Two of the Rarest Portable Computers

[fargo]

Two of the rarest computers in my collection are the Findex and Ricoh SP.



Findex, introduced in late 1978, is one of the earliest portable all-in-one computers. It features a cool plasma display and bubble memory.



The Ricoh “Super Portable” system comprises two units: the parent (SP50) and the child (SP25). The SP25 is a compact computer designed for data collection and basic tasks, while the SP50 is a fully functional computer. This system was introduced in 1983 and was marketed towards sales representatives and road warriors. Notably, it features the smallest CRT monitor ever integrated into a commercial computer, measuring a mere 1.5 inches in size!

 

[pbirkel]

Notably, it features the smallest CRT monitor ever integrated into a commercial computer, measuring a mere 1.5 inches in size!

What is that, 4x24 characters?

 

[fargo]

What is that, 4x24 characters?

It's the SP25 display.

 

[Eudimorphodon]

The Ricoh “Super Portable” system comprises two units: the parent (SP50) and the child (SP25). The SP25 is a compact computer designed for data collection and basic tasks, while the SP50 is a fully functional computer. This system was introduced in 1983 and was marketed towards sales representatives and road warriors. Notably, it features the smallest CRT monitor ever integrated into a commercial computer, measuring a mere 1.5 inches in size!

Wow. There are literally zero english-language Google hits for that system; there are a couple Google Image Search hits for "Ricoh SP50" that show it, but they point to dead websites. (at least at the moment)

Here's a picture from a (completed) Japanese auction for one, the CRT is IN COLOR?!?! Wild.

 

[fargo]

Wow. There are literally zero english-language Google hits for that system;

There is some; for example, it was mentioned in Mini-Micro Systems from July 1984

 

[ClassicHasClass]

CPU?

 

[Eudimorphodon]

... looking at the picture again I'm still having trouble believing that's color, especially after seeing some pictures of a 1.5" shadow mask CRT that's said to be the smallest color tube TV made. The graininess of the shadow mask is clearly visible in the pictures of that thing, while this... *is* it actually color, or is there a colored overlay on a monochrome screen that for some reason displays the bottom 1/5th or so of the screen in blue and the rest yellow?

 

[Torch]

... looking at the picture again I'm still having trouble believing that's color, especially after seeing some pictures of a 1.5" shadow mask CRT that's said to be the smallest color tube TV made. The graininess of the shadow mask is clearly visible in the pictures of that thing, while this... *is* it actually color, or is there a colored overlay on a monochrome screen that for some reason displays the bottom 1/5th or so of the screen in blue and the rest yellow?

The very top of the blue letters look yellow. Definitely could be an overlay.
Maybe each program included an overlay, like a Vectrex game system?

 

[Eudimorphodon]

The very top of the blue letters look yellow. Definitely could be an overlay.
Maybe each program included an overlay, like a Vectrex game system?

I was thinking it might just be fixed, with the expectation that the blue area would normally be the edit zone and the yellow representing a kind of virtual calculator tape?

CPU?

Yeah, more details on this system would be great.

 

[fargo]

Here's a picture from a (completed) Japanese auction for one, the CRT is IN COLOR?!?! Wild.

No, the CRT is black and white. The color in the photo you posted is coming from the camera that captured it. Here are some photos of the CRT

 

[fargo]

CPU?

Both SP25 and SP50 use Hitachi HD63A01 (compatible with 6801) running at 1.22MHz.

 

[Altomare]

The Findex has always intrigued me. Do you have pictures of the insides by any chance?

 

[vwestlife]

The colors in the photo are an artifact of the CRT that uses a combination of blue and yellow phosphors to create "paper white". The CRT in the Apple Lisa did the same thing.

 

[fargo]

The Findex has always intrigued me. Do you have pictures of the insides by any chance?

I don’t have a picture of the interior of my computer right now, but here’s one I found online:



The computer was built based on the StackBD concept, which was designed by Dan Nay.



The idea was to eliminate the need for a spacious motherboard by stacking function boards one above the other. This resulted in space saving of 75%, enabling the integration of a keyboard, display, floppy drive, printer, I/O ports, and power supply in a luggable case.

 

[artech]

There's a great deal more info on the Findex here, including a scanned brochure: https://oldcomputers.net/findex-computer.html
Seems to have released in January 1979, and I can't seem to find any mention from 1978.

The base floppy model cost almost $5,000, and the bubble memory one over $8,000. However, its weight of 20 pounds made it significantly lighter than the later luggables of the early 80s. Also included a portable battery!

Another very rare and intriguing portable is the GM Research Micro Star (later rebranded as the Small One), released in 1979. The left image is the original 1979 model, and the one on the right is its appearance in the February 1981 issue of Popular Electronics post-rebrand, predating the debut of the Osborne by several months (and with a much larger screen!) Legend has it the Micro Star was shown at COMDEX '79, where Adam Osborne saw it and decided to build his own.

This machine has very little information about it online, so any more would be greatly appreciated.



Another notable forgotten "luggable" is the Micral V, released by R2E in 1978. Like the Findex, it had a plasma display and built-in printer, but weighed twice as much and was perhaps a bit closer to a large "laptop" in terms of form factor.

 

[Altomare]

Here's a recent picture of one such Micral V. This one is not a fully working machine, but a display one built from parts by an engineer working at R2E. I don't know how many sold, but likely not a lot.