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RobertB
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The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 15-Jun-2021 21:08:37
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Joined: 16-Jun-2006 Posts: 1481
From: Visalia, California | | |
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BigD
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 15-Jun-2021 21:13:34
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Joined: 11-Aug-2005 Posts: 7307
From: UK | | |
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| @RobertB
Thanks! That looks great! Worth a purchase to support them. _________________ "Art challenges technology. Technology inspires the art." John Lasseter, Co-Founder of Pixar Animation Studios |
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simplex
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 16-Jun-2021 0:23:56
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Joined: 5-Oct-2003 Posts: 896
From: Hattiesburg, MS | | |
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| @RobertB
Oh wow, I'd never heard of this: Quote:
The best example of [Commodore CEO Marshall Smith's misunderstanding the computer market] was his cancellation of the company’s LCD portable computer project, being led – with little support from management – by Commodore engineer Jeff Porter. ‘We had initial orders from Sears for 50,000 or 100,000 units,’ Porter said. |
Do I understand correctly that Commodore had a portable Amiga on the way, and he cancelled it? or are they talking about a different computer?_________________ I've decided to follow an awful lot of people I respect and leave AmigaWorld. If for some reason you want to talk to me, it shouldn't take much effort to find me. |
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BigD
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 16-Jun-2021 0:30:55
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Elite Member |
Joined: 11-Aug-2005 Posts: 7307
From: UK | | |
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| @simplex
The LCD division was set up before the Amiga buy out and was based at MOS if I recall. It WOULD have been used for an Amiga laptop if C= had kept hold of it. They would have been one of the only US providers of LCD screens at the time and would have wiped the floor with vertical integration and bang for buck value for money/profitability. _________________ "Art challenges technology. Technology inspires the art." John Lasseter, Co-Founder of Pixar Animation Studios |
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Nibunnoichi
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 16-Jun-2021 7:56:42
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Cult Member |
Joined: 18-Nov-2004 Posts: 969
From: Roma + Lecco, Italia | | |
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| @simplex
Quote:
simplex wrote: @RobertB Oh wow, I'd never heard of this: Quote:
The best example of [Commodore CEO Marshall Smith's misunderstanding the computer market] was his cancellation of the company’s LCD portable computer project, being led – with little support from management – by Commodore engineer Jeff Porter. ‘We had initial orders from Sears for 50,000 or 100,000 units,’ Porter said. |
Do I understand correctly that Commodore had a portable Amiga on the way, and he cancelled it? or are they talking about a different computer? |
The only portable/LCD I remember from magazines back then was more like a portable C128 a-la Apple IIc, not an Amiga.
_________________ Proud Amigan since 1987 Owner of various Commodore and a SAM440ep\OS4.1FE See them on http://retro.furinkan.org/ |
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Rose
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 16-Jun-2021 8:06:53
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Cult Member |
Joined: 5-Nov-2009 Posts: 982
From: Unknown | | |
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| @simplex
Quote:
simplex wrote: @RobertB
Oh wow, I'd never heard of this: Quote:
The best example of [Commodore CEO Marshall Smith's misunderstanding the computer market] was his cancellation of the company’s LCD portable computer project, being led – with little support from management – by Commodore engineer Jeff Porter. ‘We had initial orders from Sears for 50,000 or 100,000 units,’ Porter said. |
Do I understand correctly that Commodore had a portable Amiga on the way, and he cancelled it? or are they talking about a different computer? |
https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=108 |
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Rob
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 16-Jun-2021 10:14:59
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Joined: 20-Mar-2003 Posts: 6344
From: S.Wales | | |
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| @simplex
The story goes that Smith cancelled the LCD machine after coming back from a trade show where the boss of Tandy had told him there was no future in such machines. |
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simplex
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 16-Jun-2021 13:43:09
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Cult Member |
Joined: 5-Oct-2003 Posts: 896
From: Hattiesburg, MS | | |
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| @Rose
Thanks. The article strongly implies that it was a portable Amiga, but your link makes it clear that it was a portable "something else".
