yann64andClaude Opus 5.5
b274874139
1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
169 lines
6.9 KiB
Markdown
169 lines
6.9 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: GridCase
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Professional Computer
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origins:
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- U.S.A.
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years:
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- '1985'
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cpus:
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- 80C86 - low-power version
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params:
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name: GridCase
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image: /media/museum/photos/grid_gridcase_running_s1.jpg
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logo: /media/museum/logos/grid_gridcase_logo.gif
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company: /companies/grid
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company_name: Grid
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: GridCase
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Grid
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- label: TYPE
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value: Professional Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: U.S.A.
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- label: YEAR
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value: '1985'
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- label: END OF PRODUCTION
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value: Unknown
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: None
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: 57-key IBM PCjr-compatible
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- label: CPU
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value: 80C86 - low-power version
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- label: SPEED
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value: 4.77 MHz
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- label: CO-PROCESSOR
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value: Socket for an 8087 math corpocessor
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- label: RAM
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value: 128 KB up to 512 KB
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- label: VRAM
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value: 16 KB
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- label: ROM
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value: Up to 512KB of user installable ROMs
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 80 characters x 25 lines
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 640 x 200 pixels
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- label: COLORS
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value: Monochrome
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- label: SOUND
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value: Built-in speaker
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 28.5 (W) x 38 (D) x 5.7 (H) cm / 5.8 kg
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: External colour monitor, Serial and Parallel ports, RJ11 phone jack, external PC keyboard, 50-pin expansion bus
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: 3.5'' 720 KB FDD
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- label: OS
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value: MS-DOS 2.11, Grid-OS (proprietary OS)
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: External AC supply, rechargeable battery pack
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: Internal 1200-baud modem ($795), external 5.25'' FDD ($895)
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- label: PRICE
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value: I $2975 - II $3150 - III $4350 - IV $4550
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tabs:
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- photos
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- adverts
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- hardware
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forum_thread: 1027
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photos:
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- title: LARGE VIEW
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/grid_gridcase_system_s1.jpg
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- title: TOP VIEW
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/grid_gridcase_topview_s1.jpg
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- title: BOTH SIDES
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subtitle: ''
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text: The GridCase used one of the very first version of Sony 3.5" floppy-disk drive.
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image: /media/museum/photos/grid_gridcase_bothsides_s1.jpg
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- title: KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/grid_gridcase_keyboard_s1.jpg
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- title: CLOSED
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/grid_gridcase_closed_s1.jpg
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- title: GRIDCASE LOGOS
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/grid_gridcase_gridlogo_s1.jpg
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- title: REAR PANEL
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** Power switch\
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**(2)** External keyboard DIN socket\
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**(3)** Serial RS232 BD25 connector\
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**(4)** Expansion bus DB50 connector\
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**(5)** Parallel printer DB25 connector\
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**(6)** External CGA monitor output\
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**(7)** Battery pack\
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**(8)** External AC adaptor jack
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image: /media/museum/photos/grid_gridcase_rearpanel_s1.jpg
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- title: ROM SOCKETS
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subtitle: ''
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text: User could add specific OS or software sold by Grid in these sockets.
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image: /media/museum/photos/grid_gridcase_romsockets_s1.jpg
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- title: THE 3 MODELS
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subtitle: ''
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text: 'The 3 Gridcase models are only different by their screen : classic LCD display (grey), enhanced LCD display (green & yellow), and high-contrast gas-plasma display (orange & black)'
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image: /media/museum/photos/grid_gridcase_3models.jpg
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- title: GRIDCASE IV BOOT-UP SCREEN
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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Only a few GridCase IV computers were manufactured.
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Thanks to **Leonard Nagorski**
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image: /media/museum/photos/grid_gridcase4_bootscreen_s1.jpg
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adverts:
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- title: MAGAZINE COVER
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subtitle: ''
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text: The Gridcase made the cover of SVM (french magazine) in january 1985
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image: /media/museum/pubs/grid_gridcase_svm.jpg
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hardware:
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- title: PERIPHERALS
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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GridCase stackable portable peripherals. From top to bottom:\
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• 3.5" floppy-disk drive\
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• 5.25" floppy-disk drive\
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• 10 MB hard-disk\
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• Base station battery charger/power source.
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image: /media/museum/hardware/grid_gridcase_peripherals_s1.jpg
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oc_id: 1054
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230605042356/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1054
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date: '2023-06-05'
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---
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The GridCase was about the same size and featured the same robust magnesium case as [Compass](/museum/grid-compass/) model, but Grid forwent the Compass's expensive and power-hungry electroluminescent display and bubble memory.
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The GridCase series was composed of 4 models. The **GridCase I** featured a bottom-of-the-range LCD display, the **GridCase II** had an enhanced LCD "*that more than one person can read*" Grid said, the **GridCase III** offered a high-contrast gas-plasma display (photo), and the **GridCase IV** which used a full size yellow electoluminescent screen that was also offered on the high end earlier Grid Compass Computers.
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The keyboard was the same as the IBM PCjr, not very convenient but with a good tactile feedback provided by a key click similar to that on the IBM PC. Two power modules were available, a rechargeable battery pack and an AC transformer. Both were the same size and fitted in a large socket on the rear panel. Each battery pack lasted 4 to 5 hours for the LCD models, and one hour with the plasma model.
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All models came with eight sockets for ROM chips. Although only four of them could be accessed by the user, Grid offered programs such as MS-DOS, GW-BASIC or Lotus 1-2-3 on ROM chips.
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Several peripherals were available, a base station battery charger and power source, a 5.25" and 3.5" floppy disk drive units and a 10 MB hard disk. They all were of the same size and could be stacked.
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Some of these systems were made for military use and included a built-in hard drive. A big thick X was pressed into the case over the hard drive. The purpose of this was to show the user where to shoot in case the computer was in danger of falling into enemy hands.
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GRiD Defence Systems produced the laptop computers used in the "Aliens" film in 1986. The scenes were cut from the theatrical release but subsequently added to the DVD release.
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The GridCase systems were marketed in France by Sagem. There were a least the MTP16, MTP32 and MTP1550 models available. The MTP32 had a plasma display and a built-in hard disk and was powered 386 CPU. It could be the equivalent of the GridCase III. The MTP1550 had a LCD display and a kind of bar at the bottom of the keyboard which acted like a mouse/trackball... These systems were indeed quite sturdy and most of them were used for military applications.
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---
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**Contributors:** David Griffith, Guy, Jérôme Ginestet
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<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>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.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>
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