All in one old computers? [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

boatofcar

01-19-2005, 09:27 PM

Ed Oscuro

01-19-2005, 09:33 PM

hmm, a bunch...hard to list 'em all. Sony made their own Mac-lookalike but it was essentially a word processor (Series 35 Model 10), but the coolest one I've ever seen (and want, of course) is the FM Towns UX-20 machines (there's more than one version of this one, small difference though, I think mostly the side of the case though one may have a different setup of drives on front).

Great Hierophant

01-19-2005, 09:42 PM

Try an IBM PC Portable, at 40 lbs there was a full PC inside, no compromises.

Queen Of The Felines

01-19-2005, 10:13 PM

The Apple Lisa might count.

http://lisa.sunder.net/mirrors/Simon/Lisa/Images.html

Kristine

Ed Oscuro

01-19-2005, 10:21 PM

It sure does! In some ways it's better than a the original Mac. You could upgrade the Lisa via ROM package to become a "Mac XL." XL, as in eXtra Large, of course.

Saabmeister

01-19-2005, 10:25 PM

The Commodore SX-64 would be in this category.

Phosphor Dot Fossils

01-19-2005, 10:30 PM

The Apple III.

The Franklin Ace 1200 + "Monitor Pod" (I can't think of a better way to describe it).

The Commodore PET.

These all-in-one gadgets were hardly a novelty back in the day - if anything, it took a long time for manufacturers to start detaching keyboards and break stuff out so it wasn't all in the same box.

Pantechnicon

01-19-2005, 10:49 PM

Try an IBM PC Portable, at 40 lbs there was a full PC inside, no compromises.

Compaq managed to reverse-engineer the IBM model so they had one as well (I've got one in the garage somewhere). There was also the Osborn I.

Then there was also the Tandy 100 series: 100, 102 and 200. These were great.

Ah, this takes me back to 1982, when "portable" computer did not necessarily mean "lightweight".

Emily

01-19-2005, 11:13 PM

I saw one of these in a Retro Gamer, and I was wondering what other computers came in this all in one model (Macs excepted, of course). They look really cool!

This is a TRS 80 Model III

http://www.actwin.com/toaph/life/computers/trs803.gif

I would love to find one of those!They are so cool ( trust me when I sey my familys earliest comuters were far worse than a Tandy 1)But yea, I want one. :-P

neuropolitique

01-19-2005, 11:26 PM

How about the Panasonic Exec. Partner? It ran DOS 2, I think. Had a flat panel monitor, and had a built in printer!

http://www.csdm.qc.ca/pec/codes/PanExecPart2.JPG

Got mine for $5. I would love to have an Osborne, though.

ubikuberalles

01-20-2005, 12:13 AM

Don't forget the Atari STacey!

yuppicide

01-20-2005, 12:15 AM

I remember those "Trash 80's" as you shown above. My highschool had a whole room of them in the computer room.. and also Wang computers. That's how long it's been since I've been in highschool.

Anyway, most of the games on it were crap. The screen is black and white. There were two games I loved.. one was some "track & field" like game where two people could mash at the keys to see who can run the fastest. The other game was an old Dungeons & Dragons type thing with most graphics drawn in ASCii.

We also had a golf game that sucked and one of the guys in a few grades above me programmed a much better one.

Jasoco

01-20-2005, 12:51 AM

I saw one of these in a Retro Gamer, and I was wondering what other computers came in this all in one model (Macs excepted, of course). They look really cool!

This is a TRS 80 Model III

http://www.actwin.com/toaph/life/computers/trs803.gifWe had one of those, well one of its brothers or variations in 4th grade. The first computer I ever used. I think. No, it wasn't. The first I used was at home, a Homebrew. But this was the second. But it was far inferior to the 286 we had. It had a Tape Recorder attached to it. Games came on tapes. There was no floppy. No HD. Just cassette tapes and a player. And to play the games, you had to type so many lines into the DOS type screen.

How far we've come.

Back when I was into computer collecting, I had always wanted to find one again. The exact one we used to have. Just for fun. But alas, it never came to be. Besides, I have no room. Oh well.

Flack

01-20-2005, 01:30 AM

This is a TRS 80 Model III

http://www.actwin.com/toaph/life/computers/trs803.gif

Indeed it is! This was my first computer as well. My dad was going to purchase a model I, but the model III was just around the corner so we got put on Radio Shack's waiting list, and were notified when the model 3's arrived.

The model I's had keyboards separate from their monitors, but apparently due to major RF interference, Radio Shack moved to the "all in one" design.

As recently mentioned in another thread, I recently threw out my old TRS-80 Model III due to a dead monitor (one of the drawbacks of having an all-in-one system). I still have an SX-64 and a Kaypro II "luggable" (portable, I guess, if you need a 20lb laptop).

