Now I Realize I'm Old

[swerve]

I think I read somewhere that one of the first portable computers was built by Apple in the 1970s, can anyone remember that one?

The original Apple computer, later called the Apple 1 - 1976. I became aware of Apple a couple of years later, I think, when the Apple II (the first mass-produced Apple) was on the market. Horribly expensive, & I marvelled that anyone would spend that much on what was pretty much a toy. No useful software, IIRC.

[irregularmedic]

 

 

I think I read somewhere that one of the first portable computers was built by Apple in the 1970s, can anyone remember that one?

 

The first Apple I saw was a brick with a taller than wide screen that was supposed to be better for word processing, and compared to IBM-ATs (80286 + 287 maths co-processor which we always yanked out as it was full of glitches!) it cost astronomically more.

 

I remember at the time the company had that single IBM-AT which had cost something like 8 months of my monthly wages, and when the board decided to buy a second machine I argued against as one machine was more than enough. I was 28-30 at the time but what do those stupid youngsters know

 

 

There I was in the early 90s, thinking this Internet thing was a waste of time and that computers were only good for games...

 

 

 

I've said nearly that exact thing before. Poked my head out on the internet in the mid-90's, didn't see anything out here, went on to doing other things until about '04 when I (re-)discovered the internet like a new-born babe.

Edited August 18, 2014 by irregularmedic

[irregularmedic]

 

I think I read somewhere that one of the first portable computers was built by Apple in the 1970s, can anyone remember that one?

The original Apple computer, later called the Apple 1 - 1976. I became aware of Apple a couple of years later, I think, when the Apple II (the first mass-produced Apple) was on the market. Horribly expensive, & I marvelled that anyone would spend that much on what was pretty much a toy. No useful software, IIRC.

 

 

Eventually they had useful hardware. I computerized my junior high school's library with one.

Edited August 18, 2014 by irregularmedic

[Ken Estes]

Not so much portable as just small. Still PCs. I saw one of the first prototype laptops in the mid-80s. I think they were a 90s thing also, buying my first in 1995.

[Chris Werb]

Before laptops there was something called a "luggable" PC. It was easy to carry around as long as you had one of these handy.

[Richard Lindquist]

Before laptops there was something called a "luggable" PC. It was easy to carry around as long as you had one of these handy.

The Kay Pro was one of them. It had a small CRT screen (which accounted for a lot of the weight) and a 5.25" floppy disk drive. There was a cover which same off and a handle which swiveled to become a stand to angle the computer toward your eyes. The whole thing was about the size of a "catalog case" which business men with a lot of documentation used to carry.

[BansheeOne]

"Brainstorm" (released in 1983) was on TV here yesterday. Hadn't seen it in ages; loved the big-ass portable computers with miniscule screens carried in metal suitcases. They looked about right for the time, not movie props. Anybody know what those were?

 

[baboon6]

Still a cool car! My favourite (or at least one of my favourite) '80s cars has to be the Lancia Delta Integrale. I vaguely remember I friend of mine's dad when I was at primary school having one.

 

http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/hammond-driving-icons-lancia-2011-03-23

Edited August 20, 2014 by baboon6

[Bob B]

 

Before laptops there was something called a "luggable" PC. It was easy to carry around as long as you had one of these handy.

The Kay Pro was one of them. It had a small CRT screen (which accounted for a lot of the weight) and a 5.25" floppy disk drive. There was a cover which same off and a handle which swiveled to become a stand to angle the computer toward your eyes. The whole thing was about the size of a "catalog case" which business men with a lot of documentation used to carry.

 

Kay Pro! We had one of those. I still remember the little green screen.