Computer Systems

Terminals Selection:

1) 2752A Teleprinter (1966)
2) 2600A (1972)
3) 2640A (1974)
4) 9882A (1975)
5) 307X Data Capture Terminals (1976)
6) 2621A (1978)
7) 2675A (1980)
8) 2382A (1981)
9) 2700 (1982)
10) 2627A (1982)
11) 3081A Data Collection Terminal (1983)
12) 3092A Industrial Terminal (1983)
13) 2392A (1984)
14) 2393A Monochrome Terminal (1985)
15) 2397A (1985)
16) 9666A Rugged Terminal (1986)
17) 3082A Touch Terminal (1987)
18) 700/92 (1987)
19) 700/X Terminal (1989)
20) 700/RX (1991)


When HP entered the computer business, the company only made central processors. HP did not make any peripherals other than tape drives which it had acquired from the Datamec Corporation. Even in the early days of computing, the computers themselves often made up less than twenty percent of the hardware value of customer installations. In the early 1970s, HP began making peripherals for its computers, in order to capture more revenue from computer customers.

HP began selling CRT terminals in 1972. The original HP terminals were OEM'd from third parties. HP began manufacturing its own terminals in 1974. The sale of data terminals taught the company a very important lesson that would drive hardware revenue and profitability for the next three decades. HP made more money selling peripherals with its computer installations. But unlike other HP peripherals which were only attached to HP computers, HP terminals were sold into third party computer installations, a much bigger market than HP computer installations would ever be. 

By the end of the 1970s, more than half of all HP terminals sold were attached to computers made by other vendors. Between 1974 and 1984, terminals were the primary vehicle for data input for most computer users (thereafter, PCs began to assume this role). During this time, HP made terminals from the very basic to what would best be described as high-end graphics workstations (the 2700).

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