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EPSON
HX-20 OPERATIONS MANUAL
BY
Kenneth Skier
President
SkiSoft, Inc.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechan- ical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Epson America, Inc. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissi
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Federal Communications Commission Radio Frequency Interference Statement “This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio and television reception. It has been type tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reason
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CONTENTS 1 ................................... 1 Congratulations! 5 ......................................... 2 Cautions 5 .............................................. Case 5 .................................. Dummy cartridge 6 ................................... System bus cover 7 ..................................... Circuitry cover 7 Battery charger .................................... 8 Batteries .......................................... 9 Printer .........................................
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................................ 42 Virtual screen width ....................... 43 Logical lines vs. physical lines. 44 Retyping .......................................... ...................................... 44 Deleting text 45 Insert mode ....................................... .............................. 46 Upper and lower case. 47 Numeric mode ..................................... ................................. 49 Graphic characters ................................. 50 Printing the
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Chapter 1 Congratulations! Unlike most other personal Congratulations! You have just computers, the HX-20 can store purchased the first of a new gen- up to seventeen programs in its eration of personal computers. memory. (Five of these may be The Epson HX-20 is unlike any BASIC programs.) When you product ever built, combining turn on the HX-20, a menu ap- the power and usefulness of a pears on the screen, listing the desktop computer with the port- names of these programs. You ability of a pock
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memory even when you turn it off J When you use the HX-20, you’ll notice that its full-size, full-stroke keyboard has the feel of a fine piece of office equip- ment, and that its program- mable special function keys make it a snap to develop pro- grams that are extremely easy to use. You'll also appreciate its built-in screen and printer. They display graphics as well as num- Contained within the HX-20 bers, punctuation marks, and is an extended version of Micro- upper and lower case letters. so
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permanently with the desired capabilities. Only one option ROM can fit inside the HX-20 at a time, but it’s a powerful means of customizing the HX-20 for a desired application-without diminishing in any way its abil- -an ordinary cassette recorder, ity to run BASIC programs or to for permanent storage of pro- accept option cartridges. grams and data; Option cartridges also tailor the HX-20 for specific applica- tions. You can install a cartridge in moments, simply by sliding it into a recessed c
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As you can see, the HX-20 is powerful, portable, easy to use and expandable. Whether you wish to use it for school, for busi- ness, or just for fun, you could hardly choose a more personal personal computer. So, once again, Congratulations! I I -one or more floppy-disk units, which may store dozens or hundreds of programs and data files on-line, for virtually instant access; -a bar code reader, to scan bar- coded programs, songs, and data sheets. 4
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Chapter 2 Cautions The HX-20 is not a toy. Although it is solid and well-built, it is not invulnerable. Treat it with the care it deserves, and it should pro- vide you with years of reliable service. The warnings on these pages concern only the HX-20. If you con- nect your HX-20 to any peripherals, be sure to heed any warnings contained within the documentation for those peripherals. (Note: failure to observe the following cautions may void the warranty on your HX-20.) Never disassemble the case
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cartridge Leave the dummy cartridge in place If you purchase an option cartridge containing a program or a microcassette recorder, then you will need to remove the dummy cartridge in order to insert the option cartridge. But until then, please leave the dummy cartridge in place. When no cartridge is in place, one of the HX-20’s connectors is exposed. Static electricity or metal objects contacting this con- nector can damage the HX-20’s circuitry. By covering up this connector, the dummy cartridg
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Treat the circuit cover with care If you turn your HX-20 upside down, you will notice something that looks like a trap door. This covers the HX-20’s internal circuitry. circuit cover Treat the circuit cover with care PLEASE NOTE: You should not remove this cover yourself! Re- moving it exposes the static-sensitive circuit to possible damage. Your warranty will become void if you attempt to modify, adjust, add, or insert any ROM or other part or device in this compartment. This cover should only
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plugs identical to the one on the HX-20 battery charger.) Using any battery charger other than the one that came with your HX-20 may damage the HX-20 and/ or its batteries and could void your warranty. Use only the HX-20 AC adapter to charge HX-20 batteries Don’t overcharge the batteries If you operate the HX-20 with the battery charger connected, even- tually you will overcharge the batteries. Do not operate the HX-20 with the battery charger connected When its batteries need to be recharged, t
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recharge the HX-20 before you see that message, you will only shorten the useful life of the batteries. Charging the batteries for more than eight hours at a time will shorten their life. Charging them continuously for more than seven days can destroy them. I Don’t overcharge the batteries If your batteries fail to hold a charge, take your HX-20 to an Epson Service Center. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE BATTERIES YOURSELF, or you could damage your HX-20. Don’t pull on the paper when the printer is
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Plugging in a device that does not conform to these specifications may damage the HX-20 and/or the device you plug in, and may void your warranty. Connect the HX-20 only to appropriate peripherals Protect the HX-20 from physical shock Don’t drop your HX-20, or let it shake about. Like any other electronic product, the HX-20 can be damaged by such treatment. Pack it in its original box, using the original packing materials, whenever you ship it. Protect the HX-20 from physical shock Protect the H
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Protect the HX-20 from extreme heat and cold The HX-20 is designed for use in conditions where the temperature is below 95° F (35° C), and above 41°F (5° C). The HX-20 will not work reliably outside of this temperature range. Protect the HX-20 from extreme heat and cold Storing the HX-20 in conditions that are too hot or too cold may damage it permanently. 11
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Chapter 3 Preparing your HX-20 for use Before you use your HX-20 for the first time, you must take several steps: I) Unpack it. 2) Charge the batteries. 3) Put paper and a ribbon in the printer. 4) Adjust the LCD display. 5) Initialize memory and the calendar clock. If you need to work with special symbols, you might also wish to select a different character set. See page 27. Unpacking the HX-20 Remove the HX-20, the battery charger, and all packing materials from the box. Check the packing mate
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3) A roll of paper for the printer. 4) A ribbon cartridge for the printer. 5) This manual. 6) The Epson HX-20 BASIC Tutorial and Reference Manual. 7) The registration card. 8) A warning sheet concerning the battery charger. Fill out the registration card at the time of purchase and mail it to Epson. With your registration card on file, Epson can provide continuing software and hardware support to help you in using your HX-20. Charging the batteries The nickel-cadmium batteries in your HX-20 hold
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Uncoil the battery charger cable. At the free end of this cable is a small, cylindrical plug: Insert this plug into the socket labelled “ADAPTER” on the back of the HX-20: DO NOT TURN ON THE HX-20! If you leave your HX-20 power on, your batteries will not be fully charged at the end of eight hours. The batteries in the HX-20 are now charging. Allow them to obtain a full charge for eight (8) hours. Then disconnect the battery charger from the AC outlet, and unplug it from the HX-20. Preparing the