SoulBlazer

01-20-2005, 01:38 AM

And it was'nt just old systems. My PC from the summer of 1995 to the summer of 1998 was a AST. THAT was a all-in-one system -- a 15 inch monitor sitting on the top of the built in case with the parts. You opened it from the back with a nice, easy to pull out drawer. The disc drive and the CD-ROM unit doors were on the front. The keyboard was seperate, of course, but that's the last time I've seen a PC with the monitor and computer attached to one another. I wish I could find a pic. It was a really light and small system, easy to lug around, but a pain in the ass to get into to change or replace parts due to the tight design. The system was still working a couple years ago, last I saw it. It was 'only' a 486 33, so it's way past it's prime. :)

Jibbajaba

01-20-2005, 02:27 AM

Another computer that comes to mind that was that old all in one design is the "Sol".

Also there is the Compaq Porta 02. They fall under the category of "luggable". Mine is a 286. The Sol was an S-100 bus *I Think*.

Chris

Emily

01-20-2005, 02:37 AM

I thought the TRS-80 3 had color graphics...??? Is the model you hook to the TV color, while the all in one is monochrome :/ ? How about Model 4, anyone have any info on these?

goatdan

01-20-2005, 02:49 AM

It doesn't exactly count, but the Atari Portfolio was a pretty darn slick all-in-one and legitimately portable when it came out. I've got one, and it brought me through two years of college note-taking.

boatofcar

01-20-2005, 06:48 AM

The keyboard was seperate, of course, but that's the last time I've seen a PC with the monitor and computer attached to one another.

I think you're right. You'd think with the (relative) success of the iMac, more PC designers would try an all in one, much like how they all went with translucent cases when the original iMac came out.

But back to topic, just as I feared, no Atari 8 bit all in one :(

Maybe I'll pick up an SX 64. Does it have a color screen?

ubikuberalles

01-20-2005, 08:46 AM

vulcanjedi

01-20-2005, 08:59 AM

But back to topic, just as I feared, no Atari 8 bit all in one :(

It wasn't from lack of trying. The 1450XLD nearly came out but they couldn't solve a few technical problems. Well, it didn't have a built-in monitor so I guess it doesn't count. Does it?

What about the Apple ][c? I've seen pictures of it with a monitor attached but I couldn't tell if the monitor was attached to the computer or if it was just sitting on a plastic stand above the computer.

The IIc had a small 9 inch color monitor option with a special stand that kind of makes it look like a single unit.

My favorite all in one would be the IBM PS/2 mod 25. Was the first computer I volunteered my time fixing because my church had 5 of them in their computer lab in 1991. This led to one of my best early references because it was from a priest :)

VJ

WanganRunner

01-20-2005, 09:11 AM

I just looked around for the Atari Portfolio on Ebay and realized that it's the machine that John Connor hacks the ATM with in Terminator 2.

Along with his mullet-sporting friend, lol.

YoshiM

01-20-2005, 09:32 AM

I thought the TRS-80 3 had color graphics...??? Is the model you hook to the TV color, while the all in one is monochrome :/ ? How about Model 4, anyone have any info on these?

What was neat about many Tandy products was that you could get modifications from other companies. For the Model 1 and 3 you can get a color adapter called the Electric Crayon. Also many Model clones included color graphics or the ability to have a color monitor attached.

You can read more about the Model 4 here (http://www.8bit-micro.com/model4.htm). From what I read, the Model 4 is a very rugged machine with a TON of software. Wasn't there an article about some small company still using a Model 3/4 for their accounting?

The Tandy you hook up to the TV is the Color Computer. AFAIK none of the non-clone out-of-the-box Model 1-4's could hook up to a TV. I'm not totally familiar all the expansion parts that were built for them so it's possible that the Model 1-4 (probably more so 3 and 4) could be hooked up to a TV with the right parts. I think I saw info that some clones had the capability to be hooked up to a TV but I'm not 100% on that.

Keir

01-20-2005, 10:27 AM

Maybe I'll pick up an SX 64. Does it have a color screen?
Yup. They typically go for $100 and are quite heavy so add quite a bit to that for shipping as well. Cool machines though, with removable keyboard, a built in disk drive and a cartridge slot on top.

goatdan

01-20-2005, 11:38 AM

I think you're right. You'd think with the (relative) success of the iMac, more PC designers would try an all in one, much like how they all went with translucent cases when the original iMac came out.

Actually, Gateway did. I had a bunch of them at work, but they are all obsolete now. The problem is that it was more expensive to get the all-in-one, and then three years later when it came time to upgrade, you couldn't save the monitor (which was an LCD monitor... these things were small) so it made it a total loss if only one part failed.

