Results: Product Life Cycle Part 4. There is a question in some surveys "I am among the first to try new technology." Personal computers have gone through several product development phases. Did you buy a laptop or two along the way?
Published on 12/07/2023
On my trip down computer memory lane I remembered my very first computer, the Tandy TRS-80 sold by Radio Shack in 1977. It had 4KB or RAM, was priced at $800 (equiv to over $3,000 in 2022), a cassette tape drive for storage. By 1979, and until 1982, the TRS-80 was the bestselling PC line, outselling Apple II series by a factor of five. History now barely mentions the TRS-80. Many other iterations have made a fleeting impact from 1982 until the marketplace matured in the new millennium. I bought some of these iterations along the way. how about you. Do you remember any of these?
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
My the time 1985 rolled around we were on our 3rd computer at home. My son was already using the early versions of the Internet and we were now using our computer for school/work projects and not just for games like "Pong" and "Pacman" The 2 main home computer brands were Commodore and Atari. (the TRS-80 was already gone from contention). Our first real computer looked similar to some we see today. It was the Atari 1024ST. I found the following specs and features worth paying for. How about you? Which would have interested you?
It supported a monochrome or colour monitor
14%
295 votes
With double-sided drives it could read disks formatted by MS-DOS. This had been an IBM exclusive previously
13%
283 votes
One of the earliest personal computers shipped with a base RAM configuration of 1 MB.
13%
266 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
14 votes
Not Applicable
53%
1110 votes
With a list price of US$999 the 1040ST was the first computer with one megabyte of RAM to sell for less than $2,500.
10%
219 votes
It had a mouse!
27%
574 votes
- The Commodore 64 was built just like the AMC Commodore car - solid but low on features.
- I do not remember anything about this.
- No idea
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.48% | 8 | |
| remember this... | 0.06% | 1 |
| I buy what I need and affordable | 0.06% | 1 |
| I bought a 1982 Apple Mac computer that was used for 12 years daily. I still had it but while the light came on the happy face did not and I sold it on EBay this year for $600 Canadian to a buyer in California who was going to refurbish it. | 0.06% | 1 |
| Turn on/ off computer with secuity | 0.06% | 1 |
| DANDI | 0.06% | 1 |
| NO | 0.06% | 1 |
2.
2.
Another milestone in product development was the portable computer (hardly a laptop in these days). I had one for work since I was doing much travel between the US and Canada and had an "Apple Portable" to take with me. The technology had its drawbacks however. If you ever used an Apple Portable some of these may bring back memories.
The Macintosh Portable was a "laptop" designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple from 1989 to 1991. Critics liked it but sales were low.
6%
136 votes
The batteries were lead/acid.
6%
128 votes
1 MB RAM (expandable to 9 MB),
6%
119 votes
The pointer was a built-in trackball that could be removed and located on either side of the keyboard.
6%
120 votes
At 16 pounds (7.2 kilograms) in weight and bulky, it was of limited use on a plane and never on ones lap?
5%
110 votes
It cost US$7,300 (equivalent to $17,200 in 2022) I used OPM to pay for it.
3%
69 votes
I got stopped at customs with it and it was just as well. The computer had not shut down properly, the fan was running flat out and it was in my suitcase where it triggered a security device. The heat was significant but no damage was done.
2%
48 votes
Other (please specify)
0%
10 votes
Not Applicable
76%
1589 votes
- MacBook
- None
- can't recall.
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.08% | 8 | |
| I buy what I need and affordable | 0.14% | 1 |
| NO | 0.14% | 1 |
3.
3.
I think my first true laptop was a Toshiba and it had a monochrome amber screen (remember those days) which was at least better than the green ones. Here are some other aspects of those early laptops that we probably won't miss. Do you remember them even if you didn't love them?
First about that Toshiba T5200 amber gas plasma screen. It could easily freeze, as mine did in the car. When I next booted up, the screen cracked from side to side - it was toast!
5%
101 votes
These machines cost up to $13,700 US when new in 1990 (equivalent to $32,043 in 2023!) I used OPM for this one too. I needed 2 of them (see above for reason why).
7%
152 votes
It had a combination lock that must be set correctly before it will open. That was security in those days.
5%
109 votes
It came with a 100 MB hard drive, which was unbelievably large for a portable computer circa 1990.
6%
120 votes
There was no battery in this model, so the machine had to run on AC Power.
5%
105 votes
My unit came with a complete boxed set of 10 manuals - don't remember needing them.
4%
90 votes
Other (please specify)
0%
10 votes
Not Applicable
76%
1591 votes
- Wanna buy a computer bag?
- I have owned only 2.
- 2
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.16% | 8 | |
| I buy what I need and affordable | 0.15% | 1 |
| NO | 0.15% | 1 |
4.
4.
Time (too much of it) has passed and I am I think on my last laptop. It is a Lenovo ThinkPad (formerly IBM) and it is built to last (longer than me). I refuse to switch everything to my "Smart" phone the way some have done. Here are some of the reasons I love my laptop. If you have a laptop (or not) would you agree?
It has a 250GB hard drive that is solid state - no moving parts other than a tiny cooling fan.
14%
290 votes
It has 3 different types of mouse built in including that little red dot that is actually a joystick.
9%
189 votes
It can use my fingerprint for security if I want, or facial recognition software, or passwords.
10%
220 votes
It has a nightlight to light up the keyboard so I can use it in the dark (such as when giving a presentation).
13%
276 votes
Unlike previous computers, it boots up or shuts down in seconds but, since it uses such little power and it is good for it, I never shut it down, just close the lid.
14%
300 votes
I listen to my music on it, I watch most of my entertainment on it, even what I watch on TV is streamed from my laptop, I look after all my correspondence on it, make phone calls on it - it is far more useful than my Smart phone.
10%
206 votes
Everything that is on it is backed up somewhere else. I never lose anything unlike the old days.
10%
219 votes
It cost me $400 - much cheaper than my phone and much more secure.
14%
291 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
12 votes
Not Applicable
57%
1194 votes
- Computer.
- computer
- My phone, because I can call or text my family members.
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.40% | 8 | |
| My Chrome by Samsung is good enough for me | 0.05% | 1 |
| I buy what I need and affordable | 0.05% | 1 |
| I love my Gateway (bought by ACER) but would go Lenovo next time | 0.05% | 1 |
| NO | 0.05% | 1 |
COMMENTS