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Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2022 November 7

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November 7

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HP calculator/computer model identification

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When entering HP 9836, a Hewlett-Packard calculator/computer model mentioned by an IP contributor in the section #Early plotting library above, the search box suggests HP 9836A, which redirects to HP 9800 series. However, that article does not describe or even mention 9836A or 9836 model. Instead, it refers to HP 9000 line for 9836, which indeed mentions 9836 (together with 9836A, 9836C, and 9836CU).

What confuses me is the device depicted in the photo above (File:AutomatedManufacturingResearchFacility_025.jpg) resembles much more those in HP 9800 series than those in HP 9000. Could someone clarify the discrepancy, or fix a mistake if there is some here? --CiaPan (talk) 08:29, 7 November 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, that all seems to check out. The 9836 (historical links here and here) existed before HP introduced its HP 9000 line and so the 9836 was rebadged from a previous release of computers. It appears to be based on the Motorola 68000 processor.
Of course the HP 9000 line grew far beyond those humble beginnings, and so the "family resemblance" may be incidental to the original, rebadged 9836 you're seeing there, but they do indeed straddle both of those product lines. Elizium23 (talk) 09:00, 7 November 2022 (UTC)[reply]