23 Feb
2006
23 Feb
'06
3:59 p.m.
http://www.oldcomputers.freeserve.co.uk/newbrain-inside-grundy.html
It does have a small display, but it seems like the primary use is with an
external monitor.
-----------------------------------------
Evan Koblentz's personal homepage: http://www.snarc.net
Computer Collector Newsletter:
Mid-Atlantic Retro Computing Hobbyists & Museum:
23 Feb
23 Feb
4:07 p.m.
Wow lookie here:
http://www.oldcomputers.freeserve.co.uk/page-3-newbury-nb.html
So they definitely thought of it not just as a desktop with a small display
in the main unit, but really as a portable... The site old-computers.com
(http://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=176) has conflicting
information on whether it's from 1980 or 1982... But that matters because is
it's 1980, then it's before the "pocket computer" (HHC) generation; if
it's
1982, then it's very cool but not the "first" of anything.
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of 'Computer Collector Newsletter'
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 4:00 PM
To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'
Subject: Should this be considered an ancestor of laptops?
http://www.oldcomputers.freeserve.co.uk/newbrain-inside-grundy.html
It does have a small display, but it seems like the primary use is with an
external monitor.
-----------------------------------------
Evan Koblentz's personal homepage: http://www.snarc.net
Computer Collector Newsletter:
Mid-Atlantic Retro Computing Hobbyists & Museum:
4:22 p.m.
'Computer Collector Newsletter' wrote:
Wow lookie here:
http://www.oldcomputers.freeserve.co.uk/page-3-newbury-nb.html
So they definitely thought of it not just as a desktop with a small display
in the main unit, but really as a portable...
Portable, yes - but too awkward for any series use as a laptop I'd think.
The site old-computers.com
(http://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=176) has conflicting
information on whether it's from 1980 or 1982... But that matters because is
it's 1980, then it's before the "pocket computer" (HHC) generation; if
it's
1982, then it's very cool but not the "first" of anything.
Hmm, if I were to take an educated guess, I'd put the project start date
somewhere around the start of 1980, and the launch date somewhere in 1981.
The machine was a possible candidate for the BBC Computer Literacy Project,
but wasn't ready in time - resulting in the BBC standardising on Acorn's
Proton (what became known as the BBC Model A and B)
The BBC were looking for a machine to 'adopt' in 1980 I think, so the Newbrain
must have been in some sort of design / prototype phase at that point. The
first Acorn BBC machines were let loose in the latter end of 1981 though, so
presumably production Newbrains followed soon after...
Unfortunately I'm not sure who the resident authority on Newbrains would be,
although Witchy probably knows a fair bit about them and may have some useful
info up on binarydinosaurs.
cheers
Jules
4:28 p.m.
>> although Witchy probably knows a fair bit
about them and may have some
useful info up on binarydinosaurs.
Indeed! http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/Museum/Grundy/index.php
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of Jules Richardson
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 4:22 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: Should this be considered an ancestor of laptops?
'Computer Collector Newsletter' wrote:
Wow lookie here:
http://www.oldcomputers.freeserve.co.uk/page-3-newbury-nb.html
So they definitely thought of it not just as a desktop with a small
display in the main unit, but really as a portable...
Portable, yes - but too awkward for any series use as a laptop I'd think.
The site old-computers.com
(http://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=176) has
conflicting information on whether it's from 1980 or 1982... But that
matters because is it's 1980, then it's before the "pocket computer"
(HHC) generation; if it's 1982, then it's very cool but not the "first"
of
anything.
Hmm, if I were to take an educated guess, I'd put the project start date
somewhere around the start of 1980, and the launch date somewhere in 1981.
The machine was a possible candidate for the BBC Computer Literacy Project,
but wasn't ready in time - resulting in the BBC standardising on Acorn's
Proton (what became known as the BBC Model A and B)
The BBC were looking for a machine to 'adopt' in 1980 I think, so the
Newbrain must have been in some sort of design / prototype phase at that
point. The first Acorn BBC machines were let loose in the latter end of 1981
though, so presumably production Newbrains followed soon after...
Unfortunately I'm not sure who the resident authority on Newbrains would be,
although Witchy probably knows a fair bit about them and may have some
useful info up on binarydinosaurs.
cheers
Jules
5:05 p.m.
>> The first Acorn BBC machines were let loose in
the latter end of 1981
though, so presumably production Newbrains followed soon
after...
Hmmm .... I just read these two pages:
http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/Museum/Grundy/gerald.php
http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/Museum/Grundy/index.php
So then the first model (the AD) shipped in 1982, right? (That's what the
old-computers.com entry indicates.)
4:11 p.m.
'Computer Collector Newsletter' wrote:
http://www.oldcomputers.freeserve.co.uk/newbrain-inside-grundy.html
It does have a small display, but it seems like the primary use is with an
external monitor.
I don't know, the battery pack's the same size as the machine, so I think it'd
be a little uncomfortable to use as a laptop - it's more in the 'compact
portable' class I think...
cheers
Jules
4:36 p.m.
Hmmm, no mention anywhere of the diskette drive, 96 tpi 5.25" single-sided
MFM.
Cheers,
Chuck
9:28 p.m.
Just yesterday I saw a Teletype 31 at a buddy's place - basically a 1/2
sized model 28 (or maybe 19) with a handle on top and a folding
case. Reporters would take these to sporting events and new conferences
and just plug into preinstalled loops back to the home office. 1950s
laptops!
William Donzelli
aw288 at osfn.org
10:07 p.m.
Hmm, I Googled, couldn't find any photos. Could you / your friend send me
one off-list please?
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of William Donzelli
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 9:29 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: Should this be considered an ancestor of laptops?
Just yesterday I saw a Teletype 31 at a buddy's place - basically a 1/2
sized model 28 (or maybe 19) with a handle on top and a folding case.
Reporters would take these to sporting events and new conferences and just
plug into preinstalled loops back to the home office. 1950s laptops!
William Donzelli
aw288 at osfn.org
11:26 p.m.
I'll reply off-list ... Thanks.
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of William Donzelli
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 11:12 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: RE: Should this be considered an ancestor of laptops?
Hmm, I Googled, couldn't find any photos. Could
you / your friend
send me one off-list please?
I will see what I can do. Do you wany 5 level or 8 level?
William Donzelli
aw288 at osfn.org
6728
days inactive
6729
days old
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