| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Tredsaw12
Joined: 21 Apr 2008
Posts: 14
Location: Blackstone Valley, MA
|
 Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:56 am Post subject: The World's first laptop - Excellent working condition |
 |
|
Do you know who pioneered the very first laptop in the world? Probably not, because, like with most innovative products, it's always the company that improves and markets it the best that people remember.
To find the answer or to buy one, see my auctions:
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZtredsaw12
If the auction's over, don't worry, I have a few more.
_________________
Looking for Vintage computer chips? Goto: http://rjkiley2.googlepages.com/home |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
JAC
Joined: 24 Jul 2005
Posts: 3469
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
No, that is not the world's first portable computer. I spend 5 seconds looking in google and found this...
Take a look at this scrap...
http://oldcomputers.net/osborne.html
Gotta love that screen!
Regardless of which is older/newer, dont believe everything you read on wikipedia as the 100% accurate truth.
Last edited by JAC on Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:22 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JAC
Joined: 24 Jul 2005
Posts: 3469
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
.. and something that runs DOS..
http://oldcomputers.net/compaqi.html
1982/83
Check this promotional picture...
I think he is using his comptuer as a chat-up line tool.
"Would you like to see my DOS prompt baby?"
haha |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chip68
Joined: 19 Oct 2004
Posts: 1024
Location: Central Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JAC
Joined: 24 Jul 2005
Posts: 3469
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Would'nt you consider battery operation part of the definition of "portable"? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chip68
Joined: 19 Oct 2004
Posts: 1024
Location: Central Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Not necessarily. Portable TVs years ago were AC only.
- CMW |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tredsaw12
Joined: 21 Apr 2008
Posts: 14
Location: Blackstone Valley, MA
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hey JAC, from reading your other posts, you're clearly an intelligent person, but you seem to form your opinions rather hastily, in this case anyway. If you did a bit more research, you may have learned that your two candidates are what were called portable computers. Which were absolutely in a class of their own. Just because the front folds down to expose the screen, doesn't make it a laptop. Good try.
Now 'Chip68' did his homework, but...still came up a bit short. First of all, how can the "GRID" be considered a laptop if it can't run on a battery?
It all comes down to, "what's your definition of a laptop"?
Here's a few good definitions:
"A laptop is a personal computer that provides the full capabilities of a desktop computer while remaining mobile."
and
"A laptop can use the same software as a desktop machine but is small enough to support mobile computing and operate on battery power."
Not only did the GRID not have a battery, but it didn't have a hard drive or even a floppy drive, and it didn't run "regular" software.
Seriously, just because it looks like a laptop doesn't mean it is one. It seems more like it's own little proprietary word processor than a computer.
I could see how some people may say it's debatable, but just barely.
_________________
Looking for Vintage computer chips? Goto: http://rjkiley2.googlepages.com/home |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JAC
Joined: 24 Jul 2005
Posts: 3469
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
hmm..
Dude, I am not intelligent. I know JACshit. So let's look at your argument that you have the "first" laptop...
| Tredsaw12 wrote: |
"A laptop is a personal computer that provides the full capabilities of a desktop computer while remaining mobile."
and
"A laptop can use the same software as a desktop machine but is small enough to support mobile computing and operate on battery power."
|
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_replacement_computer
"The forerunners of the desktop replacement were the portable computers of the early-to-mid 1980s, such as the Osborne I, [2] the Compaq Portable [3] and the Commodore Executive 64 (SX-64) computers. [4] These computers contained the CPU, display, floppy disk drive and power supply all in a single briefcase-like enclosure. Similar in performance to the desktop computers of the era, they were easily transported and came with an attached keyboard that doubled as a protective cover when not in use."
| Tredsaw12 wrote: |
Seriously, just because it looks like a laptop doesn't mean it is one. It seems more like it's own little proprietary word processor than a computer.
I could see how some people may say it's debatable, but just barely. |
So your defintion also extends to the software. Well, in that case you should know that one of the key selling points of early computers was the ability to run a spreadsheet.
