--- title: DATAVUE Spark categories: - Computers types: - Portable origins: - U.S.A. years: - '1987' cpus: - Intel 8088 params: name: Spark image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_system_1.jpg company: /companies/datavue company_name: DATAVUE specs: - label: NAME value: Spark - label: MANUFACTURER value: Datavue - label: TYPE value: Portable - label: ORIGIN value: U.S.A. - label: YEAR value: June 1987 - label: END OF PRODUCTION value: '1993' - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: None - label: KEYBOARD value: Full stroke 76 Key IBM Style. No Keypad - label: CPU value: Intel 8088, later Nec V20 & V30 - label: SPEED value: 9.77 MHz. - label: RAM value: 640 KB - label: VRAM value: Suspected to be 128 KB - label: ROM value: 384 KB - label: TEXT MODES value: 40-80 chars. x 25 lines - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: 320 x 200, 400 x 320 dots - label: COLORS value: 16 blueish greyscales - label: SOUND value: PC Speaker - label: SIZE / WEIGHT value: 13 (W) x 13 (D) x 18 (H) Inches / 6.5 Kg. (14 lb) - label: I/O PORTS value: 9 Pin RS232C, 9 Pin RGBI, RF Port, 25 Pin Centronics, 16 Pin External Floppy Port - label: BUILT IN MEDIA value: One or two 3 ½ 720K Floppy Disk Drives - Hard disc version came later - label: OS value: MS-DOS - label: POWER SUPPLY value: External power supply unit - label: PRICE value: |- $1000-$1200 (USA, 1988)\ AU$10999 (Australia, 1987) tabs: - photos - links forum_thread: 789 photos: - title: TOP VIEW subtitle: '' text: This case design would be used by dozens of laptop PC manufacturers for several years. image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_topview_s1.jpg - title: CLOSED subtitle: '' text: Along with its power supply unit. image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_closed_s1.jpg - title: DISPLAY subtitle: '' text: The display could be turned down when the computer was used with an external monitor. image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_display_s1.jpg - title: KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP subtitle: '' text: A complete PC-type keyboard with separate arrow keys. The BIOS allowed to shitch between letter or numeric keys (in red). image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_keyboard_s1.jpg - title: PROFILE subtitle: '' text: |- Notice the 'Line' and 'Tel' RJ11 sockets of the built-in modem.\ The second floppy disk drive is available on the right side of the Spark. image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_profile_s1.jpg - title: SPARK CARRYING BAG subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_bag_s1.jpg - title: SPARK LABEL subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_logo_s1.jpg - title: BOTTOM LABEL subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_label_s1.jpg - title: ORIGINAL DOS DISKETTE subtitle: '' text: Original Datavue DOS 2.11 and utilities diskette. image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_dosdiskette_s1.jpg - title: REAR CONNECTORS subtitle: '' text: |- From left to rignt:\ • Reset button\ • Serial RS-232 DB9 connector\ • RGBI connector for external CGA monitor\ • Monochrome Composite video output jack\ • Parallel printer DB25 connector\ • External floppy drive DB15 connector\ • Extension bus connector (covered). image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_rearcon_s1.jpg - title: INSIDE subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** 256 KB Expansion RAM card (8 x 4464 Dip IC's)\ **(2)** Dual 3.5" 720 KB floppy disc drives\ **(3)** Modem card\ **(4)** Power regulation card image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_inside_s1.jpg - title: MAIN BOARD subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** Expansion RAM card connector\ **(2)** A faster NEC V20 replaces the original Intel 8088\ **(3)** The rare and expensive 8087 math co-processor option has been added\ **(4)** Modem and power regulation card connectors\ **(5)** Battery pack housing\ **(6)** Keyboard cable\ **(7)** RAM banks. 12 x 4464 chips hold 384 KB of RAM image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_mainboard_s2.jpg - title: CUSTOM CHIPSETS subtitle: '' text: Each custom chip has different and enigmatic figurines painted on it! image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_chipsigns_s1.jpg - title: MODEM AND RAM CARDS subtitle: '' text: Internal Modem and 256 KB RAM expansion cards image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_modemcard_s1.jpg - title: CHARLY subtitle: '' text: We also found this 'Charly 286' which case is strictly the same as the Spark. Was it a copy? or was it manufactured under licence? We don't know the story. image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_charly_s1.jpg links: - title: Good pictures of the Spark, manual, bag,... url: http://sbibuilder.free.fr/spark/ text: '' oc_id: 808 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230531230529/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=808 date: '2023-05-31' --- The Datavue Spark was one of the First Laptops Ever Made. It Featured a Powerful (Back Then) Intel 8088 with a clock Speed of 9.77MHz. It had a blue 5" x 10" screen (which was big for 1987) made by Epson that supported 16 shades of blueish grey. Plus, it was backlit, which made it very bright and readable. DOS could be run on this system, but needed a boot disk to do anything. Due to a very high retail price, very few Spark were sold (at least in Australia). In the US, the price was about $1000-$1200, depending on the amount of memory and whether 1 or 2 drives. The closest (decent) competitor to the Spark was the Toshiba T-1000. A very well-made laptop, but its screen was only about 3-1/2" x 7" and much less readable. Datavue made it up until 1993, then the company went under due to the many more powerful laptops on the market at the time. Datavue produced many other laptops. Thanks to **Michael Buchan, Ronald Harper** for information.
We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.