LGR - Strangest Computer Designs of the '80s
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- Опубликовано: 19 янв 2017
- The 1980s saw the explosion of a worldwide microcomputer industry, and with it came countless bizarre and awesome machines. Let's take a look at ten of the most unusual devices!
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"Beam Me Up," "Never As Lonely," "Night Feeling Suave"
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The Holborn 9100 is the most 70's Sci-Fi looking computer I've ever seen. It would fit right into the set of Logan's Run.
Juan Nunez Or "2001; A Space Odyssey".
zh84 I feel "2001" did a lot for inspiring such design aesthetics in computer design during that time.
Juan Nunez Fallout.
RandomReviews Of course nowadays the dark, cynical view of the future is pretty big in today's view of the future.
It looks like Karen, Plankton's wife from spongebob.
Holy shiitake that apricot look so modern for an 80s computer
6:15 Army definition of portable: can be moved without the use of a forklift. :P
it has a handle so it HAS to be portable...
If you are brave enough to stray into the territory of Eastern European computers from the 80s, there is SOOOO much more there! Yes, a lot of them were clumsy ZX Spectrum clones, but some where really odd.
There was the Electronika BK 0010 series of 16-bit desktops that were compatible with the PDP-11 "microcomputers" (read: fridge-sized mainframe beasts)
There were was Radio 86RK - a fully Soviet-designed DIY series that were actually really, really fascinating in that "oddity from the dawn of computing" kind of way.
Others, like Electronika MC or Kvazar 86 were these weird IBM-compatibles, while Kiev and Elf were MSX2 machines.
There was even a Soviet-developed Amiga competitor Союз-Неон ПК-11/16 (Soyuz-Neon PK-11/16) that had some pretty impressive specs for 1986.
There were so many EE clones of Western computers, it's hard to catalog them all. Romania alone had a large number of ZX Spectrum locally reverse engineered clones, probably more than a dozen if you count variants (CoBra, HC85, HC88, HC90, HC91, HC2000, Cip with a few variants, Jet, Tim-S and a few more). And a few original designs, incompatible but with basically the same hardware capabilities (Prae, aMic). Some of them could run alternative operating systems, such as CP/M. There were clones of other systems such as IRIS and PDP-11, and several original mini-mainframe designs with locally developed hardware and software which never saw further development because at the end of the 1980s there was widespread adoption and standardization on IBM PC compatibles.
FWIW the Prae and aMic designs are essentially open hardware and software as all the schematics and software source code for them have been published in magazines and books at the time.
The apricot isn't strange, it's freaking awesome!
Never said these weren't awesome! In fact, the stranger they get the more awesome they are in my opinion ;)
Kind of funny how the Apricot was ahead of its time, as we now have tablets/phones and notebooks with removable/detachable keyboards. I can see how that would be very weird at the time.
Dude.. just, thank you for making these videos. When I have a crappy day at work and I'm down about the world, I see a video of yours about a subject like this and it instantly improves my mood. I love in-depth discussions of forgotten hardware and software (as a guy who grew up with an 8088) and I love your take on them as someone who clearly spent their formative years on old school PC machines. Whatever anyone else may say, please continue doing what you do. Not just for my own personal enjoyment but because clearly you love doing it. I sincerely find it awesome and I'm glad I found your channel through RetroWare. You rock!
Thanks for the kind words, and I'm glad you're enjoying the videos!
the Holborn 9100 looks like E.T.'s head :P
StaelTek that's exactly what I thought!
StaelTek It also resembles a peroscope in design so...
You certainly mean, it looks like a legally-safe knock-off of an 80ies sci-fi alien?
I thought that, too. It also kind of reminded me of the 'Eye' ray gun from the original War of the Worlds movie circa 1950. But yeah, mostly E.T.'s head.
E.T compute taxes and play Oregon Trail
I remember working at Software Etc.. in the 80's, the amount of pissed off IBMPCjr owners was overwhelming. Everyday, I'd have to tell people, sorry that disk isn't compatible with the PCjr. Sorry, that game isn't compatible with PCjr. Over and over again. OMG the cursing....
