Kaypro (Non Linear Systems - Portable Computers)
(official sticker)

Andy Kay's dream
(sadly he passed away on 5th Sep. 2014)

In 1981 Andrew Kay had the idea to build personal computers, and he realized that dream in 1982 with the Kaypro II, which was a great step forward compared to his rival Osborne-1.
The Kaypro II owns a 9" green monitor which was capable to show 80 chars a line - ideal for word processing (at this time).
Also, it was the first CP/M computer with a comprehensive software paket (from Perfect Software).

Here are the technical specs from the first Kaypro:

Z80 CPU 2.5 MHz, two SS/DD 5.25" floppy drives with approx. 190 KB capacity, one serial (RS-232) and one parallel (IEEE) port, the 9" monitor and and a good keyboard, all-in-one metal (!) case:
 
One of the strange behaviours are shown here also:
One of the disk drive is always selected (even nothing is done), this was changed with several third party firmware ROMs, like the famous Advent TurboROM or the better, but less known >KayPlus ROM<.
The KayPlus ROM is still downloadable at the above URL/page !
I haven't found Plu*Perfect Systems in the internet anymore, so I offer a download for this 8 KB Advent TurboROM (Version 3.4) >here<, for the utilities and docs see >here< or documentation in readable 'PC' text >here<. I will remove this link asap if the original copyright holder inform me that this offer is not desired.
Btw. I offer here a german CP/M 2.2 bootdisk for the Kaypro II also >here<, other can be found >here< or look for system / install disks >here<).
Two mainboard versions were shipped with the Kaypro II's, one without, and one with the ability of controlling double sided floppy drives.

There was also a Kaypro IV (aka Kaypro 4'83) and a Kaypro 4'84, which can be distinguished by comparing the floppy drive height (IV was equipped with full height drives, 4 with half height ones).

Above, a Kaypro 4 is shown (with a 4 MHz Z80).
Btw. again...  I looked for a CP/M 2.2 bootdisk for the Kaypro IV with german keyboard support for years, but I found one meanwhile - can be d/l'd >here<, other can be d/l'd >here< or look for system / install disks >here<).

Below, a later Kaypro 2 is shown (also with a 4 MHz Z80):
 

A version with a 10 MByte harddisk, the Kaypro 10, was introduced in 1984. The HD was driven with a WD1002 controller chip:
 

The last CP/M capable version was the Kaypro 1 (which was similar to the Kaypro 2X, with vertical installed drives):


This last one, the Kaypro 16 was a PC compatible computer with the "old" metal case of the CP/M Kaypro's, not capable of running CP/M:
 
Looking for Kaypro 16 software ? See >here<.

See here for a complete model history:

There was also a ROM named 'Universal ROM', which replaces all other versions later.
There were also Kaypros relabeled as "Omni II Logic Analyzer" with an additional logic analyzer board and interface.
The Kaypro's with +88 have an optional board with an Intel 8088 CPU and 256 KB RAM, so it was possible to run MS-DOS also.

Schematics (Logic) for the Kaypro II (not Kaypro 2): >here<
Schematics (Logic) for the Kaypro 2 (not Kaypro II): >here<

Manuals in PDF format can be found here: >Bitsavers<,
mirrored also >here<.
Or take a look also here: >maben.homeip.net<
And finally may be also here:>retroarchive< (also for Kaypro 16!).
A short description of S-BASIC for the Kaypro's can be read >here<,
a CP/M manual *very* similar to the original Kaypro CP/M documentation can be found >here<.

You can start to transfer software by reading >this article<, or just read my pages about >all disk transfer possibilities<.

One of the most famous Kaypro user was Arthur C. Clarke :

He wrote his science fiction novel "2010" with the help of a Kaypro II (he lived also in Sri Lanka, and used a modem for transferring documents, some details can be read >here< about it).

Copyright (c) 2005-2021 Peter Dassow. All rights reserved.

peter.dassow@NOSPAM.z80.eu (remove NOSPAM. for a proper mail address)