First portable computer ad....what a hoot!

**Cavman** · 12-17-2016, 04:27 PM

http://m.wimp.com/can-you-believe-th...able-computer/

**hypurone** · 12-17-2016, 04:33 PM

**ARtraveler** · 12-17-2016, 05:28 PM

We have sure come a long way.

**Bob Denman** · 12-17-2016, 05:29 PM

Only fifty pounds?

I'm glad that this was from a long time ago. I'd need to be that much younger, in order to carry that beast around!

**ARtraveler** · 12-17-2016, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Only fifty pounds?

I'm glad that this was from a long time ago. I'd need to be that much younger, in order to carry that beast around!

And...that screen about the size of the main one on the

's. I have a headache already.

**Bob Denman** · 12-17-2016, 05:57 PM

Magnifying glass2.jpg

But I actually use a magnifying glass on the 25" screen that's sitting right in front of me now also...

**BajaRon** · 12-17-2016, 06:04 PM

I don't see a problem... Mine is still working fine! Only weights 50#! I take it with me everywhere I go!

**Bob Denman** · 12-17-2016, 06:05 PM

Ron,
Did I see you heading toward the Post Office yesterday??

computer_obsession_4.jpg

**cuznjohn** · 12-17-2016, 06:44 PM

i remember buying a word processor, it was a BROTHER, and was a compact one just like this one

**Trbayth** · 12-17-2016, 06:45 PM

Gotta love the wide 80's ties!

**ARtraveler** · 12-17-2016, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by cuznjohn

i remember buying a word processor, it was a BROTHER, and was a compact one just like this one

I had one of those too!

**mowin** · 12-17-2016, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Only fifty pounds?

I'm glad that this was from a long time ago. I'd need to be that much younger, in order to carry that beast around!

You can carry it on the opposite shoulder you carry the boom box on.

**Peteoz** · 12-17-2016, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by Trbayth

Gotta love the wide 80's ties!

Actually, they would have been wide 70s ties Trbayth....They were released in the mid 70s.

**Chupaca** · 12-17-2016, 09:58 PM

This means we have only lost 49.6 lbs in the last 20 years....

**Bob Denman** · 12-18-2016, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by Chupaca

This means we have only lost 49.6 lbs in the last 20 years....

I'm pretty sure that I've gained it...

**Frank G** · 12-18-2016, 09:23 AM

There was one of those floating around the office for awhile, nobody wanted to take it home. We were all getting desk computers, had to work in dos. When the first version of "Windows" came out we were all blown away by it. Looked forward to every new version, except 10.

Once I figured out the DOS system it was pretty neat. Had this thick manual explaining every move, actually it was quite simple. I was in charge of buying natural gas, so was one of the first one (In our company) to get an outside hook-up to the internet. Oh my how things have changed.

**Trbayth** · 12-18-2016, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Peteoz

Actually, they would have been wide 70s ties Trbayth....They were released in the mid 70s.

lol

I wasn't wearing ties yet in the 70's!

**Joe T.** · 12-18-2016, 05:09 PM

I don't remember that IBM. But, I do remember the Osborne and Kaypro!

This ad is pretty funny, and gets the point across.

Soon after Columbia and Compaq offered an IBM PC compatible 'portable:'

Joe T.

**2Paw** · 12-18-2016, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Only fifty pounds?

I'm glad that this was from a long time ago. I'd need to be that much younger, in order to carry that beast around!

I started work at IBM in 1966 (retired in 96), and I remember this machine and it felt more like 100lbs when you had to carry it any distance, and I was younger when this came out. Even the next generation of portables which were smaller were still heavy. We have come a long way, and a lot of that long way has been since I retired.

**Gray Ghost** · 12-19-2016, 10:15 AM

This was one of the computers I used to work on: http://oldcomputers.net/compaqi.html

**Grandpot** · 12-19-2016, 10:32 AM

Back in the 70's I worked for NCR on their mainframe computers. The removable disk was 12" in diameter, consisted of 3 platters, weighed 5 pounds, and held 5 megabytes. That's 1 pound per meg. Holy boat anchor, Batman!

**SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN** · 12-19-2016, 10:36 AM

i think i worked on my first computer in 1974 in jr. high, led display

**MRH** · 12-19-2016, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by Gray Ghost

This was one of the computers I used to work on: http://oldcomputers.net/compaqi.html

I rented either this computer, or one that is very similar, from Compaq, in college when I was away for a semester. I still remember how difficult it was just to carry from the rental place back to my apartment, but it was great to have to to write my papers!

**Gray Ghost** · 12-20-2016, 09:19 AM

The Compaq was a dream compared to the first computer I operated. That one sat in an equipment rack about 5 ft tall, had two rows of buttons on top. You input the bootup instructions by punching the buttons on top, took quite a while. And data storage was on a standard audio cassette, we had to rebuild the tape players quite often.

As much as modern computers can be frustrating, I still wouldn't want to go back to the old systems.

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