Still amazing that Marshall Smith would let himself be conned by a competitor, of all things. Then again, that might well explain the state of the US steel industry at the time. (Smith came from US steel according to Roberto's linked book.) _________________ I've decided to follow an awful lot of people I respect and leave AmigaWorld. If for some reason you want to talk to me, it shouldn't take much effort to find me. |
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A1200
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 16-Jun-2021 16:37:38
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Elite Member |
Joined: 5-May-2003 Posts: 3087
From: Westhall, UK | | |
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| Looks interesting, for £12 ordered the hardback. _________________ Amiga A1200, 3.1 ROMs, Blizzard 1230 MKIV 64MB & FPU, 4GB DoM SSD, Workbench 3.1 |
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matthey
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 16-Jun-2021 18:53:02
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Super Member |
Joined: 14-Mar-2007 Posts: 1968
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| Nibunnoichi Quote:
The only portable/LCD I remember from magazines back then was more like a portable C128 a-la Apple IIc, not an Amiga.
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The Commodore SX-64 was released in 1984 but had a composite 5" CRT and weighed 23 lbs (10.5kg).
My aunt and uncle had a Commodore SX-64 which they used as a POS for their bookstore. I created a more advanced POS using SuperBase Professional for their Amiga 1000 but they ended up closing the bookstore instead.
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simplex
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 16-Jun-2021 20:53:33
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Cult Member |
Joined: 5-Oct-2003 Posts: 896
From: Hattiesburg, MS | | |
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| @matthey
As a completely unrelated aside, Intel released at least two versions of the 386. One was the 386SX, a somewhat crippled version of the 386. I always wondered why they'd do that, when the obvious reading is "386 SuX."
Of course I was dumb enough to buy one because it was in my budget. Later I saw the light and bought the A500. _________________ I've decided to follow an awful lot of people I respect and leave AmigaWorld. If for some reason you want to talk to me, it shouldn't take much effort to find me. |
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rzookol
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 16-Jun-2021 21:47:41
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Regular Member |
Joined: 4-Oct-2005 Posts: 318
From: Poland, Lublin | | |
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| @RobertB
No Tatung Einstein mentioned :( |
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A1200
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 17-Jun-2021 10:43:56
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Elite Member |
Joined: 5-May-2003 Posts: 3087
From: Westhall, UK | | |
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| @simplex
Yes that followed into the 486 CPUs too - in fact a 386DX wasn't a million miles off the real world experience of a 486SX from memory - especially if the clock on the 386 was higher than the 486. _________________ Amiga A1200, 3.1 ROMs, Blizzard 1230 MKIV 64MB & FPU, 4GB DoM SSD, Workbench 3.1 |
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BigD
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 17-Jun-2021 12:30:25
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Elite Member |
Joined: 11-Aug-2005 Posts: 7307
From: UK | | |
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| @A1200
I bet the top spec Intel 486 chips aren't selling for upwards of £320 like the 68060 Rev6 ones are right now!
Last edited by BigD on 17-Jun-2021 at 12:30 PM.
_________________ "Art challenges technology. Technology inspires the art." John Lasseter, Co-Founder of Pixar Animation Studios |
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Nibunnoichi
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 17-Jun-2021 13:39:19
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Cult Member |
Joined: 18-Nov-2004 Posts: 969
From: Roma + Lecco, Italia | | |
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| @matthey
But the SX/Executive wasn't a prototype even though it wasn't that popular... I was talking about the one linked by Rose.
_________________ Proud Amigan since 1987 Owner of various Commodore and a SAM440ep\OS4.1FE See them on http://retro.furinkan.org/ |
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matthey
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 17-Jun-2021 20:58:26
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Super Member |
Joined: 14-Mar-2007 Posts: 1968
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A1200
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Re: The Computers That Made Britain Posted on 19-Jun-2021 16:24:38
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Elite Member |
Joined: 5-May-2003 Posts: 3087
From: Westhall, UK | | |
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| Book arrived today - really nice looking thing and arrived so quickly. I hope to read it soon. _________________ Amiga A1200, 3.1 ROMs, Blizzard 1230 MKIV 64MB & FPU, 4GB DoM SSD, Workbench 3.1 |
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