---
title: GridLite
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1987'
cpus:
- 80C86
params:
  name: GridLite
  image: /media/museum/photos/grid_gridlite_system_s1.jpg
  company: /companies/grid
  company_name: Grid
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: GridLite
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Grid
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1987'
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: Unknown
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: None
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: 71 keys including 12 function keys
  - label: CPU
    value: 80C86, CMOS version of the 8086
  - label: SPEED
    value: 4.77 MHz
  - label: RAM
    value: 128 KB up to 640 KB on board, up to 1 MB external EMS
  - label: VRAM
    value: 16 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: Up to 1 MB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 80 chars. x 25 lines
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 320 or 640 x 200 dots
  - label: COLORS
    value: Monochrome
  - label: SOUND
    value: Beeper
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 34 (W) x 28.5 (D) x 7.1 (H) cm / 4.5 kg
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: RS-232C serial, Parallel, External 3.5'' FDD, RGB video, Modem jack
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 3.5'' 720 KB DS/DD floppy disk drive. Optional second external FDD
  - label: OS
    value: MS-DOC 3.2
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: External AC adaptor or Ni-Cd battery (3 to 4 hours lifetime)
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: |-
      640 KB RAM expansion ($600)\
      External 3.5'' FDD ($295)\
      Ni-Cd battery ($175)\
      512 KB EMS RAM ($295), 1 MB EMS RAM ($395)\
      Hayes compatible modem 1200-baud ($395), 2400-baud ($595)
  - label: PRICE
    value: $1750 (128 KB version)
  oc_id: 972
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230602192329/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=972
    date: '2023-06-02'
---

The GridLite was less innovative than the earlier Grid versions and was comparable to many other laptops of the time. However, its 4.77 MHz clock rate clearly compromised its performance front of its main 7 MHz competitors, the **Toshiba T-1100 Plus**, and the [Zenith Z-171](/museum/zenith-data-systems-z-171-pc/).

One of its strong points was a new blue/yellow supertwist LCD screen which offered superior contrast and could be viewed from 45 degrees off to the side. The second original feature consisted in eight ROM sockets which allowed to put up to 1 MB of ROM software in the machine, including specific GridLite ROM cartridges.

One peculiarity of this ROM area was that both ROM software and 3.5" built-in floppy disk drive were called A:. This allowed, for example, the system to boot on the MS-DOS in ROM and automatically call the Autoexec.bat, Config.sys or any application file from the diskette.