The HP 250 borrowed the embedded keyboard design from the HP 300 and added a wider slide-able and tilt-able monitor with screen labeled function keys buttons physically placed just below on-screen labels (a configuration now used in ATMs and gas pumps) built into a large desk design.

Initially the HP 250 was like the HP300 as a single user, floppy based computer system.

Additionally, drivers were made available to connect and use more HP-IB devices: hard disc and tape drives, plus impact and matrix printers.

HP systems moved away from all-in-one table top designs to having the system in a remote secure location, and remotely connecting user's terminals and peripherals out to in their work area.

Speeds of 9600 baud were common (pre- LAN / network cards to PCs).