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Data General Walkabout

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Walkabout
First generation Walkabout
Developer
ManufacturerData General
Type
Release dateDecember 1989; 35 years ago (1989-12)
Lifespan1989–1993
Discontinued1993; 32 years ago (1993)

The Walkabout is a family of notebook-sized laptop computers introduced by Data General in 1989 and discontinued in 1993. The first entry in the line, simply named the Walkabout, was a battery-powered portable terminal capable of emulating multiple protocols; as well, it contains a rudimentary word processor, an autodialer utility for placing phone calls, and a real-time clock display and timer application for setting reminders. The successor to the first model, the Walkabout/SX, released in 1990, was an architectural redesign allowing the laptop to be used as a general-purpose IBM PC compatible. The penultimate entry, the Walkabout/320, increased its predecessor's i386SX processor clock speed from 16 MHz to 20 MHz, while the last entry in the line, the Walkabout/320SL, replaced the processor with Intel's portable-centric i386SL processor, also clocked at 20 MHz.

Development and specifications

1st generation

Development of the Walkabout began in the mid-1980s, with Vernon Weiss leading the design team as Data General's portable product manager.[1] Weiss was also responsible for leading the team behind the Data General/One, one of the first IBM PC–compatible laptops on the market.[2] According to Weiss, the original Walkabout was designed chiefly around allowing users to check their email remotely via modem.[1] Therefore, the computer was made a portable terminal instead of a general-purpose personal computer, capable of emulating Data General's own Dasher D216 protocol, as well as DEC's VT100 protocol and Lear Siegler's ADM-3A protocol.[3]

Introduced in December 1989,[3] the original Walkabout has a built-in modem capable of communicating at speeds of either 1,200 baud or 2,400 baud, depending on the model ordered.[4] Aside from its terminal emulation functionality, the original Walkabout contains in ROM a rudimentary word processor application, capable of composing and storing up to 16 KB of text. An autodialer utility allows users to store contact information in a virtual phone book and automatically dial out one's phone number over the public switched telephone network via its modem. The laptop also includes a real-time clock application that displays the time in the corner of the screen, as well as a timer function allowing users to set timed reminders over the course of using the machine.[3]

The original Walkabout, with its non-backlit monochrome LCD, measures 12 by 10.6 by 1.9 inches (30.5 by 26.9 by 4.8 cm) and weighs 5 pounds (2.3 kg).[4][3] The Walkabout takes five AA batteries to operate; alternatively, users could have bought a rechargable Ni–Cd battery pack to power the system.[3]

Walkabout/SX

The Walkabout/SX, introduced in March 1990, was a radical departure from its predecessor, measuring larger and heavier than the original Walkabout while giving it true IBM PC compatibility through the adoption of Intel's i386SX processor, a 3.5-inch, high-density floppy disk drive, a VGA display, and a standard IBM PC–compatible chipset and BIOS. A 40-MB hard disk drive came standard, as did Microsoft's MS-DOS 4.1 and GW-BASIC on floppy disk.[5][6]: 135  Sony and Conner Peripherals respectively manufactured the floppy and hard drives (the latter a CP3044 model hard drive), while Chips and Technologies and Phoenix Technologies respectively supplied the chipset and BIOS ROM. A slot on the motherboard allows an 80387 math coprocessor to be installed by the user.[6]: 135  The i386SX processor operates at its fullest 16-MHz clock speed only when connected to wall power; when powered off the battery, the clock speed is cut in half. This was a power conservation feature on the part of Data General.[7]: 148, 151 

The laptop comes with 1 MB of RAM stock, expandable to up to 8 MB with the use of SIMM slots on the motherboard, in increments of 1 MB or 2 MB.[5] Two propriety expansion slots on the side take Data General's proprietary expansion cards for the machine. One slot is reserved for 8-bit cards, while the other is for 16-bit cards. Available in 1990 were a 2400-baud modem card, a StarLAN Ethernet networking card, and a barcode reader card; in 1991, the company released an expansion chassis card, allowing ISA cards to be used with the Walkabout/SX.[7]: 148, 151  Data General also included two RS-232 serial ports and one parallel port on the back of the Walkabout/SX allowing common peripherals like mice and printers to be used with the laptop.[8]

