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
130 lines
4.9 KiB
Markdown
130 lines
4.9 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: VISUAL TECHNOLOGY Visual 1083 / Commuter
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Transportable
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origins:
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- U.S.A.
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years:
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- '1983'
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cpus:
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- Intel 8088
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params:
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name: Visual 1083 / Commuter
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image: /media/museum/photos/visual_commuter_1s.jpg
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company: /companies/visual-technology
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company_name: VISUAL TECHNOLOGY
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: Visual 1083 / Commuter
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Visual Technology
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- label: TYPE
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value: Transportable
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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: '1983'
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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: Complete full-stroke keyboard with numeric keypad and function keys
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- label: CPU
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value: Intel 8088
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- label: SPEED
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value: 4.77 MHz
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- label: RAM
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value: 128 KB (up to 512 KB max.)
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: |-
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80 chars. x 25 lines\
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80 chars. x 16 lines with LCD display
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: Text mode only
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- label: COLORS
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value: 'Yes'
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- label: SOUND
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value: Beeper (?)
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 50.8 (W) x 44.4 (D) x 18.4 (H) cm / 16 lbs (7.25 kg.)
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: Expansion port, Async port (DB25 male), Parallel port, Monochrome video output (DB9), composite video output (DIN5)
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: Two 360 KB 5.25'' FDD.
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- label: OS
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value: MS DOS 2.11
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: Built-in power supply
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: RAM expansion, LCD display, printers...
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- label: PRICE
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value: $1895 (1985, USA)
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tabs:
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- photos
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- adverts
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- software
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forum_thread: 1161
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photos:
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- title: RIGHT SIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/visual_commuter_r-side.jpg
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- title: REAR
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/visual_commuter_rear.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/visual_commuter_closed.jpg
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adverts:
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- title: DAK ADVERT (US, 1986) - PAGE 1
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subtitle: ''
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text: Thanks to [DAK](http://www.dak.com) for this advert
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image: /media/museum/pubs/visual_commuter_pub_dak_1.jpg
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- title: DAK ADVERT (US, 1986) - PAGE 2
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subtitle: ''
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text: Thanks to [DAK](http://www.dak.com) for this advert
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image: /media/museum/pubs/visual_commuter_pub_dak_2.jpg
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screenshots:
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- title: STARTUP MENU
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subtitle: (on LCD display)
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/software/visual_commuter_menu_ss.jpg
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oc_id: 1193
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230604044446/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1193
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date: '2023-06-04'
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---
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Visual was the 5th largest manufacturer of office graphics terminals. They once thought they could design a nice IBM PC clone (which they did) and sell it with their terminals (which they didn't). It turned out that Visual's salesmen weren't equipped to sell computers and Visual had put too much money into these computers (the built-in color graphics, a terminal mode, 2 disk drives, etc.) to sell them at stripped down prices. So Visual sold them all to DAK (a popular US electronic reseller) and took an enormous loss.
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The Visual 1083, also known as the "Commuter" is an interesting machine. It is an early MS-DOS system, thus considered as [IBM PC](/museum/ibm-pc-model-5150/) compatible. It could even be the first "IBM PC" portable computer equiped with a LCD display !
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Indeed the particularity of the Commuter is to be able to a use detachable (and optional) LCD display (80x16 characters, monochrome) or a more classic RGB monitor (80x25 characters).
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The LCD display can flip up and down to make the system portable. Thanks to its big sturdy handle, the "Commuter" can thus be easily carried away. The case being completely closed, the computer turns into a practical suitcase (see "more pictures" page).
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Built-in the system are two 5.25" disk drives offering 360 KB each. The 83 key keyboard is identical to IBM's PC, except for the addition of lights on the "Caps Lock" and "Num Lock" keys.
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The computer could be expanded by adding custom cards. There is an expansion port that can be directly connected to an IBM expansion chassis.
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When turned on, the computer shows the following menu :
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B - BOOT FROM DRIVE A\
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E - EXTENDED DIAGNOSTICS\
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S - SETUP TERMINAL PARAMETERS\
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T - TERMINAL MODE
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Funny to see that the choices make : BEST ...
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---
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**Harland LaVigne** reports:\
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I was executive VP of Custom Computer Systems located in Marlboro MA. The Commuter was actually designed by our team of engineers...led by Prevez Zaki. We got the product to the prototype stage and realized we didn't have the capital necessary to mass produce the product. Therefore we sold our company to Visual Technologies in a $10M stock transaction.
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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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