms that end with an EXM file extension. These
executable files are System Manager-compliant they behave them-
selves as they are switched in and out, plus they can share data across
other SM applications.
SM programs share a common GUI that features pull-down
menus, list views with a summary card showing partial data from the
highlighted record, dialog boxes, and context sensitive help screens. The
pull-down menus are accessible from a Menu key and are easily navigat-
ed using cursor or accelerator keys. The F1 function key is dedicated to
Help, and is always available. SM applications have a search function
that lets you look for a character string in any field, including the ex-
tended notes field. You can also move chunks of data between SM
programs using the clipboard.
Another handy feature available in most programs is the Smart-
Clip. SmartClip uses the clipboard to copy formatted information
quickly from predefined fields in the current application to another
location, like a memo or text field. You can, for example, copy several
fields from a database application to the Memo application and have
the data automatically formatted according to a SmartClip definition
that you created and saved. This function is available via a function key
in the applications for which it is supported.
The 200LX has password protection. You can protect the entire
palmtop or individual files. The global protection works in two ways,
auto-lock and manual-lock. The auto-lock mode prompts you for a
password whenever the 200LX is turned off, times out, or is reset by a
hardware system reset. The manual-lock mode requires you to press a
key combination to activate the password. The password protection at
the file level completely encrypts the file, so viewing it from another
application only displays garbage.
Appl i cat i o ns
The 200LX has a wide range of built-in applications for the mobile user,
including: Appointment Book, PhoneBook, Filer, Memo, Lotus 1-2-3,
Pocket Quicken, HP Calc, Email, Communications, Notetaker, a pro-
grammable Database, an MS-DOSshell, utilities, and games. The first
seven I discuss are activated by specific keys on the keyboard. The
remainder can be launched from the Application Manager or user-
defined hot-keys.
Appoi nt ment Book
The Appointment Book is a well-constructed application that handles
the scheduling and displaying of appointments, events (appointments
without begin/end times), and ToDos. The Daily appointment list (see
Figure3 - A PhoneBook record.
Figure2 - An Appointment Book record.
Figure1 - Thedaily appointment list.
PDA DEVELOPERS 3.1 Jan/ Feb 1995
Reprinted from the January/February 1995 issue of PDA Developers. 1995-1997 by Creative Digital Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.
Figure 1) shows your schedule with the appointment description next
to the daily time line. You can set the hour that starts off your day and
set the time line interval for the list. You also have the option of having
the Daily list show only scheduled appointments, leaving out unsched-
uled time blocks.
The Appointment Book has several other views. The appointment
detail view (see Figure 2) can be customized to a certain extent. There is
also a nifty analog clock window that can appear in place of the month-
ly calendar. Other views include week, month, and six-month calen-
dars, a ToDo list, and an Events-only view. All views support drill-down
navigation via the cursor keys as you travel over the existing view with
the cursor keys, if you press the ENTER key the next level of detail
appears. In a daily view, appointments and event appear; in a monthly
view a days details appear.
A great feature of the Appointment Book application is the ability
to have an appointment run a program or system macro instead of
setting off an alarm. You can use this feature to do things like schedule
backups to run in the middle of the night or have the Datacomm appli-
cation run a script to download email or news files. The 200LX also has
a daily reminder popup window that automatically displays the first
time you turn the palmtop on every day. This window shows a list view
of your appointments, events, and ToDos for the day.
PhoneBook
The PhoneBook application (see Figure 3) is actually a predefined
database that uses the 200LXs Database program. In fact, looking
under the Help/About Database menu reveals that the PhoneBook,
Notetaker, and World Time application are all special instances of the
Database application. The PhoneBook application uses database files
with the extension PDB. You can create as many PhoneBooks as you
have storage space for. You can open the default PHONE.PDB file using
the built-in HP Database program and modify the database structure to
customize your PhoneBook. If you do this, however, you cant use the
Import function of the HP Connectivity Pack for the PhoneBook.
You can rearrange the columns in the list view as well as define the
first, second, and third sort fields for the list. There is a Subset function
that you can use to display a specified subset of the database. You can
have up to 16 named subsets. There is a predefined subset called All
Records which is used by default. There is also an advanced subset
feature that uses what HP calls the Subset Specification Language (SSL).
SSL statements use relational and Boolean operators to select records
for the subset.