The Walkabout/SX's backlit VGA display measures 8.25 inches wide by 5.25 inches high, making for a somewhat irregular aspect ratio of 1.70:1, and can only display monochrome images, with 32 shades of grey. However, users can hook up an external monitor to obtain color display in a truer 1.33:1 aspect ratio.[7]: 151 

The Walkabout/SX measures 15.7 by 14.2 by 3.2 inches (39.9 by 36.1 by 8.1 cm) and weighs, depending on the configuration, between 16 pounds (7.3 kg) and 22 pounds (10.0 kg).[9] The computer's stock Ni–Cd battery lasts between three and five hours on a single charge. Power conservation features include the aforementioned underclocking on battery power, as well as automatic screen blanking and automatic hard drive shutoff TSR programs included on disk.[7]: 148, 151 

Walkabout/320

The Walkabout/320, introduced in July 1991, was another radical redesign, reducing its weight to just under 6 pounds (2.7 kg) and measuring smaller across all dimensions, measuring 11 by 5 by 1.8 inches (27.9 by 12.7 by 4.6 cm), making for Data General's first notebook computer.[10] The clock speed of the computer's i386SX was bumped up to 20 MHz, while the stock RAM was increased to 2 MB (although the memory ceiling was decreased to 6 MB). Data General offered the Walkabout/320 with a 60-MB Conner hard drive, as well as the same 40-MB Conner drive of its predecessor as a lower-cost alternative.[11] Most other features were carried over from its predecessor.[12]

Walkabout/320SL

The Walkabout/320, introduced in September 1992, was a slight revision over its predecessor, replacing the i386SX with the portable-oriented, power-saving i386SL processor—still clocked at 20 MHz.[13] The 2 MB stock RAM and 6 MB RAM ceiling was retained, while the stock hard drive was increased to 60 MB.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b Damer, Bruce; Allan Lundell (2004). "Data General Walkabout". DigiBarn.com. DigiBarn Computer Museum. Archived from the original on February 25, 2004.
  2. ^ Damer, Bruce; Allan Lundell (2004). "Data General DG/One with Printer and DG/One Model 2". DigiBarn.com. DigiBarn Computer Museum. Archived from the original on February 24, 2004.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Walkabout terminal offers built-in access to DG and DEC hosts". PC Week. 6 (49). Ziff-Davis: 57. December 11, 1989 – via Gale.
  4. ^ a b "I/O devices". Computerworld. XXIV (7). CW Communications: 30. February 12, 1990 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ a b Darrow, Barbara (March 26, 1990). "Data General Adds 386SX Laptop to Line". InfoWorld. 12 (13). IDG Publications: 21 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ a b Howard, Bill (September 25, 1990). "Portable PCs: Summary of Features". PC Magazine. 9 (17). Ziff-Davis: 130–139 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ a b c d Brown, Bruce (September 25, 1990). "Data General Corp.: Walkabout/SX". PC Magazine. 9 (17). Ziff-Davis: 148–151 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "DG debuts 386SX portable". PC Week. 7 (12). Ziff-Davis: 15. March 26, 1990 – via Gale.
  9. ^ "Laptops and notebooks (4 to 14 lbs.)". Computerworld. XXIV (21). CW Communications: 92. May 21, 1990 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ "DG notebook PC makes its debut". Computerworld. XXV (30). CW Communications: 42. July 29, 1991 – via Google BOoks.
  11. ^ McMullen, Barbara E.; McMullen, John F. (July 24, 1991). "Data General introduces 386SX notebook". Newsbytes. The Washington Post Company – via Gale.
  12. ^ "Data General Enters Notebook Fray with Walkabout". Computer Business Review. New Statesman Media Group. July 24, 1991. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023.
  13. ^ "DG rolls out notebook, 486DX-based system". PC Week. 9 (36). Ziff-Davis: 29. September 7, 1992 – via Gale.
  14. ^ "Pipeline: Announced". InfoWorld. 14 (36). IDG Publications: 26. September 7, 1992 – via Google Books.
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