saveitforparts | Trying The First Portable Computer: The Osborne 1 @saveitforparts | Uploaded July 2024 | Updated October 2024, 1 hour ago.
The Osborne model 1 is described as the first commercially successful portable computer. Weighing in at nearly 25lbs and sporting a 5" screen, it wasn't really all that portable or convenient, but it did inspire many successive portables, luggables, and laptops.
I recently got ahold of one at an estate auction, and it's in great shape! I did have to replace the vintage power supply capacitors, since those almost always fail on these old computers. I also replaced a faulty floppy drive with a Gotek disk emulator, and made some other small adjustments.
And no, as far as I know, it can't play Doom :-( In fact it does almost nothing modern at all, and is kind of a giant pain to make compatible with anything modern! I did manage to get a few programs onto it, and we might re-visit this in the future. For now it's mostly a fun novelty and a neat way to look at vintage tech.
Some of the resources I used when working on this computer include:
GoTek Floppy Emulator: ebay.com/itm/234259341532?var=533862749973
3-D printed adapter for the GoTek: thingiverse.com/thing:2217061
Kermit disk image (bottom of the page): https://blog.nroach44.id.au/snippet-osborneone-kermit.html
Richard Loxley's blog about Osborne file transfers: richardloxley.com/2018/04/27/osborne-restoration-part-16-transferring-cpm-software
I'd also like to thank Iso-Tip for sending me their cordless soldering iron. It made the capacitor replacement super easy! You can find them at iso-tip.com (Use code SMART24 for 15% off!)
You can also see my retro-inspired luggable cyberdeck build here: youtube.com/watch?v=bSJSktT07bo
Saveitforparts t-shirts and other merch at saveitforparts.myspreadshop.com
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCNLRcEn78Vc62C3GkMvBgtA/join
Or support me via Patreon at patreon.com/saveitforparts
Check out gadgets and devices I like at amazon.com/shop/saveitforparts
The Osborne model 1 is described as the first commercially successful portable computer. Weighing in at nearly 25lbs and sporting a 5" screen, it wasn't really all that portable or convenient, but it did inspire many successive portables, luggables, and laptops.
I recently got ahold of one at an estate auction, and it's in great shape! I did have to replace the vintage power supply capacitors, since those almost always fail on these old computers. I also replaced a faulty floppy drive with a Gotek disk emulator, and made some other small adjustments.
And no, as far as I know, it can't play Doom :-( In fact it does almost nothing modern at all, and is kind of a giant pain to make compatible with anything modern! I did manage to get a few programs onto it, and we might re-visit this in the future. For now it's mostly a fun novelty and a neat way to look at vintage tech.
Some of the resources I used when working on this computer include:
GoTek Floppy Emulator: ebay.com/itm/234259341532?var=533862749973
3-D printed adapter for the GoTek: thingiverse.com/thing:2217061
Kermit disk image (bottom of the page): https://blog.nroach44.id.au/snippet-osborneone-kermit.html
Richard Loxley's blog about Osborne file transfers: richardloxley.com/2018/04/27/osborne-restoration-part-16-transferring-cpm-software
I'd also like to thank Iso-Tip for sending me their cordless soldering iron. It made the capacitor replacement super easy! You can find them at iso-tip.com (Use code SMART24 for 15% off!)
You can also see my retro-inspired luggable cyberdeck build here: youtube.com/watch?v=bSJSktT07bo
Saveitforparts t-shirts and other merch at saveitforparts.myspreadshop.com
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCNLRcEn78Vc62C3GkMvBgtA/join
Or support me via Patreon at patreon.com/saveitforparts
Check out gadgets and devices I like at amazon.com/shop/saveitforparts