Fi l er
The Filer application is used to manage all file-related activities; every-
thing from formatting PCMCIA cards to backing up data. It supplies all
of the standard file manipulation features that you would expect from
file managers in this day and age including: directory tree views, split
screen views, copy, delete, backup, move, undelete, create directory, and
launch MS-DOSprograms. The Filer can connect to another 200LX via
the infrared port for wireless file transfer. It can also be used to connect
to the Filer application in the Connectivity Pack, giving your desktop
access to the Palmtop internal RAM disk and PCMCIA card.
Memo
The Memo application is a basic text editor that supports standard text
formatting features like bold, underline, different font sizes, automatic
word wrap, settings for tabs/margins/display spacing, insert, replace,
and outlining features. The memo display includes the cursor position
(line and column), making it easy to determine where you are in a file.
The font sizes are implemented with the Zoom feature. By pressing
Function + space bar you toggle between the different display modes.
Under good lighting conditions the 80 by 25 mode is usable, but I prefer
the less eye-straining 64 by 18 mode. The Zoom feature is instantaneous
and is very easy to change on the fly.
Everyone asks what its like to type on the 200LXs small keyboard.
Actually, I dont mind it. I tend to use the two-finger typing approach
when the device is on a desk. On the go, Ive found that holding it in
two hands and typing with my thumbs works. It tends to be one of
those things that you put up with to get the functionality that the
200LX provides.
Pocket Qui cken
You can give up that spreadsheet youve been using to track finances
and make way for a full-featured money manager, Pocket Quicken.
Based on the tremendously popular Quicken financial tracking applica-
tion, Pocket Quicken lets you organize and track income and expenses
using a list-based, multiple-account organization. You can:
enter and edit transactions in checking, savings, credit card, and
cash accounts;
review balances and registers for your accounts;
reconcile your accounts to the statements you receive;
share financial data with a desktop version of Quicken; and
create and print basic reports like business expenses.
Pocket Quicken has two features to speed up transaction entry.
Quickfill automatically completes a field once you type enough for it to
recognize commonly used character strings. This speeds up entry of
Payee, Category, Account, and Transaction Type fields. QuickKeys lets
you insert data into selected fields by pressing just one key. For instance,
in the Date field, pressing a T automatically inserts the current date.
Another handy feature is the ability to merge or synchronize data
with a desktop version of Quicken using the HP Connectivity Pack. You
can enter data into Quicken for Windows and Pocket Quicken on the
200LX, and then use the translate/merge feature of the Connectivity
Pack to keep both sets of data files up-to-date.
Lot us 1-2-3
This is a full-featured version of Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.4 for MS-DOS. It
has the ability to run macros, create graphs, create databases, and run
some 1-2-3 for MS-DOSadd-ins. Lotus 1-2-3 on the 200LX is zoom-
able, so you have three view options for displaying data in the cells.
This version of 1-2-3 uses WK1 files, so you can create spread-
sheets in Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows Release 4, save them as WK1 files
and then use them on the 200LX. You cant use the advanced feature set
of the Windows version on the palmtop, but its useful to have access to
my financial data on the 200LX.
HP removed the 1-2-3 chapter from the 200LX manual, though it
was in the 100LX manual. They suggest that your neighborhood book-
store has a wide range of 1-2-3 manuals for you to choose from. The
problem is that the current crop of books really only cover the more
advanced desktop versions of 1-2-3. HP claims that they dropped the
section from the manual because of user requests. On the positive side,
the online help is fairly comprehensive.
HP Cal c
As you would expect , the 200LX Financial Calculator is very powerful.
The manual devotes nine chapters of the Users Guide to calculator
functions. Heres a summary of these sections to give you a sense of the
calculators features:
General arithmetic
Business percentages, including markup and margin
The time value of money and amortization
Interest rate conversions
Uneven cash flows
Currency and other unit conversions
One and two-variable statistics
Date calculations
Solver equations that you can enter and store
Function graphing
Calculator customization
You can retire your old financial calculator HP has tossed in every-
thing except the ability to predict the stock market. I frequently use the
calculator and even after months of use, am still finding new uses and
features for this app.
PDA DEVELOPERS 3.1 Jan/ Feb 1995
Reprinted from the January/February 1995 issue of PDA Developers. 1995-1997 by Creative Digital Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.
