Back to Home Page |
Notes |
Manufacturer |
|
Model |
Osborne 1 |
Date Launched |
April 1981 |
Price |
£1350 |
Microprocessor type |
Zilog Z80A @ 4 MHz |
ROM size |
Not known |
Standard RAM |
64 kilobytes |
Maximum RAM |
64 kilobytes |
Keyboard type |
Typewriter style with separate numeric pad. |
Supplied language |
Microsoft BASIC and Compiler Systems BASIC (loaded from disc). |
Text resolution |
52 X 24 characters on built-in display, as a 'window' onto a 128 x 32 character screen. |
Graphics resolution |
No graphics |
Colours available |
Monochrome (blue on black) |
Sound |
None ? |
Cassette load speed |
Not applicable (built-in disc drives). |
Dimensions (mm) |
500 x 500 x 220 (Approx, closed) |
Special features |
A complete computer with two 5¼ inch 100 KB disc drives, a 5 inch (diagonal) monitor and a fold-down keyboard in a single portable unit. |
Good points |
The first genuinely portable desktop computer. |
Bad points |
Weighing 24 pounds it was usually described as 'luggable' rather than portable: |
How successful? |
As the only self-contained and portable business computer at the time the Osborne 1 sold well, at a rate of 10,000 per month at one point. Sales totalled $70 million in the first year. |
Comments |
The Osborne 1 was intended to be carried to where it was to be used and then plugged into the mains, rather than being used on the move. Remember that in 1981 not many businesses had desktop computers so anyone needing to use a computer in different locations had to take one with them. |
Back to chronological list |
Home Page |
Next computer |