In September 1985, Hitachi Limited marketed the Hitachi Creative Workstation 2050, to serve as a core for OA, and the Hitachi Personal Workstation 2020, a mass-market version of the same machine.
The 2050 was developed as a workstation, applicable to creative work, which could serve as the core of future OA. This was done by integrating a conventional terminal unit with high-functionality personal computer features. The 2050 employed the 68010 high-speed 16-bit microprocessor, had high-capacity memory, achieved high-reliability and high-capacity by adopting MOS-LSI, and was equipped with a high-capacity high-speed-access disk, a high-resolution bit-map display and newly developed bit-map processor, and a numerical operation processor. This made it possible to process text, diagrams and graphics at high speed.
As software, the 2050 used the HI-UX OS, which was developed based on UNIX but had added multi-window and Japanese language features, and this enabled parallel processing while accessing multiple pieces of information. The 2050 had an easy-to-understand man-machine interface where the user could indicate screen icons or command menu options using a mouse, and the display was designed ergonomically, being flickerless, anti-glare treated, and equipped with a mechanism for upward 15° tilt, downward 5° tilt, and left-right 60° swivel.
The 2020 was developed as a mass-market version of the 2050. It employed the high-performance 80286 microprocessor, and had high-capacity memory, high-reliability due to the adoption of LSI, a high-capacity high-speed-access hard disk, and hardware employing a high-speed drawing processor.
Using the HI-MOS OS, which incorporated MS-DOS while achieving multi-tasking functionality, it provided better personal processing using OA software, and was equipped with powerful network features.
The display was designed ergonomically, being flickerless, anti-glare treated, and equipped with a mechanism for upward 15°tilt, downward 5°tilt, and left-right 60° swivel.
The 2020 Model L was a desk-top type workstation. The graphic screen size and character fonts were the same as the 2020, and compatibility with the 2020 (including operability) was maintained.
| 2050 | 2020 | 2020 Model E | 2020 Model L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | 68010 | 80286 | 80286 | 80286 |
| Memory capacity | 2-4MB | 1MB | 1-4MB | 2MB |
| Floppy disk | 3.5inch x1 | 5.25inch x1-2 | 5.25inch x1-2 | 3.5inch x1 |
| Hard disk | 40/65MB | 10/20/40MB | 20/40MB | 20/40MB |
| Display | 15/20inch color | 12/15inch monochrome/color | 15/20inch monochrome/color | Backlight type liquid crystal display |
| Announcement date | September 1985 | August 1987 | August 1989 | |
