The Ancestor of Laptops: Compaq Luggable

Now let’s go back a bit and take a look at the history and features of the Compaq Luggable. In March 1983, the first company called the Compaq Portable was launched. IBM compatible portable computer Compaq released by the company.

Back then, having a portable device was a luxury. Compaq Luggable, was offered for sale at a high price after its release. (Approximately $4995) Within a year 53,000 units achieved significant commercial success with the sale of computers.

The technical details of the commercially successful computer are also quite impressive.

If we look at the technical specifications of the computer; 4.7MHz 8088 CPU128KB RAM and 2 x 320K 5-1/4 to floppy drive (A year later, the improved Compaq Plus was produced. The Compaq Plus had a 10 MB hard drive).

You can also connect these computers via analog cable. you could connect it directly to the TV. This was a very important technical feature for its period.

Compaq “Luggable” was especially preferred by companies. Being both connected to televisions and being portable made it easy to make presentations.

Today, we can do almost all our work from these computers, regardless of laptop or desktop, but terms of the 80s When we examined it, companies preferred Luggable to make presentations or work in different environments.

Moreover, its design was better than other computers. Of course, there is a purpose in designing it this way. The general purpose of this computer is to to be portable and it was for creating presentations that could be projected onto a large screen.

It took time to achieve success. Half of the keyboard keys were not working during the production phase of the Compaq Luggable.

When we think of laptops in today’s conditions, we still chronic keyboard problems brands available. In the 80s, the Compaq brand faced this problem.

Its keyboard, the F1-F10 keys are on the left, the CTRL key was also quite different compared to normal keyboards. In the initial testing phase of the computer half of the keys not working detected and then they adjusted the keystrokes with capacitance change.

It was also suitable for use by programmers. Programming could be done in BASIC and C++ software languages, but it was not preferred much.

What about these computers?which programming languages If you’re wondering, “were used to BASICthat is, the standard programming language for Microsoft was used.

BASIC, slower processing than today’s coding programs, but training or small projects It was a surprisingly good programming language for For more serious projects, Borland allowed it to be coded in C++.

Of course software can be created for Luggable’s software computer. it is useful doesn’t mean. In general, the Compaq Luggable was not a computer designed for software.

Let’s get the gamers of the past here. Nostalgic games could be played on this computer.

Recently, the concept of gaming computers has been introduced. Brands, the development of games, 3-dimensional evolution and more realistic Thanks to games, it has started to create player systems for the last 10-15 years. These systems have very technological and powerful components.

When we examine the games of the 80s, Luggable, popular games of the time could play. Games like Blockout, Pacman, Digger, Paratrooper and Zork Luggable played with.