By
Mark Ollig
It
was May 1983, and at the Anaheim National Computer Conference, history, of
sorts, was being made.
The
smallest and most light weight portable computer at that time was introduced to
the public.
It
was called the Gavilan Mobile Computer – and it received much attention.
Many
consider the Gavilan to be the first true battery-powered, portable laptop
computer.
The
sleek-looking, full-featured Gavilan computer was the creation of Manuel
Fernandez, the founder of the Gavilan Computer Corporation.
The
Gavilan was originally designed to use a 3-inch 320K micro-floppy disk drive,
but ended up being shipped using a 320K 3.5-inch floppy disk drive.
Most
personal computers during this time (including mine) were using 5.25-inch
floppy disks.
The
Gavilan was, in fact, very “laptop-like” as it measured 11.4 inches square by
2.7 inches high, and weighed in at a manageable 9 pounds.
The
top model Gavilan computer used a Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD) screen showing
16 lines by 80 characters.
This
screen was inside a durable black plastic case. During transit, the screen
closed downward, protecting the full-size standard keyboard.
An
external monochrome monitor could be plugged into the video output connection
on the Gavilan.
An
optional “snap-on” printer (which weighed 4 pounds), could also be attached to
the computer.
Gavilan’s
central processing unit was a 16-bit Intel 8088 chip operating at 5 MHz
(megahertz).
The
Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-DOS 2.11 version) was the operating system
mostly used on the Gavilan, to control how the user would interact with
software applications and hardware.
The
software packages which could run on this computer included a word processing
program called SuperWriter, and a business spreadsheet program called SuperCalc.
SuperCalc
was developed back in 1980, and was originally used in 1981 on the Osborne 1
portable computer.
SuperCalc
was similar to VisiCalc, which was used on the Apple II computer around 1983.
By
the way, the Osborne 1 “portable” computer weighed in at around 24 pounds.
Data
communication over dial-up telephone lines was possible using Gavilan’s
communication software package and its built-in direct-connect 300 baud modem.
This
computer included 48K of Read Only Memory (ROM). Information held in ROM is
permanently stored and is mostly used for carrying out hardware\firmware
instructions.
The
Gavilan contained 96K of Random Access Memory (RAM) for managing software
programs.
Additional
RAM and software applications could be added by using small, plug-in
rectangular modules. Each 32K “CapsuleRam” module cost $350. Four module slots
were available on the Gavilan.
I
recall my 1983 IBM personal desktop computer came equipped with 256K of RAM.
Around
1984, I took off the cover and added another 256K, to give it 512K of RAM.
Yours truly was pleased with this accomplishment, and felt very “techie” after
this.
The
Gavilan used 64K of Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) memory which
held its non-volatile memory, such as its Basic Input Output System (BIOS)
information. The information stored on the CMOS is maintained by a small
battery constantly powering it.
It
included, what was in 1983 an innovative touch-pad user interface.
This
solid-state touch-pad was located above the keyboard.
Several
files, menus, and interactive icons were available on the Gavilan’s screen.
To
interact with them, a person used their finger like a mouse and scrolled on the
touchpad; a floating curser on the screen would go where the user pointed their
finger.
The
user would tap on the desired icon in order to select it.
The
file drawer, trash bin, document, and file folder icons could be accessed in
this manner.
The
Gavilan computer was able to operate from eight to nine hours, using its
nickel-cadmium batteries. It was said 80 percent of its battery power could be
recharged within one hour.
Here
is a link to a compilation of photographs of the Gavilan yours truly collected:
http://tinyurl.com/nldv6s6.
The
price for a Gavilan computer with 96K of RAM, and a 16-line by 80-character
display screen was around $4,000.
The
lower-priced model Gavilan SC was equipped with 64K of RAM and an eight line by
80-character display screen, it sold for about $3,000.
Although
expensive, the smart design of this new mobile computer was ahead of its time
in 1983.
The
Gavilan had the potential to become one of the more popular laptop computers,
if it were not for the financial difficulties the company encountered.
Sadly,
serious cash-flow problems beleaguered Fernandez’s Gavilan Computer Corporation
during the Gavilan’s ongoing development.
The
company was forced to file for chapter 11 protections during 1983.
Although
the company began shipments of the Gavilan in 1984, it still ended up going out
of business in 1985.
By
this time, other computing manufacturers were making their own laptop
computers.
Laptop
computers were and still are popular computing devices.
Long
live the laptop!