Appl i cat i on Manager
The Application Manager (see Figure 4) is the last of the built-in appli-
cations accessible from a dedicated one-button hot key. Its analogous to
the Windows Program Manager or the MacOSFinder. You can add
System Manager and MS-DOSprograms to the Application Manager,
and specify a shortcut-key combination (for System Manger-compliant
applications) and a program icon. The Application Manager default
window shows all installed program icons and their status. An applica-
tion is open if its icon label is highlighted.
This screen is scrollable using the cursor keys. You can run any
displayed program by moving to it and pressing the enter key. You can
also run programs by typing the underlined letter from the icons pro-
gram label. This view also shows free system RAM and total available
system RAM. The Application Manager also has a List view.
The pull-down menu for the Application Manager gives you the
ability to close all open applications, which returns you to the Topcard
display, or terminate the System Manager. The terminate function quits
the System Manager and takes you to an MS-DOSprompt. This gives
you the maximum available system memory for running MS-DOS
programs. You can also run MS-DOSprograms from an icon within the
Application Manager, but you may run into memory limitations.
Dat abase
The Database application lets you create your own simple custom
databases. While databases can be created on the 200LX, HP has includ-
ed the Database application in the Connectivity Pack. It is not too
difficult to create databases on the 200LX once you have done it a few
times, but it is quite a bit easier to create the database on a desktop
computer and transfer it to the 200LX.
With the Database application you place various database fields on
a blank record form. Using the cursor keys, you can change the size of
the fields and move them around on the screen. The program supports
text, numeric, date and time, note, option (radio cluster), check box,
and category field types. A category field is a special, editable drop-
down list box. The same category choices (up to 32) are available from
all records of the same database. There is a limit of one category field
per database. Categories are used to create record subsets.
The database definition and data are all stored in one file, typically
ending with a GDB extension. There is a limit of one record type per
database. The maximum number of records per database is limited by
available disk space, but there is a theoretical maximum of about 5,000.
There is a limit of 99 fields per database structure, fewer if the fields are
long. A database record can have up to four pages.
The search feature allows you find text anywhere in a record. It
supports Next/Previous traversing of the displayed subset of records.
The records are presented in the standard list format used in the Phone-
Book app. All the sorting and subset features that I describe in the
PhoneBook section are also available.
Wor l d Ti me
The World Time application is a database of cities plus local times,
telephone prefixes for international access, and map locations with
latitude and longitude. You can add cities to the existing list, as well as
subset the list. The neatest thing about World Time is pulling up some
distant locale, like Tunis, and pressing the Locate button. A world map
is then displayed and cross-hairs identify the selected city. I dont know
of a practical use for it, but it is kind of fun.
MS-DOS
This shells out to command line MS-DOS. Typing Exit and pressing the
enter key returns you to the Application Manager. See MS-DOS: Redis-
covering a Lost Art for more details.
Syst em Macr os
The System Macro application lets you create up to 10 macro combina-
tions to reduce repetitive key pressing. A macro is run by pressing the
Function key followed by Function 1-10. Each macro can contain a
maximum of 255 keystrokes. You can go beyond the 255 keystroke limit
by chaining macros together.
cc:Mai l
This Lotus email client program allows you to create messages and dial-
in to a cc:Mail Post Office. This assumes that you have a cc:Mail Post
Office on your company LAN. If you do, this is a nice little email utility
that is fairly easy to use.
cc:MADE
The cc:Mail Automatic Directory Exchange (ADE) enables you to
update your local address book using update files sent to you from your
cc:Mail Post Office Administrator.
Dat acomm
This communications program allow you to dial-in to various online
services using VT100, ANSI, TTY, or MAP (glass TTY) terminal
emulation. Datacomm supports scripting, so you can create automatic
procedures for retrieving email or news files. For file transfer, Data-
comm includes XMODEM, YMODEM, ZMODEM, and Kermit sup-
port.
The 200LX has a built-in communications port, COM1. This is a
complete RS-232 port but with a nonstandard 10-pin connector. The
HP Connectivity Pack comes with a serial cable and 4 serial adapters.
The serial cable has a 200LX connector on one end and an RS-232 DB9
connector on the other. This is wired as a null-modem cable, so you can
plug the DB9 end into your desktop PC and use it with the HP Connec-
tivity Pack. The supplied adapters allow you to connect to a modem
(DB25 or DB9), a DB25 serial port on a PC for file transfer, or a serial
printer. You can also use a PCMCIA Type II fax/modem card with
Datacomm.
