Nick writes about the 150,

> An HP mistake.  More seriously, HP's first "PC" was a 125, a CPM
> machine, followed by the 120 (same but had a much smaller foot print).
> Then HP came out with the 150, a DOS machine but NOT IBM compatible.
> HP finally came out with the Vectra.  The 150 can be used as a
> word processor, etc., but I don't feel anyone would have a use for it
> unless they had a few of them still in use (perhaps as terminals) and
> wanted another for spare parts.
>
> In reference to its being a mistake, it would have given HP a leg up
> if it had been fully IBM compatible.

I agree with what Nick said, but it also had a touchscreen option which, if it
were fully IBM compatible, and the apps were there, could have made it a
serious PC.  In a prior life, we had some of these and we wrote a few apps that
were kiosk-based, that utilized the touchscreen.

(As for the 120, I had one personally - no hard disk but four floppies, and I
used the Condor Database Management System for several applications such as
project management and inventory/document control.  The printer was an Epson
FX-80 with an HP Label on it.  Alas, that 120 and the printer, are in a
landfill somewhere, buried deep down.  They worked hard, but outlived their
life, and spare parts were difficult to find.)

Joe