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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Received on Mon Nov 03 2003 - 12:29:29 GMT