LapLi nk Remot e Access
This utility puts the 200LX into server mode so you can access the
internal ROM and RAM drives as well as a PCMCIA storage card. See
HP Connectivity Pack for more details.
St opwat ch
This is a one screen stopwatch application with a countdown timer and
alarm clock. You may end up using this more than you think. The
countdown timer allows you to put some time quantity into the timer
field, say 10 minutes, and type in a brief message. Then start the timer
and switch to another application. In 10 minutes the timer beeps,
switches back to the Stopwatch, and displays your message. Pressing
escape clears the message and returns you to the exact place you were
before the timer went off. The same concept applies for the alarm clock.
Set up
This utility controls various 200LX system settings. The main screen
shows the memory allocation, Printer, COM port power status and
power level. The default memory allocation on a 2 MB RAM 200LX is
636 KB allocated to system RAM and 1376 KB allocated to the internal
RAM disk (drive C). The 636 KB of system memory is the maximum
limit due to constraints of the CPU and MS-DOS. You can decrease this
amount, but you may run into problems if you tend to have many
applications open at once. Setup also lets you change the memory
allocated to the clipboard, static data system RAM, and the MS-DOS
system RAM.
Other settings available under Setup include volume, screen con-
trast, printer, custom communications port address and interrupt, date/
Figure4 - TheApplication Manager, list view.
PDA DEVELOPERS 3.1 Jan/ Feb 1995
Reprinted from the January/February 1995 issue of PDA Developers. 1995-1997 by Creative Digital Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.
time, country settings, MS-DOSCode Page used, 1-2-3 settings, Owner
information, and battery settings.
HP Co nnect i vi t y Pack
The HP Connectivity Pack (part HP F1021B) gives you a 200LX emula-
tor for your MS-DOSor Windows desktop PC. It comes with the cables
and adapters required to connect to an IBM-compatible serial port. The
Connectivity Pack (CP) installs as an MS-DOSprogram, but creates a
Windows program group with predefined PIFs to enable you to run it
under Windows. The CP lets you use most of the PIM software in the
200LX on your desktop. There is also a Translate/Merge utility and
LapLink Remote Access.
The Filer application lets you connect to the 200LX Filer applica-
tion and use a split screen view to copy files between the two computers.
For backup, this may be all you need, although there is an automatic
backup utility that works in conjunction with LapLink Remote Access
where the Filer program on the 200LX goes into server mode and
processes requests from your desktop computer.
The other programs access copies of data files that were backed up
from the 200LX. If you are just starting out entering information from
paper records, using the CP to enter data with a full-size keyboard really
speeds up the process. The Translate/Merge utility allow you synchro-
nize, merge or translate data for the Appointment Book, Phone Book,
Database, Note Taker, and Quicken applications.
The merge function merges one file into another of the same type,
producing one merged file and one unchanged file. It does not dupli-
cate identical records, and it flags conflicting records, whose fate you
decide. You specify what constitutes a conflict.
The synchronize function compares two files of the same type and
updates both files by adding and deleting records, producing two iden-
tical files. Like merge, it flags conflicting records, allowing you to see
and decide what to do about every difference between the files. Again,
you specify what constitutes a conflict.
The translate function allows you to import and export from a
Comma Delimited Format (CDF) file.
LapLink Remote Access is a utility that gives all applications on
your desktop computer access to the 200LX internal drives and
PCMCIA memory card. There are versions for both MS-DOSand
Windows. I tested the Windows version and got it to work in no time. A
small LapLink TSR (terminate and stay resident) MS-DOSprogram
loads before Windows. It does not connect to the 200LX, just allows the
drive mappings to be universal in Windows programs. Then you plug in
the HP serial null cable between your 200LX and desktop PC and start
Windows. Start the LapLink Remote server on the 200LX. Next, there is
a small LapLink Remote Access Windows program that automatically
maps to the 200LX drives upon launch, letting you read from and write
to the 200LX drives.
You can change the settings of the Windows LapLink driver if the
default communications and drive mappings dont work for you. For
my connection LapLink established a 115 Kbps transfer rate. Its easy to
forget that the files I you are working on reside on a palmtop.
Pal mt o p Suppo r t
The HP Palmtop has broad support from users, magazines, online
forums, and software developers. HP offers free technical support
through its Mobile Computing Customer Support facility located in
Corvallis, Oregon. You can contact them at 503.715.2004 or
503.715.5488 (fax). Hours are 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific time, Mon-
day through Friday. You can also get information from the HP Custom-
er Support Automated Information Service by calling 800.443.1254 24
hours a day.
