There is a good selection of 16-bit MS-DOS software for networking the HP LX palmtops (XT-class, but with an 80186 processor), including TC/IP and PPP, as well as simple browsers HTML readers, and email programs (look at
http://www.dasoft.com/WWW/wv3.htm, for example). Many are free.
There are a number of PCMCIA network cards that have DOS support (look for a 16-bit card; I have a 3Com 574). The selection is more restricted for the HP palmtops, though, because of its power limitations (<125mA, IIRC). The favorite card is the Accton EN2216, no longer produced by sometimes available on eBay.
If you search the HPLX mailing list archives (
http://www.technoir.nu/hplx/hplx-l/), you will find instructions on setting up DOS networking, email, etc.
If you want to hook an MS-DOS computer to an MS network, there is always
http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/dosclien.htm.
You could also hook the DOS computer to a network using a serial port and PPP (MochaSoft PPP
http://www.mochasoft.dk/f_download2.html is highly recommended on the HPLX list).
Bob
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe [mailto:rigdonj_at_cfl.rr.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2003 9:08 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: Old DOS on topic yet?
At 05:16 PM 9/25/03 -0700, you wrote:
>> I would like to get an old single floppy DOS laptop machine
>> on my local network. Anyone know how to get DOS to work with
>> a PCMCIA card (uh too new?)
>
>Well.... One question comes to mind, if it's a single floppy laptop (I
>translate that as meaning it doesn't have a HD), does it even have a PCMCIA
>card slot? If it doesn't, does it have an bidirectional parallel port
>(isn't that called EPP?). If you have the PCMCIA slot, you'll need to find
>a card that is old enough that there was DOS support for it. Hopefully you
>can get one that includes the drivers and instructions.
>
>Warning, setting such a thing up is not fun. The next question is, what do
>you plan on using for networking software? Such things for DOS weren't
>exactly common either.
>
> Zane
>
IIRC somewhere on the net is a HP 200LX palmtop that's operating as a
server. IIRC it has one or two PCMCIA slots and 2Mb of RAM with MS-DOS 5 in
ROM and NO disk drives. Don't recall what networking software it was using
but it shouldn't be to hard to find if it's still on the net.
Ah! Found it! it's at <
http://www.technoir.nu/hplx/welcome.html>. It's
now been taken off-line but the details are still posted.
Joe
Received on Fri Sep 26 2003 - 08:52:37 BST