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:
> * Apple I
> * > Apple II
> * Apple II+
> * Apple II+ Bell & Howell "Black Apple"
> This has a certain cache simply because it's black, and has always been
> considered a collector piece for Apple afficianados.
(also had a few trivial other mods besides color, such as lockable lid)
> The standard school equipment for years, thus eminently collectible for
> those who first learned to compute on them.
Aha! from that we can deduce exactly how old you are, and even make some
guesses about WHERE you went to school.
> * Apple Lisa / Macintosh XL
(If these two of different rarities are grouped together, why not others?)
> * Convergent Technologies WorkSlate
> A wacky early laptop that used a spreadsheet metaphor for _everything_.
arguably ^^^^^^ "notebook" The phone was a strange feature, too.
> * DEC Rainbow 100
> DEC cloned the PC and made it even better than the original design, but
> better doesn't mean 100% compatible.
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.
> * Epson HX-20
> A cute early take on laptops.
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.
> * Kaypro II
> Kaypro proves that being cheaper than the Osborne is the only thing that
> matters.
SCREEN SIZE
> * Kaypro 4 / 10
> Kaypro goes double-density, then adds possibly the first portable hard disk
> system.
ALL Kaypros (2, 2X, ...) were double density! Do you mean double sided?
Or redefining "double density"?
> * Lobo PMC-80
> The first TRS-80 clone
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))
> * Ohio Scientific Challenger C3D
> Would you believe THREE different microprocessors in one chassis? 6502,
> 6809, and Z-80.
Was tried again later by Dimension? (8086?, 6502? 68000?)
> * Osborne 1
> They said Adam Osborne should stop preaching about how to build a good
> computer, and just go build one. A great design, and a great success until
> nuked by cheaper, less engineered copycats by companies like Kaypro.
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.
> * Otrona Attache
> Simply a nice luggable design
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.)
> * Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 1
> One of the best selling computers of all time, viewed as the "serious"
> machine versus those "color graphics" 6502 boxes from Apple and Atari.
I sure wouldn't call it more "serious", but the lowest level crudest entry
level was $400, so it was the CHEAPEST.
> * Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computers 1-3
> If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Radio Shack goes color and 6502.
TYPO??
There are some stories about Motorola's involvement in the development of
it.
> * Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 2
> Radio Shack goes business.
> * Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 12 / 16 / 6000
> TRS-80 goes multi-user
The addition of a 68000 co-processor board warrants inclusion, but should
be grouped with the Model 2.
> * Sanyo MBC-1000
> Popular CP/M desktop for business and word processing
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_at_xenosoft.com
Received on Mon Jun 21 1999 - 16:32:16 BST