Mar 3
Outland (1981)
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Outland (1981)
An 80s era Apple portable/laptop computer prototype.
Computer Gaming World, 1982.
Technicians working on the AN/FSQ-7 computer. (Photo by Andreas Feininger, 1957)
NEC N5200 (1987)
elk cloner! the program with a personality!
The Grid Compass: The First Laptop in Space
The Grid Compass debuted in 1982 and revolutionized the world of portable computers. On November 28, 1983, the first unit launched aboard NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia, making it the first laptop to reach space. British industrial designer Bill Moggridge created the iconic clamshell design, which became the foundation for all modern laptops. NASA used the device as SPOC (Shuttle Portable On-Board Computer) for onboard navigation and telemetry purposes.
Technical Specifications:
Processor: Intel 8086 16-bit
RAM: 256 KB
Non-volatile memory: 384 KB bubble memory
Display: 9.5-inch electroluminescent, 25x80 characters
Modem: 300/1200 baud
Case: magnesium alloy
Weight: approximately 11 pounds (5 kg)
Price: USD 8,150 (1982)
The Grid Compass was incredibly rugged. It even survived the 1986 Challenger disaster and continued to work. Today, it is preserved in the Smithsonian Museum as one of the most important computer innovations in space exploration history.