You have my retroactive sympathy, haha. Having worked retail during various console transitions over the years, I can only imagine how that would've been with such a similar name and the same brand making such different machines.
And the thing is, is that in the beginning the box didn't tell you. So I had to just remember people returning software before I'd even know. It was about 1/2 a year after it was released that software starting telling you on the box if it was IBMPCjr compatible. That was the downfall of the jr, not being compatible.
TwippyTwilight It's incredibly strange considering that the entire purpose of the PC was and still is software compatibility regardless of the configuration .
Samurai Shampoo I think he means operating system and CPU architecture, not hardware
I remember my mom got a PCjr in the mid 80s and even as a child just starting grade school, wasn't that impressed. We had a side car to expand the memory and a couple carts, but we just didn't have much software. In the mean time, my friends all seemed to have Commodores, which had a lot more software and were easier to use.
I ate my pizza from start to finish during this video, it was a good video.
was it a good pizza?
was it a small pizza?
was it a square pizza
was it pizza
was it
That design for the Elwro-800 actually seems pretty good and I wish I had it for the C64 back in the day. That wire holder could have been used for holding a computer magazine with a user made program which they always had in the magazines back in the day. Even now it would be good for data input from a written copy, or even writers who like to get their pre-writing done on paper.
That apricot looks sleek as shit.
Still does today! It's amazing
Sure does look sweet alright
Props to whoever designed the case for it.
If you have too much apricots it will make you look sleek as shit.
If I magically found myself in the 80's that computer would be my top pick to own. Looks better than the rest on the list.
It really doesn't, though. It looks like a blocky piece of shit from the 80s. I don't get how it's supposed to look good.
I had one of these, sold it on ebay for £100 a few years back - I wish I kept it, useless but looked amazing!
Someone please take an Apricot and replace the internals with modern technology. It is a sexy, sexy looking thing and I want it.
You could just 3d print a new Apricot housing in your favourite colour. And add an raspberry pi 4 or an atom CPU into the display unit with some added wifi keyboard
@@pteppig Fuck 3d printing and fuck raspberry pi. Both are cheap shortcuts and both suck.
But the screen is too small for Windows 10
@@pteppig sadly it won't feel the same
Thanks for Polish accent :) there were pretty decent vintage computers created in Poland in 70' and Elwro project was waaaay ahead of its times in the Eastern Europe, behind the Iron Courtain.
Haha, I try my best. And yeah, Elwro did some super cool stuff in the '70s and '80s!
Did it also use the clone-Z80 CPU from Russia?
Yeah, not only that, there was loads of clones/fake devices, there was very popular copies of NES called Pegasus ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_(console) - I owed one :D ), but this was already early 90' - everything was "copied" and "pirate" back then, there was simply no other way to get games or hardweare...
You have to check out the history of the K-202. A microcomputer 10 years ahead of its time, released in 1971.
Yep, good times for Poland if it comes to computers, a pity this stops in 90' - we had then a pretty decent company called Optimus making awesome computers but it was killed by unfair tax law. Later on Optimus was renamed to... CD Projekt RED - the guys who created the Witcher games ;) anyway I never had occasion to express my gratitude for your videos - they have such a cool vintage vibe with this music, your voice and stuff you show and talk about - keep making them!
Now I finally know what the computer that Techmoan's muppet uses is!
Yes indeed! It was his content that made me aware of the system in the first place.
Two of my favourite youtubers watch another of my favourite youtubers
VWestlife could you please give me the timestamp?
nice
Hey west, hope you are well!
Interesting you just released this video, I was binge watching your hardware list and enjoyed your previous videos about the strange designs in the 90's and 2000's. I'm really enjoying this stuff, learning a bit of computer history and bringing back some memories, since I had some old pcs when I was little back in the mid 90's.
Wow that Apricot is really ahead of its time! It is like something from the '90s, concept and design wise.
OMG Mr. LGR!!! You made my day showing the Seiko computer watch series. I collect these things and Have almost the entire lineup up including the weird UC-2200. The only one I'm missing is the "wrist mac" which was essentially a Seiko RC4400 but marketed and sold for Apple. It could be considered the first apple watch!