Take another look at the Osborne 1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osborne_I
It is far more than a " proprietary word processor ".
Just because you hear something you don't like, it doesnt mean it is wrong. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JAC
Joined: 24 Jul 2005
Posts: 3469
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
This is what you had to say....
"This auction is for the DG One laptop PC made by Data General, (now owned by EMC). This is a very rare and very collectible computer. It's so old, it runs DOS. After endless hours of research, I am convinced that this was the world's very first "laptop" computer. Read what Wikipedia has to say:
"
It's so old it runs DOS? There was life before DOS.
Not sure what you spent hours of research on.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chip68
Joined: 19 Oct 2004
Posts: 1024
Location: Central Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Tredsaw12 wrote: | | First of all, how can the "GRID" be considered a laptop if it can't run on a battery? |
Uh... Because it fits in your lap...? But forgetting the GRiD for a moment, there was the TRS-80 model 100, which also predates the Data General:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS-80_Model_100_line
And it *did* run on batteries. Keep in mind that most personal computers at the time didn't have a hard drive OR a floppy drive, so that's not really a valid criticism. (Although the Model 100 did have an optional 3.5" drive available.)
- CMW |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chip68
Joined: 19 Oct 2004
Posts: 1024
Location: Central Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
Incidentally Tredsaw12, I didn't need to do any "homework" as such... With the exception of the IBM 5100, I actually used all these portable computers when they first came out. Did you?
I can't tell you how many hours I wasted playing Hunt the Wumpus back in '81 on a friend's HP-85, yet another portable predating the DG1.
- CMW |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
CPUShack
Joined: 16 Jun 2003
Posts: 34259
Location: State of Jefferson, USA
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tredsaw12
Joined: 21 Apr 2008
Posts: 14
Location: Blackstone Valley, MA
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 2:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
You guys are talking about "portable computers".
The whole problem with this discussion is that it's virtually impossible to agree on the definition of "Laptop".
| Quote: | | Uh... Because it fits in your lap...? |
Chip, please tell me that's not your definition of a Laptop.
The TRS-80 - 100 is more like a laptop than the Osborne 1, but I still wouldn't call it a laptop.
| Quote: | | Incidentally Tredsaw12, I didn't need to do any "homework" as such... With the exception of the IBM 5100, I actually used all these portable computers when they first came out. Did you? |
Chip, you may be older than me but not by much. The TRS-80 was my favorite computer when I was a kid. My father's been working with computer companies in Massachusetts since the 60's. He's now divorced, he works at Intel in Hudson, MA, and his whole house is full of computers and computer parts - yes, his whole life IS computers. I may not know as much as you but I have a resource that does.
In my opinion, the DG One, is the oldest computer that you could definately call a laptop because it's practically the same makeup of today's laptops. It has a full size flat screen that folds down to protect itself and enclose the keyboard, a hard drive, a floppy drive, parallel and serial ports, battery, docking station, runs 'common' software and it even has it's own printer.
Can you name me another computer from 1984 that can compare to that?
_________________
Looking for Vintage computer chips? Goto: http://rjkiley2.googlepages.com/home |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
CPUShack
Joined: 16 Jun 2003
Posts: 34259
Location: State of Jefferson, USA
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
then you have the difference between a laptop and a notebook.
Todays notebooks are NOT laptops. and if you read the manuals they say DO NOT PLACE IN YOUR LAP.
They get a bit hot and will burn you.
_________________
New for 2025! The CPU Shack has a co-processor!
Visit The CPU Shack of microprocessor history and information. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JAC
Joined: 24 Jul 2005
Posts: 3469
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| CPUShack wrote: | then you have the difference between a laptop and a notebook.
Todays notebooks are NOT laptops. and if you read the manuals they say DO NOT PLACE IN YOUR LAP.
They get a bit hot and will burn you. |
Yeah, and the heat kills off the little swimmers down there. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
