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Vintage Portable Computers

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	LAPTOP PC'S Early Intel and Zilog CPU based portable personal computers. Tandy 1400LT Tandy 1400FD Tandy 1100FD Tandy 1110HD
	NOTEBOOK PC'S Early ultra-light personal computers based on Intel and Zilog CPU's. These units are all unique in their class. TRS-80 Model 100 Tandy Model 102 Tandy Model 200 Citizen CBM-10WP Tandy WP2/3 LASER PC4/5 Brother PN-4400/8500 QuickPAD NEC 8300 Amstrad NC-100/200
	RARE LAPTOP PC's Early Laptop computers that were to little to late for their marketplace. These units missed the mark when the Intel 8808 CPU and MS-DOS was being favored by manufacturers NEC 8401 Tandy 600
	The Luggable Computers Early portable computers characterized by weight and size. Marketed as the companion to the busy professional. These units were being sold side by side with the earliest notebooks. TRS-80 Model 4p Osborne I Kaypro II Olivetti Portable Page

The Evolution of Portability

Today the notebook computer is an everyday sight in coffee shops, libraries, colleges and

the teenage bedroom. For the most part, these computers out-power their office

counterparts. The standard laptop computer of today is complete with USB ports, DVD

burners, video interface, floppy and hard drives, and full multi-media applications. But

the computers were for the most part tethered to their desks. That was until engineers

began to see the importance of taking their work with them.

It must be remembered that early personal computers had little in the way of application

software. For the most part, the portability revolution began with the programming

community. Computer manufacturers just satisfying their in-house needs. But the first

computers were characterized as boxes with CRT display built-ion along with large 8" or

5.25" floppy drives. The easy solution was to add a handle on the top of existing units.

This was very evident in the advent of the TRS-80 Model 4p. Basically a Model 4

squeezed into a sewing machine case. The Kaypro, Olivetti's and Osborn computers did

the same and the outcome was a 20 to 35 pound behemoth. But they were great

computers in their own right.

Tandy, Olivetti and NEC countered with what many today see as the best computers ever

built. These are the NEC-8300, TRS-80 Model 100, and Olivetti M10. Computers that

had programming power, and application software complete with connectivity. These

units worked 4 AA batteries, and were under 3 pounds. Amstrad added to the mix with an

absolute fabulous unit known as the NC-100.

Just before Intel began to penetrate the market with their 8808 CPU which launched the

industry in their current path for the notebook, Tandy Corporation produced the Model

600. An extremely cool computer, that for a small footprint weighted heavy on the thighs.

This unit had a3.5" floppy drive and Microsoft Works built-in. A basic ROM was also

available but not shipped and very few of these chips exist today. The computer was

released only a few months before the first 8088 laptops appeared by companies like

Epson, NEC and Toshiba to name a few. As a result the Model 600 was a flop, and now is

only treasured by collectors. NEC also pulled the same stunt with the Model 8401, and

CPM based computer with similar flare as the Model 600. It was also a failure for the

same reason. Tandy countered with the release of their Model 1400's, heavy 8088

laptops that were replaced 18 months later by their Tandy 1100FD and 1110HD models.

Take some time and read the pages in these sections for reviews of these great collector

computers.