Top 150 Collectible Microcomputers

First, note the change in the subject line. There's absolutely nothing wrong with making a geographic specific list (or any other arbitrary sub-class), but labelling it as such should be obligatory. Kai's list is an excellent one, but it is impossible for such not to be subjective. Rather than separate entries, it might be more managable to always group all machines of a given manufacturer, or at least series, together. Firstly, various submodels, such as Apple ][ and ][+ and ][e, although all warranting inclusion, don't really warrant separate entries. But then, to decide where to draw the line between "different" models still poses a question. How can you compare the relative differences between a TRS-80 3 v 4 as opposed to an Apple ][ v ][+? A minor formatting help would be to place all machines of a given manufacturer in an indented list with that manufacturer. In the case of rebranded machines, perhaps list them and their vendor under the actual manufacturer. For example: Kyocera: Radio Sjack Model 100 NEC 8200/8201 Olivetti xxxxxxx (help me here, Roger!) Sharp: Radio Shack Pocket Computer xxx Sharp xxxx Some suggested additions: Columbia (arguably first clone, before Compaq) Gavilan (early MS-DOS laptop) 3" 3.5" 8 line 16 line Poqet (first 80x25 handheld MS-DOS) OK, now on to the obligatory minor quibbles: On Fri, 18 Jun 1999, Kai Kaltenbach wrote: (also had a few trivial other mods besides color, such as lockable lid) Aha! from that we can deduce exactly how old you are, and even make some guesses about WHERE you went to school. (If these two of different rarities are grouped together, why not others?) arguably ^^^^^^ "notebook" The phone was a strange feature, too. Hardly a "clone". Dec seemed to have started with a CP/M design, and then modified for MS-DOS. Dec seemed to go out of their way to be incompatible/different. again, "notebook"?? Although not officially sold in US, the HC-20 was the same machine in gray instead of beige, with Katakana included on keyboard and character generator ROMs. SCREEN SIZE ALL Kaypros (2, 2X, ...) were double density! Do you mean double sided? Or redefining "double density"? 1) PMC IS NOT LOBO! 2) I'm not sure, but I think that the LNW was first, followed by PMC, and then Lobo (who started with drives, then an expansion interface, then computer and L-DOS (spun off into LSI)) Was tried again later by Dimension? (8086?, 6502? 68000?) I don't think that the intent of NLS (Kaypro) was to imitate Osborne. By the time the O1 was released, there were already many other portables being developed. Including one built into a Hallibuton attache case that I introduced a few hours before Osborne intro'd theirs. And one of the first Microcomputer trademark cases! Otrona did an ad showing a Charlie Chaplin look-a-like trying to carry a PC down stairs on a card table. (No IBM didn't have the real Chaplin, nor his authorization; they had authorization from his estate.) I sure wouldn't call it more "serious", but the lowest level crudest entry level was $400, so it was the CHEAPEST. TYPO?? There are some stories about Motorola's involvement in the development of it. The addition of a 68000 co-processor board warrants inclusion, but should be grouped with the Model 2. How about their much hated MS-DOS machine? A NICE list! treat everybody's arguments as SUGGESTIONS, and let us know when you have an update. Which machines from the list do you HAVE?/WANT? -- Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin(a)xenosoft.com