Just found this channel and absolutely love it. Underrated for sure.
The Icon! It's the first time a non-Canadian video has even mentioned the Icon.
We had them in my elementary school and they were slow as molasses.
I remember the first GUI had squares with text on the screen to indicate different types of programs. Then IconLook was introduced, which slowed the machines significantly. You'd login and there would be a list of program, and you'd double-tap one of the Action keys.
The last time I saw one was in high school. They had a QDOS emulator so that they could use MS Works for DOS and that was in keyboarding class.
first pc looks like the terminals from fallout
To me it looks more like those useless computers from Prey
Yes! I thought “ If the 50’s and 60’s had small computers they would probably look like that” Then “ Oh yeah, Fall out Terminals!”
Yeah, or more specifically the "Institute" Terminals from FO4 lol.
@@JamezzyM fallout is just one word
Nah
That Polish computer is example of Soviet approach in manufacturing in consumer products - reusing already existing parts and assembly lines for new products, even if it means making toy piano into computer. I wish you could do same video for Soviet computers though this topic is very much unknown in the west due or exists to serve as anti-Soviet\Russian propaganda.
Actually, Poland was never a soviet state, it was communist but mostly independent. There were quite incredible computers made here such as the K-202 which was released in 1971 and was miles ahead of the IBM PC released TEN YEARS LATER. There was even a videgame console called TVG-10.
+najzwyklejszyzludzi
Yes, the economic powerhouse Poland is and has always been the globally leading country in computer technology. We all know IBM stole all of their inventions and patents using industrial espionage from Poland. Initially Silicon Valley was called Polish valley until they realized that they were not in Poland anymore and renamed it.
Wow, you're really rude Frank. Guy above you never mentioned anything about IBM stealing anything. It was different systems boi.
Siewca Grozy
If you think THAT was rude, you should experience me in real life.
What I practiced here is usually called sarcasm. It is applied and works quite well if people make absurd claims (e.g. Poland leading the US in IT technology by 10 years, Earth being flat and so on).
Just read about the K-202. I'm not saying Poland had the most advanced technology in the world, but this computer was something else entirely. It was the brainchild of the genius engineer Jacek Karpiński and was completely sabotaged by the state that wanted to keep making crappy Odra mainframes.
The only reason this computer was not successful was intentional sabotage of its production. It was at the time hands down the most powerful microcomputer out there. IBM never stole that invention, the PC was made with very different technology.
Instead of attacking me, simply do some research. All the facts are out there.
Love your videos because they're very quick and to the point and not deliberately drawn out. Thanks.
What if one of those strange computers became the average computer, while the average computer now turned into a strange computer?
whooooaaaa duuuuuddeeee... **smokes out of bong**
Damn man
Mind. Blown.
coolkid18751 lol I don't do the marijuana
+Antiwhimsy 空
Was that a reference to... Van Wilder or something. I remember some Indian guy saying, "THAT'S NOT A BONG! IT'S FOR MY DONG!"
All of your videos are amazing Good Sir!
Thanks for the metric conversion on screen. I automatically reached for the keyboard when hearing the weight. Please keep doing that :)
Sure thing! Over half of my viewers are from outside the US, so it just makes sense.
Awesome, just what I needed an amazing LGR video :)
Clint, literally the only thing that this list is missing and would make this video completely perfect is the MSRPs on all these insanely awesome and useless computers :)
Sadly a lot of those prices are hard to find and/or verify.
If you hammerfist your numpad a few times, you'll get an accurate representation of the prices.
I've got love for the Dutch E.T. computer. Even Steven Spielberg would be impressed.
Wait. Wireless keyboards in 84? I imagined that was unheard of til the 90s. Or heck, even the 00s.
Was that super unique or were actually wireless peripherals more common back then than I imagine?
Damn that Apricot seems extremely great for it's time.
They weren't exactly common, but not unheard-of either! Even the Atari 2600 had a form of wireless joystick controllers.