Djfinny

01-20-2005, 11:58 AM

Ah yes, the TRS-80 model 3, packed with anything from 16k to 48k RAM. What a powerhouse :)

I used to own the TRS-80 model 1 (with the 16k RAM upgrade) my frist computer! I really did enjoy it. And yes, it was only black and white. (with only like 140x48 resoultion!) Still I still miss my TRS-80 and once and I while I check out the below site to download a few memorable games.

http://www.trs-80.com/trs80-1.htm

Also, not sure if it was mentioned, one of the first Compaq "portable laptops" was a one piece until. The cable attached keyboard had a handle in the back that allowed it to be LUGGED around like a... rather large... suitcase... :) Not too portable - but it worked!

DJ

Pantechnicon

01-20-2005, 12:14 PM

I just thought of another one. HP made it but I can't remember the model. The keyboard was detachable but the monitor and printer were built into the same chassis. In lieu of a mouse the monitor was actually touch-sensitive. I recall that it ran CP/M for an OS. My buddy's dad had one and we would spend hours playing Othello on it; just touching the screen to place pieces. Pretty cool system for its day, circa 1984.

boatofcar

01-20-2005, 12:46 PM

Was the Commodore PET released in the US? I like that one too, but it doesn't have a color screen... :(

boatofcar

01-20-2005, 12:58 PM

Looks like IBM made on in 1980 called the 5120.

http://www.old-computers.com/museum/photos/ibm_5120_System_1.jpg

MSRP $13500

boatofcar

01-20-2005, 01:08 PM

Did IBM make an all in one (with detachable keyboard) PS/2 model? I could have sworn we had these in my elementary school. The base looked like this, but I thought that the monitor was built in as well.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/mickfrench/Images/052.jpg

YoshiM

01-20-2005, 02:34 PM

Also, not sure if it was mentioned, one of the first Compaq "portable laptops" was a one piece until. The cable attached keyboard had a handle in the back that allowed it to be LUGGED around like a... rather large... suitcase... :) Not too portable - but it worked!

DJ

I totally forgot about that. A few years ago at my old job we cleared out the back room of old computers. Techs got first crack :D . One of the guys snagged the Compaq portables. I was the person who inventoried and checked them over so I had to work with the Compaqs. Heavy and fairly ugly but they still worked great. Too bad Compaq (IMO) went downhill.

(as for me I took home a 486 SX Dell laptop, a 486 DX2 Ambra laptop and a couple Dell Optiplex P 133 desktops that were LOADED with as many spare parts that were being given away as I could get my hands on).

Wookie

01-20-2005, 04:09 PM

I've got several different all-in-ones:
TRS-80 Models III and 4 (and the portable version, the 4P)
Commodore 8032 (might not count since it doesn't have built-in mass storage)
Commodore SX-64
Kaypro II,4, and 10
Osborne 1
Hewlett Packard HP85
Otrona Attache
Zorba
Epson HX-20
and maybe a couple others I've forgotten.

You can read about these (and many others) at:
http://www.old-computers.com/news/default.asp

Jasoco

01-20-2005, 04:56 PM

I think you're right. You'd think with the (relative) success of the iMac, more PC designers would try an all in one, much like how they all went with translucent cases when the original iMac came out. They did. Apple knocked them down so fast, their heads spun.

Remember eMachines? They were one of the closest, with the most FUGLY iMac rip-off ever known to man.
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/article/990820/eone.gif

Then there was Future Power..
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/article/990705/epw.jpg

Ever since the iMac originally came out, there have been TONS of knock-offs. You couldn't turn around without seeing a new iMac-alike. You just weren't looking. Not just the original, but the Sunflower too had some copies. But mainly the original. And still the best.
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/article/990820/imac.gif

Sothy

01-20-2005, 05:03 PM

http://tshibuki.hp.infoseek.co.jp/make/vision005.jpg

Keir

01-20-2005, 05:14 PM

That picture is creepy. You can see the reflection of the room the computer is in, but where is the person taking the picture?

Ed Oscuro

01-21-2005, 08:09 PM

Was the Commodore PET released in the US? I like that one too, but it doesn't have a color screen... :(
I do think so...actually I'd say yeah, for certain. It's just a bit uncommon. There was also some sort of educational model made in Canada (Montreal?) that had two different processors...the SUPERpet!

Did IBM make an all in one (with detachable keyboard) PS/2 model? I could have sworn we had these in my elementary school. The base looked like this, but I thought that the monitor was built in as well.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/mickfrench/Images/052.jpg
Yup, I saw one at a Goodwill a while back. I was kicking myself for not putting down the money I couldn't afford on it ($20) until I checked eBay. I forget the exact model, but it's just a string of four numbers iirc.

That picture is creepy. You can see the reflection of the room the computer is in, but where is the person taking the picture?
As a long time fan of...WATCH OUT, VAMPIRE!