25 Random Facts About Old Computers:

oldcomputers.net ^

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Apple Lisa (1983) was the first successful computer with a graphical user interface (GUI) and a mouse. It cost $10,000.

• The GRiD 1101 is the grand-daddy of all modern-day laptops. It cost over $8000 in 1982.
  
  
• Their new VIC-20 (1980) was so embarrassing to parent company Commodore, that they considered giving them away. Instead, it sold over 1,000,000 units within just a few years, making Commodore hundreds of millions of dollars.
  
  
• The first portable Macintosh computer, the Macintosh Portable (1989) weighs 16 pounds and had a 16MHz processor.
  
  

• The first-ever handheld/palmtop MS-DOS "PC" was the Portfolio, sold by --- Atari, in 1989.
  
  
• The first "IBM" computer to run on batteries was the IBM Convertible PC from 1986.

[Nickname]

We still have our old Mac Plus. No idea what to do with it but it’s one of those weird things that will probably follow us where ever we go.

Just got a Kindle recently and it reminds me of the Mac Plus with it’s little black and white screen.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Guy running the site is looking for old computers he says....

Says he is in Orange County...not sure which State however,.

[556x45]

Sorry meant to say the Timex Sinclair

[skeeter]

Wish I’d kept mine. Just to show the kids.

[DakotaGator]

I remember the Kaypro II. First portable that I used. Before that is was mainframes. After that it was history.

[Joe Brower]

Wow. I have seen and/or worked on all of these machines. We sure put up with a lot back then, didn't we?

On second thought, we still do... !

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

See #42.

[Doogle]

...well he can dig in a landfill somewhere in PA by now.....sorry

[NCjim]

Exactly. I remember visiting my Dad's office and playing with the mechanical Marchant and Friden calculating machines. You could divide by zero forever. :-)

http://www.hpmuseum.org/ffmotor.htm

[shankbear]

Oh I had one of those....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Guess he is in California:

*********************************************************

This website was created and is maintained by one person, yours truly, the Sysop. I am located in Orange County, California - this is a few miles south of Los Angeles.

This site's intent is not to list or show all of the computers ever made, its purpose is to exhibit all of the computers in my personal collection, and some of the systems which I am currently looking for.

All of the systems presented here are in my personal possession, and none of them are for sale, but I may be interested in trades for systems of similar worth.

The computers on display here were found, purchased, or donated from various sources both near and far. They are mostly stored in a storage unit 'down the street'.

There exists many more old computers than those I have listed - probably hundreds. European systems, for example, are not well represented here. This doesn't mean that they are not interesting, valuable, or welcome, I just don't yet possess many.

If you have anything to sell, donate, inquire or complain about, please send e-mail to "OLDCOMPUTERS" at this website (oldcomputers.net) - even if it's a system that's already displayed here, I may still be interested.

Those with a PayPal account can donate funds to the same address.

Help save a computer - please notify us of any prospective computer rescue opportunities.

[Nickname]

Cool, thanks. I’ll bookmark it for later.

We may be moving/downsizing and it’d be nice for it to have a good home if we decide to part with it.

[Doogle]

too late, it’s gone. But good info for others

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

ROFL....

I was deep into IBM Mainframes and working my way thru all of the various Operating Systems...back in the late 60's thru 1980.....

The PC's were simple toys....( Who knew they would grow up....

Just looking at Anandtech we have a laptop with an AMD Quad core processor:

Toshiba Satellite A660D-ST2G01: AMD's Quad-Core Phenom II P920 Joins the Mobile Party

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

That is painful to watch....typing in those node numbers ....what was Contiki?

[cweese]

"14. The Osborne 1 (1981) is considered to be the first practical and useful "portable" computer. It weighs 25 pounds"

Yup, I had one of these...it was really cool at the time. Carried it around like a suitcase and it had cool progs like 'WordStar I". The o/s was 'CPM' which was a precursor to DOS.

[RightField]

We paid $5K for this baby back in '82 or 83', IIRC. Remember Word Star?
With a daisy wheel printer, I had the complete home office back then, lol.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Get an early smartphone ...resembles the old experience....except you can poke at pictures.

LOL!

[Skepolitic]

WRT #15: Introduced in 1981, the Apple III was a commercial flop for Apple. It was also the first personal computer to incorporate a hard drive, which turned out to be an almost ubiquitous feature of modern personal computers over the next three decades.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

There was a word....Luggable...For that!

LOL!