BenRangel When the designers included the wireless keyboard they invisiged it being used on a desk in an office, with the keyboard and mouse easy to hide away during meetings. The keyboard used infrared, and due to interference in the system from other light sources it's communication protocol had to use a huge number of parity bits. The speech recognition also wasn't so much for entering text as for making common commands like "copy" and "save" faster.
+Samuel Doye Yep, here's an example of the PCjr freaking out due to a light source:
ruclips.net/video/OjmqTBILs6g/видео.html
One of the first videos from LGR I have seen, I really enjoy your work client 😁
Surprisingly, I found you by this series! Amazing!!
That Apricot keyboard was so ahead of its time.
OMG- I've never expected to see hardware from my homeland :D
Greatings from Poland! :)
Love this kind of video! Super interesting. You're the best LGR.
Jesus! That's it!
Back when I was 5 years old, I recall my first ever experience with a computer and its all-in-one build complete with mysterious trackball. I played all of three seconds of Offshore fishing on it before my father gave me a smack on the head and told me to get my ass in gear. I now know that magnificent machine was the Unisys Icon... Thanks for that.
Was the Holborn before or after E.T.? Some strange similarities there lol
HAZARDOUS88 E.T. is 1982
I remember a story about the Adam, about how Coleco faked it's appearance at a CES one year. It involved tinted glass, a cardboard or papier-mache "case", and a Colecovision running Donkey Kong or something to the display from behind or under the cabinet the whole thing was sitting in.
Similar to the Coleco Chameleon.
That story probably inspired a plotline in the show "Halt and Catch Fire"
That happened at the ps4/xbone preview event. Some of them malfunctioned and they opened up the cabinets to pc dev machines running the console software
Man, this video is awesome. I've seen most of the ones on the '90s and '00s list, but there's a lot more on this list that I haven't seen. Then again, I think in the '80s, they were playing around a lot more with computer design in general. There was a ton of variety back there and plenty of weird '80s computers that aren't on this list.
very cool... great research, photos, script, and voiceover! :D
6:20 - yes, this looks familiar. I had one, before my parents bought us PC with Windows 98. I hardly remember it, probably because unlike Commodore 64, Elwro didn't have many games on it and I wasn't into programming back then. But it was cool it had polish letters on the keyboard, I didn't have to think which key I have to press with "shift" or "alt" to get the letter I want.
keep doing these types of vids clint. :)
Those old PC ad photos are just GORGEOUS.... I need to learn how to edit photos like that
Awesome video. Thank you!!
Every time i think youve hit a ceiling of interesting content you deliver again! Your so dope LGR, one of the few youtubers i have set up for notifications 😎
Thank you :)
The Holborn 9100 looks like the control computers that should be in War Of The Worlds, the original movie, not the Tom Cruise "remake".
Yes you are right, that's totally the design of the Martian ships.
It lools just like the Terminals from Fallout.
Looks a bit like the Computer Space arcade cabinet too!
The MaskedGeek 69 likes
@@enniopaone we seen for deskop nanofactory to built cool component
Wow! Talk about memory lane! Great video!
what a joy it is to see a new LGR video on a friday afternoon.
One of the high schools that I attended (here in southern Ontario, Canada) had Icon computers. They were the machines we were taught Turing language on -- and compiling even a tiny Turing program on them was unbelievably slow. I really liked the GUI on them though, but we never really used the GUI much; all the programming we did was in a text file run through a compiler from the QNX shell. The ADAM did enjoy some succes around here, I knew a few people who were real enthusiasts for them. In the 90s, there were those who had upgraded them using 2400 baud modems and hard disk drives and actually ran BBSes on them.
I used them too, at a school in T.O. (forget which; it was a summer program)
Yup I used them in my high school as well in the Toronto area.
nothing like getting some soda and watching some sweet sweet old school tech
it's awesome how informative LGR's channel is
instantly hit thumbs up for pound kilo conversion! plus you're the only guy on youtube with enjoyable slideshow videos. keep up the great work buddy :-)
lmao, why didn't they remove the sheet holders before shipping those computers?
