The big thing (hah! No pun intended!) is that many portable computers were that form factor at the time. Early "Portable" computers came in three basic types: 1. "tiny slabs" like the TRS-80 Model 100, Epson HX-20, and the like. These tended to only run BASIC, and weren't computers than ran a normal operating system. In general, they had tiny LCD screens, with only 1-4 lines of text. But the vast majority were battery powered. Some could even run for many days or even weeks on four-six AA batteries. This category would eventually morph into "palmtops" then PDAs. 2. "Luggables" like the Compaq Portable, IBM Personal Computer Portable Model 5155, Commodore SX-64. These were "portable" versions of normal computers, running the normal operating system. These were absolutely "suitcase" size computers, that had tiny CRT displays, and needed to be plugged in to a wall outlet to run. They weren't mean to be used "on the go", they were meant to be moved from one location to another. These still exist! Usually with big LCD screens on one "large face", rather than a small CRT on a small face, but companies still sell them as "portable workstations" with modern hardware - I got to play with one that even has three displays that all fold out from each other, to make a triple-screen portable workstation! (Dual Xeons, tons of RAM, multiple SSDs, desktop-workstation-class GPU, some even have full-size PCI Express slots.) They definitely need wall power, they don't even attempt to make them battery powered. 3. "Giant laptops" like the Macintosh Portable, IBM PC Convertible, GRID Compass, Data General One. These were "nearly there" - they usually had a mostly modern-laptop-like form factor, although like with the Macintosh Portable, having the screen hinge in the MIDDLE, with a lot of computer extending rearward past the screen hinge, was common. If they had a battery (the GRID Compass didn't,) it was usually lead-acid and heavy. But they were fairly no-compromise compared to desktop systems, usually only missing expansion slots, and usually having a large LCD compared to either the "luggable" small CRTs or the "tiny slabs" micro LCDs. The introduction of the PowerBook and the ThinkPad in '91 and '92 - while not the first "conventional laptops by modern standards" - definitely heralded the era of the "modern laptop". But the Macintosh Portable wasn't *completely* out of place for its time. It was very late to the game, though, with other similar "giant laptops" coming out a good three years earlier, and the first few "real modern form factor laptops" coming out the same year as the Portable.
Took a Mac Portable on rafts through the Grand Canyon in 1990. Analyzed data along the way, including an “oh crap” moment realizing a hidden but dying 9V battery almost killed a critical experiment. Also played scientific animations to a small crowd at night by flashlight. Just one in a long line of Macs we used for science in a variety of outlandish settings. Thanks for reviving old memories.
I've been wanting a Portable for a while now, but it's so hard to get one in working order and they seem to have jumped in price recently as well. I like the fact that you can completely disassemble the portable with no tools. Jean-Louis Gassée famously assembled one from its component parts on stage when it was introduced!
You missed a few notable other flaws in the Mac Portable besides is heavy weight, mostly related to how the AC power supply and battery are wired up in the Macintosh Portable: * The original models without a backlight required you carry around a table lamp with you to be able to see the screen under normal indoor lighting conditions. The 2nd-gen backlit versions cut battery life in half but at least you could see the screen without external lamp. * The very heavy lead-acid battery meant it could run for 10 hours (for the 1st gen without backlight) on a full charge, an extremely long time for a “portable” computer of the era. This came with a serious downside though in that lead-acid batteries must never be fully discharged unless you want them to fail (much like lead-acid car batteries). The batteries used in the machine have all failed by now and replacements don’t exist though you can “repack” the battery and other 6v batteries have been made to work with the Mac Portable. * The power supply was wired in series with the battery which was then wired to the computer. The problem with this setup is the power supply doesn’t provide enough power to power the battery as fast or faster then then computer drains it so you can ad charge the computer both at the same time not run only on AC power alone. It is possible to use power supplies from Mac PowerBook 100 series laptops that provide higher current output and thus can charge the battery fast enough that computer can essentially run on AC Power. * The 1st gen backlit models used very expensive SRAM that was expandable to 9MB from 1MB. This did have the benefit of allowing for a very low power sleep mode. 2nd gen models with a backlight switched to pseudo-SRAM, which while cheaper was more power hungry contributing to much reduced battery life in the 2nd gen Mac Portable.
Наука
The big thing (hah! No pun intended!) is that many portable computers were that form factor at the time.
Early "Portable" computers came in three basic types:
1. "tiny slabs" like the TRS-80 Model 100, Epson HX-20, and the like. These tended to only run BASIC, and weren't computers than ran a normal operating system. In general, they had tiny LCD screens, with only 1-4 lines of text. But the vast majority were battery powered. Some could even run for many days or even weeks on four-six AA batteries. This category would eventually morph into "palmtops" then PDAs.
