vintagetech
Member
I have a couple of Kaypro II systems and another with the case showing Kaypro 2. Was there any difference between the "II" and the "2" or did they just change the case labeling at some point?
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Kaypro II
- Thread starter vintagetech
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durgadas311
Veteran Member
My Kaypro 2X has "Kaypro 2" silk-screened all over the case, with a single "X" sticker (paper) applied to the back panel after the "2". So, you my not be able to tell solely based on what's written on the case. The "2X" or "2/84" were quite different internally (very different mainboards) from the Kaypro II. The back panel cut-outs were quite different between II and 2X.
haglebu
Experienced Member
In the meantime, I have gathered so much about the Kaypro's, so please check it out here: https://retrocmp.de/kaypro/kay-p1_vers.htm
vintagetech
Member
Hmm, hadn't thought of that. I checked the backs of the cases and the "2" is different than the "II" as far as ports are concerned. It does say "Kaypro 2" on the backs but no indication of an "X", sticker or otherwise. The "II" just say "Kaypro". I suppose this could be a "2X" maybe?
durgadas311
Veteran Member
A photo could help identify it. Kaypro was not very strict about their labeling. My "early" 2X has a paper sticker, while you see later ones with fancy "2X" silk-screen on the sides, etc.
vintagetech
Member
Ah thank you! Looking this over and comparing to various images on your site I think this is a "2/84" The back matches that one and the front as well. Need to check the "II"s a little closer and see if my "4" is of a particular version as well from reviewing your site.
vintagetech
Member
The back of my "2" matches the image of the "2/84" shown on the link @haglebu posted above. Looking at the front behind the keyboard it seems to match as well with images there.
durgadas311
Veteran Member
As you noticed, there can be a lot of confusion between "II" and "2". My guess is that Kaypro originally named their next-generation machine "2" and then realized that was just too confusing, so changed it to "2X". Note, the "2X" (2/84) uses 400K floppies, so does not exactly follow the idea that the number implies storage size.
vintagetech
Member
Looked over the "4" I have which appears to be the basic "4". So I seem to have 2 Kaypro IIs, 1 Kaypro 2/84 and 1 Kaypro 4. Next step is to dig into each and clean them up and check them out and see what condition they're in.
durgadas311
Veteran Member
So, your "4" is a "4/84" and not the "IV"? The 4/84 should have the same mainboard (and backpanel layout) as the 2/84 (2X).
vintagetech
Member
No mine is the "4", not the "4/84". My understanding is there really isn't a "IV" but that some people tend to use that to differentiate between the "4/83" and the "4/84" but officially it was a "4". So mine would be the model from 83 in this case.
durgadas311
Veteran Member
Yes, consistency was certainly not Kaypro's "thing". The technical manuals/schematics sometimes say "II" and sometimes say "2" when referring to the first generation, but seems to always say "4". And the CP/M signon message for those says "II" and "IV". So, labels can be deceiving... or at least misleading.
haglebu
Experienced Member
I agree. The naming of Kaypro's II and 4 is indeed very confusing. But one look at the back tells you right away if it's an '83 or the later '84 models. The 83 models all have only two interfaces (one par. and ser. each).
vintagetech
Member
Which is how I decided it was an 83 model as it only has the two interfaces.