Maybe they thought "we're making a learning computer. Lets keep that thing on their so they can place their books on it"
Oh how many times in the 80s using my Amstrad CPC464 microcomputer, did I wish there was something I could stand my manual up on to read out the program listings.. or the game listing from the magazines of the time. That looks way better than the original speccy too if you ask me.
because kurwa
Becuace it was the Polish... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_joke
That's precisely what I was thinking. It *would* be quite handy for such a thing.
My School had those Unysis Icon computers, I spent most of computer class playing Carmen Sandiego
My high school had the those Sammy ICON computers as well running QNX.
I enjoyed this video, you should make more in this layout.
Your top tens are some of the only ones I've seen where the thumbnail picture is an entry. Well done.
I had a Unisys Icon in my elementary school! It's development was actually funded by the Ontario Ministry of Education
Woo! RUclips actually pushed out a notification that mattered!
Gotta love that Toy Story-reference. "To infinity and beyond"! Also heard it in some of your other videos. Keep it up, Buzz LGR!
Funny, I owned two of those at the time (PCjr, and Adam). I love your videos. A great walk down memory lane.
Elwro
I to był element niszczenia polskiego przemysłu przez Niemiaszków. Niemiaszkom się udało.
I actually used Icons in school :P They were pretty cool, and hilarious hearing everyone rolling the fuck out of the track balls :D
They had quite a few educational games that were actually fun to play. I still remember them and this was before I was 10.
Excellent video! Nice to see my fave retro machine (Compaq Portable 3) and the Elwro. Being from Poland and seeing that, brings back memories.
My dad was an engineer in the 80s/90s and I remember that "super cool" computers-in-a-suitcase he'd bring home to work. The first laptop was a BRICK in the early 90s. This vid makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside with memories
The first computer really makes me think of E.T.
1:33 so that is where Eric Foreman ended up after the 70s
I just re watched the weird PCs from the nineties video and wondered if you where gonna do one for the eighties. And today you granted my wish. Thanx LGR
That Apricot design is awesome. I wish we could have lugged that around in MGS5. :) I still remember my family's IBM PC compatible Tandy platform.
The lab in my Highschool were all Lexicon/Icon. They were curious machines. Some of the software they came with I have never seen the likes of again. The experience I gained with QNX worked well for me when I started working as there were some QNX systems running in my first job. QNX is kind of Unix, but the syntax is often backwards.
QNX Neutrino (first released in 2001) can be made POSIX-conformant quite easily, so whatever it evolved into effectively is just "Unix".
There was *some* posix support earlier than Neutrino, but the version I knew was certainly not. BlackBerry owns it now
Even Windows NT (until 4.0) was initially Posix (and OS/2) compatible
Polandball can of into computers!
Jim Tiberius Germany: great Poland! But I am more into advancing and producing faster ze computers than you...
Poland: Niemcy, WHHY?!!
Im not Germany
UK: Actually I have more advanced PCs, Anyone up for some Amstrad?
@@ralphchestercapistranolomi6827 chyba Niemcy, DLAAAACZEEEGOOOO???
Unexpected Polandball
That's a surprisingly underrated meme xD
But at least that's better than it becoming forced and oversaturated like Loss (a.k.a. the worst meme ever) and modern memes
I've been following your channel for years now. I create stories set in the latter half of the 20th century, and a fat load of the weirder computers you've covered are perfect design fodder for my characters to use. Especially that first computer. Looks like E.T., what the heck?
LGR shows the finest shows that need to be on television for all to see. Not only I am an end user, but I am also a fan of computer technology.
Make strangest computer desings of 70s :D
Planning to!
The Holbern 9100 looks like a fallout 4 terminal.
This is such an interesting channel, especially with all the old computers from the days when I could only gaze upon these new, magical devices from afar but never actually got a chance to use until the 21st century. I'd kind of like to play around with old 70s, 80s and 90s computers but computers are inherently practical machines and I guess the only practical use an old one would have nowadays is playing old games from its era.
Great video!
Atari XEGS. Pretty odd looking, and why even release that when they had the 7800 and the xe lineup? To cater to the 8 bit market that already had 800xls or xe computers?
More likely to liquidate the remaining Atari 8-bit equipment and software stock.