TheHP Palmtop Paper is an excellent source of information on
product reviews, tips, news, programming tutorials, and mail-order
software. You can contact them at 515.472.6330 or 515.472.1879 (fax).
CompuServe has a very active Forum dedicated to HP users and
programmers. The libraries in the forum contain a wealth of programs
and advice. If you have a CompuServe account, GO HPHAND to get to
the forum. CompuServe can be reached at 800.848.8199.
On the Internet, the comp.sys.palmtops and comp.sys.handhelds
news groups of USENET are frequented by palmtop users.
The Nybble BBShas a large library of HP files. The board is free to
the public and full access privileges are granted on the first call. The BBS
number is 708.304.0666.
Finally, HP has an ISV program which is being revised as we go to
press. For more details or enrollment information monitor HPHAND.
If you don't have access to CompuServe, call the HP customer service
number. Don't be surprised if they can't direct you to the right person
for a few weeks.
CONCLUSION
The 200LX is a full-featured palmtop computer that includes a powerful
set of PIM tools and utilities. This latest version of this palmtop contin-
ues the evolutionary path that started with the HP 95LX. If you are
looking for a flexible, portable platform capable of processing large
amount of data, then the 200LX could be for you. I expect to carry this
device around for the foreseeable future because I heavily use the PIM
software, and couldnt function very well without access to all of my
databases and custom programs. Ask any HP user what they think of
their palmtop and I think youll get a positive response just expect to
be occupied for awhile.
MS-DOS: Redi sco ver i ng a Lo st Ar t
TheHP 200LX containsa version of MS-DOS5.0 in ROM that isoptimized for a palmtop PC. With thesystem memory limitsof 636KB maximum and thefile
storageconstraintsof about 1376 KB, it isimportant to squeezeasmuch functionality aspossibleout of MS-DOSdevicedrivers, TSRs, programs, and utilities. Users
havediscovered all kindsof waysaround theserestrictions.
Themost obviousisto add PCMCIA storage, but thisisrelatively costly. A PCMCIA flash card capableof storing 40MB (up to 80MB with data compression) is
currently priced at around $1,500. Thesolution for most peopleseemsto bea PCMCIA card of at least a few megabytesand a widearray of utilitiesand optimized
MS-DOSconfigurations. MS-DOSprogramsmust beCGA compatibleor run in text mode. In text mode, theHP ZOOM featureissupported, allowing you to
changethefont sizeon thefly.
The200LX hasa predefined MS-DOSshell accessiblefrom theFiler, theApplication Manager, and a shortcut-key combination. ThisMS-DOSshell actslikea
System Manager-compliant program, so you can hot key between it and theother internal applications. TheSetup utility allowsyou to set how much system memo-
ry thisMS-DOSshell gets. Thedefault is96KB, but can rangefrom 50KB to 512KB. Themorememory allocated to theDOSshell, thelessavailableto shareamongst
theinternal software. Theother setting in Setup that affectsa DOSsession isa checkbox to enablestheCOM1 port in DOS, required if you arerunning a communi-
cationsprogram.
Theother way to run an MS-DOSprogram isto set it up under theApplication Manager with custom settings. TheApplication Manager letsyou specify the
program location, memory to allocateto theprogram, and icon (the200LX includesa utility to createicons). Therearealso special settingsto control theCOM port
power and whether or not theprogram automatically exitsfrom DOS.
The200LX containsa CONFIG.SYSand AUTOEXEC.BAT located in theroot directory of theD drive. TheCONFIG.SYSfileisused to control system settings
and load system extensions. TheAUTOEXEC.BAT fileisused to automatethestartup of programsand control varioussystemssettings. TheD driveisa ROM drive,
so it cannot bewritten to. To modify thefiles, you need to copy thefilesto theroot of theA drive(PCMCIA card) or theC drive(internal RAM disk). From thereyou
can edit them with theMemo program.
To usethemodified system filesyou need to reboot thecomputer. You can do thisby pressing theCONTROL, ALT and DELETE keyssimultaneously. This
warm bootsthecomputer and loadsthefirst CONFIG.SYSand AUTOEXEC.BAT filesthat it findsin theroot directory of theA, C, or D drives, in that order. After
pressing thereboot key combo, you can also presstheALT key to bring up a menu of boot optionsto select default drivesand system fileprocessing.