---
title: Osborne Corp. ENCORE
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Portable
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1983'
cpus:
- Intel 8086
params:
  name: ENCORE
  image: /media/museum/photos/osborn_encore_1.jpg
  company: /companies/osborne-corp
  company_name: Osborne Corp.
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: ENCORE
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Osborne Corp.
  - label: TYPE
    value: Portable
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1983'
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: 76 mechanical keys and 14 touch-sensitive functions keys
  - label: CPU
    value: Intel 8086
  - label: SPEED
    value: Unknown
  - label: RAM
    value: 128 Kb. expandable to 512 Kb.
  - label: ROM
    value: Unknown
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 80 col. x 16 lines
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 480 x 128 dots
  - label: COLORS
    value: monochrome
  - label: SOUND
    value: Unknown
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: '32,5(W) x 25,1(H) x 14,1(D) cm. Weight : 6 Kg.'
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Parallel Centronics, RS-232, Phone jack
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 1 or 2 x 5.25'' FDD
  - label: OS
    value: MS DOS
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Mains and Batteries
  - label: PRICE
    value: Unknown
  tabs:
  - photos
  forum_thread: 135
  photos:
  - title: INSIDE ENCORE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      The inside of the Encore computer appears very simple. However, hundreds of hours were necessary to design the case, to optimize the inner space and the weight of the system, to create and test the electronic board and to design the new disk drives, thick as a quarter of the IBM PC ones.

      **(1)** Built-in loudspeaker.\
      **(2)** Power regulation. The Encore can operate with mains or batteries (4 hours lifespan).\
      **(3)** Components are packed to the maximum in order to integrate the largest memory capacity : 512 Kb.\
      **(4)** Serial RS-232 connector.\
      **(5)** Parallel Centronics printer connector.\
      **(6)** The basic version of the Encore is delivered with one disk drive, but it's easy to add a second one.\
      **(7)** Mechanical keyboard and touch-sensitive functions keys.\
      **(8)** The Encore computer is the first off-line portable computer. This is mainly due to its low power LCD display.
    image: /media/museum/photos/osborne_encore_inside_1.jpg
  - title: LCD DISPLAY
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      What a shame! Nine lines are missing.

      These 9 lines will considerably handicap the success of the Encore as a great majority of professional software can't be adapted to a 16 lines display and thus, can't run on this system. The only exception is LOTUS 123, the best-selling spreadsheet, which can be used on the Encore without any modification.\
      This first generation of LCD display needs an intense source of light above the user to be really readable. Osborne promised a quick and inexpensive exchange for a 25 lines display, but this one will only appear with the Zenith version of the Encore.
    image: /media/museum/photos/osborne_encore_display_1.jpg
  - title: ENCORE KEYBOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      Mechanical and sensitive keys.

      The touch-sensitive keyboard includes 10 function keys and 4 keys reserved for calculations and direct access to integrated software : built-in modem management, reading a disk and calendar. These keys were criticized for their lack of precision.
    image: /media/museum/photos/osborne_encore_keyboard_1.jpg
  - title: OSBORNE 3
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/osborne_3_system_s1.jpg
  - title: KEYBOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/osborne_3_keyboard_s1.jpg
  oc_id: 122
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230329000505/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=122
    date: '2023-03-29'
---

The Osborne Encore was developed by Vadem Inc., a consulting company od Santa Clara, California, which offered the design to Osborne Computer Corp (OCC) for production. At that time, after launching the Osborne [Executive](/museum/osborne-corp-executive/), Osborne Corp. had serious financial problems.

It was an MSDOS based computer with a built-in modem. The keyboard had four 'icon' keys which called small programs located in ROM : the "phone" key called the communication software, the "clock" key called a calendar, the "disk" key booted the system and the "calculator" key called a small electronic calculator.

The LCD screen could display only 16 lines, so only a few MS-DOS programs could be used (the lower 9 lines were invisible). When it was conceived, the Encore had a 25 lines LCD screen, but the size was reduced to save production costs.

Morrow Design Co. also licensed the technology from Vadem and released a improved machine called **Pivot**. Zenith, in turn, licensed the technology from Morrow and sold a similar machine featuring a 25-line CGA display, the [Z-171](/museum/zenith-data-systems-z-171-pc/).

Osborne's relationship with Vadem involved manufacturing and system support. Vadem engineers made extensive changes to the original version, mostly improving its IBM compatibility, which gave birth in 1985 to the **Osborne 3**, the last Osborne computer sold in USA.