3 Nov
2003
3 Nov
'03
4:29 a.m.
On Mon, 3 Nov 2003, Witchy wrote:
The first true portable was the Osborne 1 wasn't
it? The Compaq Portable
was the first true IBM compatible portable after Compaq spent a million
dollars and well over a year creating a BIOS that didn't infringe IBM's
copyright.....
It depends on how you define the words "first", "true" and
"portable".
This may seem like ridiculous quibbling but the problem is that you must
judge based on a specified set of conditions, otherwise the title is
meaningless.
As a general statement, no, the Osborne was not. I'd point to the MCM/70
(as I always have, since even before the latest press exposure ;)
Next after the Osborne was the Semi-Tech
Microelectronics Pied Piper,
according to several articles I've read, though that one didn't have an
integral screen....you could, however, take it home and plug it into your
TV. Can't tell you what the picture's like 'cos none of my machines have
modulators :)
Well then by that definition anything that can be carried is a portable.
I have a Pied Piper and it is not what I would consider "intended to be
portable" though, yes, it can be ported, as can a PDP 11/45 (with a bit
more effort of course).
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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