2. "Luggables" like the Compaq Portable, IBM Personal Computer Portable Model 5155, Commodore SX-64. These were "portable" versions of normal computers, running the normal operating system. These were absolutely "suitcase" size computers, that had tiny CRT displays, and needed to be plugged in to a wall outlet to run. They weren't mean to be used "on the go", they were meant to be moved from one location to another. These still exist! Usually with big LCD screens on one "large face", rather than a small CRT on a small face, but companies still sell them as "portable workstations" with modern hardware - I got to play with one that even has three displays that all fold out from each other, to make a triple-screen portable workstation! (Dual Xeons, tons of RAM, multiple SSDs, desktop-workstation-class GPU, some even have full-size PCI Express slots.) They definitely need wall power, they don't even attempt to make them battery powered.
3. "Giant laptops" like the Macintosh Portable, IBM PC Convertible, GRID Compass, Data General One. These were "nearly there" - they usually had a mostly modern-laptop-like form factor, although like with the Macintosh Portable, having the screen hinge in the MIDDLE, with a lot of computer extending rearward past the screen hinge, was common. If they had a battery (the GRID Compass didn't,) it was usually lead-acid and heavy. But they were fairly no-compromise compared to desktop systems, usually only missing expansion slots, and usually having a large LCD compared to either the "luggable" small CRTs or the "tiny slabs" micro LCDs.
The introduction of the PowerBook and the ThinkPad in '91 and '92 - while not the first "conventional laptops by modern standards" - definitely heralded the era of the "modern laptop". But the Macintosh Portable wasn't *completely* out of place for its time. It was very late to the game, though, with other similar "giant laptops" coming out a good three years earlier, and the first few "real modern form factor laptops" coming out the same year as the Portable.
Took a Mac Portable on rafts through the Grand Canyon in 1990. Analyzed data along the way, including an “oh crap” moment realizing a hidden but dying 9V battery almost killed a critical experiment. Also played scientific animations to a small crowd at night by flashlight. Just one in a long line of Macs we used for science in a variety of outlandish settings. Thanks for reviving old memories.
Thank you for all the hard work, Jason, Stephen, and the others you are interviewing! Such an informative and fun series!
"Bend with your knees!" 😂
LOVE this series!
I've been wanting a Portable for a while now, but it's so hard to get one in working order and they seem to have jumped in price recently as well. I like the fact that you can completely disassemble the portable with no tools. Jean-Louis Gassée famously assembled one from its component parts on stage when it was introduced!
The intro was so cheesy I loved it!!!!!
You missed a few notable other flaws in the Mac Portable besides is heavy weight, mostly related to how the AC power supply and battery are wired up in the Macintosh Portable:
* The original models without a backlight required you carry around a table lamp with you to be able to see the screen under normal indoor lighting conditions. The 2nd-gen backlit versions cut battery life in half but at least you could see the screen without external lamp.
* The very heavy lead-acid battery meant it could run for 10 hours (for the 1st gen without backlight) on a full charge, an extremely long time for a “portable” computer of the era. This came with a serious downside though in that lead-acid batteries must never be fully discharged unless you want them to fail (much like lead-acid car batteries). The batteries used in the machine have all failed by now and replacements don’t exist though you can “repack” the battery and other 6v batteries have been made to work with the Mac Portable.
* The power supply was wired in series with the battery which was then wired to the computer. The problem with this setup is the power supply doesn’t provide enough power to power the battery as fast or faster then then computer drains it so you can ad charge the computer both at the same time not run only on AC power alone. It is possible to use power supplies from Mac PowerBook 100 series laptops that provide higher current output and thus can charge the battery fast enough that computer can essentially run on AC Power.
* The 1st gen backlit models used very expensive SRAM that was expandable to 9MB from 1MB. This did have the benefit of allowing for a very low power sleep mode. 2nd gen models with a backlight switched to pseudo-SRAM, which while cheaper was more power hungry contributing to much reduced battery life in the 2nd gen Mac Portable.
it occurred to me that by lead-acid battery, you didn’t mean a car battery, which it definitely looks like this one could fit 🤣
There has to be someone who lovingly hand makes replacement lithium ion batteries packs for these things.
I’ve never been this early before! Love the Macintosh portable
Kallax in black!
A portable with good intentions but some mistakes that made it a bad Mac...hm...I wonder if a more recent example is too modern to make such a list
“Bend with your knees”
This computer was in Single White Female and it still impressed me
owo
Is it just me or Steven looks always so annoyed in these videos.. those fake smiles and dead look..
He's definitely less annoyed when he's got an old Mac in front of him