August 26, 2013 at 10:03Advertising laptops 1980s and 1990s
My new ultrabook transformer weighs 1.4 kg, it has 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD and multi-touch display. Thirty years ago, these characteristics were fantastic. And what did people take with them to work?
Many articles can be found on the history of portable computers, but another question interested me more: how did these devices advertise? I put together print ads and commercials for laptops and laptops from the 1980s to the end of the 1990s. If you have something to replenish this post - I will be glad to see it in the comments.
The first commercially successful laptop computer, the Osborne-1, was available from 1981 to 1983. It could boast a 5 "display, a 4MHz processor, 64 KB of RAM, two drives for 5.25 drives and a weight of 11 kg.
A little earlier, in 1979, the Grid Compass was designed. They started selling it in 1982. This form factor is much more similar to modern devices. Display - CRT 320x240, processor - Intel 8086.
It was created for NASA, and therefore flew into space.
BusinessWeek has announced the Epson HX-20 as "the fourth revolution in personal computers." This device is more like a hefty calculator.
In the same 1983, Compaq PORTABLE was released. Its design looks a lot like the Osborne-1.
Weight decreased over time, and the diagonal of the display grew. Compaq PORTABLE III.
Dualmont Magnum, was produced in 1982 and 1983.
From 1981 to 1985, Sharp produced a portable PC-1500 laptop computer, to which a color printer was attached.
Another TRS-80 PC-2 laptop with a printer. Everything you need to work.
TRS-80 Model 100, 1983. Prices are all lower.
Sharp PC-5000, 1983. The machine weighed only 5 kg, half the size of the Osborne-1.
Kyotronic 85, 1983.
Commodore SX-64 - the first color “laptop”, 320 by 200 pixels. January 1983.
Video masterpiece - Commodore SX-64 commercial.
Bondwell, launched in 1985.
Toshiba T1100 PLUS, 1985.
IBM PC Convertiable, 1986.
Sharp used a cute child in an ad for his PC-4501 in 1987.
Cambridge Z88 was released in 1988, it had the size of a paper sheet A-4.
Compaq SLT / 286, Dutch advertising. 1988 year.
PC Magazine called NEC UltraLite on its cover in November 1988 a "laptop" to distinguish portable computers from A4-sheet size from bulky laptops of the time.
Apple Macintosh Portable, 1989
Apple PowerBook 100, 1991
Young and happy Steve Wozniak.
In 1992, IBM launched the ThinkPad line , which Lenovo continued in 2005.
In 1993, IBM promoted the famous red pimp in advertising.
In 1994, an advertisement said that writer John Grisham uses the ThinkPad.
A black and white newspaper advertisement. Discounts!
In 1997, the IBM ThinkPad 600 ad was created by Ralph Stadman. He was remembered by many for his illustrations for Hunter Thompson's book, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
1998 year. Digital HiNote VP Notebook Advertising . “I have less” - “No, I have less” - “Wow, really, and he is so attractive.”
If you have ads for laptop computers manufactured from 1980 to 2000 somewhere in the bins, leave the links in the comments - I will gladly write another post or supplement this one.
This is interesting:
Portable computers of the 80s.
Interesting features of old laptops. Part 1.
Interesting features of old laptops. Part 2.
Many articles can be found on the history of portable computers, but another question interested me more: how did these devices advertise? I put together print ads and commercials for laptops and laptops from the 1980s to the end of the 1990s. If you have something to replenish this post - I will be glad to see it in the comments.
The first commercially successful laptop computer, the Osborne-1, was available from 1981 to 1983. It could boast a 5 "display, a 4MHz processor, 64 KB of RAM, two drives for 5.25 drives and a weight of 11 kg.
A little earlier, in 1979, the Grid Compass was designed. They started selling it in 1982. This form factor is much more similar to modern devices. Display - CRT 320x240, processor - Intel 8086.
It was created for NASA, and therefore flew into space.
BusinessWeek has announced the Epson HX-20 as "the fourth revolution in personal computers." This device is more like a hefty calculator.
In the same 1983, Compaq PORTABLE was released. Its design looks a lot like the Osborne-1.
Weight decreased over time, and the diagonal of the display grew. Compaq PORTABLE III.
Dualmont Magnum, was produced in 1982 and 1983.
From 1981 to 1985, Sharp produced a portable PC-1500 laptop computer, to which a color printer was attached.
Another TRS-80 PC-2 laptop with a printer. Everything you need to work.
TRS-80 Model 100, 1983. Prices are all lower.
Sharp PC-5000, 1983. The machine weighed only 5 kg, half the size of the Osborne-1.
Kyotronic 85, 1983.
Commodore SX-64 - the first color “laptop”, 320 by 200 pixels. January 1983.
Video masterpiece - Commodore SX-64 commercial.
Bondwell, launched in 1985.
Toshiba T1100 PLUS, 1985.
IBM PC Convertiable, 1986.
Sharp used a cute child in an ad for his PC-4501 in 1987.
Cambridge Z88 was released in 1988, it had the size of a paper sheet A-4.
Compaq SLT / 286, Dutch advertising. 1988 year.
PC Magazine called NEC UltraLite on its cover in November 1988 a "laptop" to distinguish portable computers from A4-sheet size from bulky laptops of the time.
Apple Macintosh Portable, 1989
Apple PowerBook 100, 1991
Young and happy Steve Wozniak.
In 1992, IBM launched the ThinkPad line , which Lenovo continued in 2005.
In 1993, IBM promoted the famous red pimp in advertising.
In 1994, an advertisement said that writer John Grisham uses the ThinkPad.
A black and white newspaper advertisement. Discounts!
In 1997, the IBM ThinkPad 600 ad was created by Ralph Stadman. He was remembered by many for his illustrations for Hunter Thompson's book, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
1998 year. Digital HiNote VP Notebook Advertising . “I have less” - “No, I have less” - “Wow, really, and he is so attractive.”
If you have ads for laptop computers manufactured from 1980 to 2000 somewhere in the bins, leave the links in the comments - I will gladly write another post or supplement this one.
This is interesting:
Portable computers of the 80s.
Interesting features of old laptops. Part 1.
Interesting features of old laptops. Part 2.