Westwurtzli yeah, they should've just put the cx40 and gun in with a 65xe tho. And don't get me wrong, I have an xegs hooked up in my game room (5200 controller ext. works with the keyboard..just wish start button was on the kb.)
Hope I can fix my Coleco Adam some day :(
Crazy. I was explaining to a friend of mine the other day that I had a PC that had a built in printer and modem. I couldn't find anything to show him. A few days later you post this video! Yes, when I was a kid, I was the proud owner of an access computer!
Thank you for pronouncing ELWRO correctly.
Nice video!
HOLBORN 9100 looks like E.T.
The Seiko UC-2000 looks like the thing they based the COMPs off of in Shin Megami Tensei.
Could very well be, seeing as the UC-2000 was most popular in Japan!
Huh.
Could have been.
I could listen to you passionately talk about computers all day! you are intelligent and unique!
oh yes, the Coleco Adam. I actually have one of those things, still in the box, that my grandpa had bought
No Cardiff Giant?
Ha. I almost included the Grid Compass, which is what the Giant was largely based on!
6:48 - Poland can into IT!
We were always big on computers in Poland, even during the dark days of socialism. PC gaming is still way more popular here than consoles. It's not an accident PC friendly companies like GOG and CD Projekt are Polish.
Ah, we had the Unisys ICON in my elementary school. I remember them weirdly fondly.
Oh yeah baby, Math Maze and Offshore Fishing. Good times. I wish we could get those games emulated to see them again but I don't think such a thing exists.
Off shore fishing., wow brings back memories.
A very informative video. I really dig those older designs. I feel newer case manufacturers could learn a thing or two from the older machines.
Elwro had teacher and student versions. I have four such models in my collection. :>
That's awesome! They made fascinating machines.
Lazy Game Reviews I suppose the wire support helped students when it came to typing out book reports!
Well done for pronouncing ZX' as 'zed-ex' and not 'zee-ex'. Oh, brilliant vid too
David Dawson also thumbs up for pronouncing "Elwro" as "Elvro". Clint did his research.
Your videos are always great
Whenever I think about space stations / crafts in fiction I'd always imagine the computers there would look like the Holborn 9100. What a beauty!
That watch looks unwearable. Just imagine walking around with that keyboard attached.
The keyboard is detachable on those. Most of those who owned them probably kept the keyboard stashed in their pocket for when they needed it.
Yukari Yakumo Which is why I said "attached".
id wear it
+A Player 69
Honey, you just wear the wrist on your arm ...
The keyboard is either worn on your chest or attached to your forehead for easy access. This is except for the Powerglove and Pit-Boy line of models, where you indeed wear it on your arm.
Back in high school, I used to walk around with a ruler and a pen attached under my watch since they didn't fit in my pockets and I didn't feel like holding them in my hands. Easy for me to forget about them.
only 6 keys! Wow reminded me of my notetaker, My specialized computer I used in highschool being that I am a visually impaired student haha. eing t
everything is entered in braille and it has this awesome synthesized voice that sounds like a robot
The Braille 'n Speak. Blazie Engineering's first product, released in 1986. I have a Type 'n Speak which I picked up at the local flea market a few years back. It is basically the same device but with a QWERTY keyboard. I built a new battery for mine. I wish I had the floppy disk drive and serial terminal cable so I could use it with a terminal display.
Interesting video! You mentioned a few specs but would have liked to known the specs of all the machines as well as their prices (adjusted to recent money for comparison). Also, how many of these do you own?
Awesome piece of computer history!
You never hear very much about communist computers in these kinds of videos. Surprised to see one, and interesting as hell.
I'd like to do a whole video on Soviet-era machines! I own a couple of them, they're fascinating.
LGR is my favourite channel on youtube.. Thankyou Clint!
@@LGR That would be super interesting. I'd love to see more weird computers!
Oh, yes. Talk nerdy to me.
But seriously, I don't know anything about ye olde computers and don't really care about them that much either, but you make them sound super interesting somehow.
Huh. Not everyday I randomly stumble upon a video made the exact same day :D
I love some of the unique ideas in these videos
I didn't need to go to bed yet anyways lol. always love the videos!