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Gavilan Mobile Computer

In late 2004 Bryce Beck of the silicon valley donated these two fine Gavlian mobile computer systems. Byte Magazine described the Gavilan as one of the 20 spectacular failures of the PC business:

This early 8088-based laptop had an eight-line LCD screen, an innovative touchpad, and an optional printer that attached to the back. But it wasn't PC-compatible and suffered from technical problems. In 1984, a Gavilan executive announced, "The microcomputer industry is entering a new chapter -- Chapter 11."

Read about the Gavilan's launch at the 1983 National Computer Conference in the following excerpt:

Gavilan mobile computer. This is a note-book-size book-size unit (11.4 X 11.4 X 2.7 ) with a 16-bit 8088 mpu, 80K of memory, 3 microfloppy disk, RS-232 interface, 300 baud modem, and full-stroke keyboard. That's for starters. It also has an LCD display (8 lines X 66 characters) with a Lisa-like (VisiOn-like?) software system of windows, files, menus, and interactive prompts. To select what you want to do, a 3.5 X 1.4 solid state touch pad is mounted above the keyboard; your finger takes the place of the mouse on Lisa.

 

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Donor of the Gavilans, Bryce Beck
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Gavilan Peripherlas and Documentation

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See Also:

Oldcomputers.net's page on the Gavilan SC

 

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