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
178 lines
6.3 KiB
Markdown
178 lines
6.3 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: DATAVUE Spark
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Portable
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origins:
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- U.S.A.
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years:
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- '1987'
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cpus:
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- Intel 8088
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params:
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name: Spark
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_system_1.jpg
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company: /companies/datavue
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company_name: DATAVUE
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: Spark
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Datavue
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- label: TYPE
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value: Portable
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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: June 1987
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- label: END OF PRODUCTION
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value: '1993'
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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: Full stroke 76 Key IBM Style. No Keypad
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- label: CPU
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value: Intel 8088, later Nec V20 & V30
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- label: SPEED
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value: 9.77 MHz.
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- label: RAM
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value: 640 KB
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- label: VRAM
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value: Suspected to be 128 KB
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- label: ROM
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value: 384 KB
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 40-80 chars. x 25 lines
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 320 x 200, 400 x 320 dots
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- label: COLORS
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value: 16 blueish greyscales
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- label: SOUND
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value: PC Speaker
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 13 (W) x 13 (D) x 18 (H) Inches / 6.5 Kg. (14 lb)
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: 9 Pin RS232C, 9 Pin RGBI, RF Port, 25 Pin Centronics, 16 Pin External Floppy Port
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: One or two 3 ½ 720K Floppy Disk Drives - Hard disc version came later
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- label: OS
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value: MS-DOS
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: External power supply unit
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- label: PRICE
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value: |-
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$1000-$1200 (USA, 1988)\
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AU$10999 (Australia, 1987)
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tabs:
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- photos
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- links
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forum_thread: 789
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photos:
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- title: TOP VIEW
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subtitle: ''
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text: This case design would be used by dozens of laptop PC manufacturers for several years.
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_topview_s1.jpg
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- title: CLOSED
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subtitle: ''
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text: Along with its power supply unit.
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_closed_s1.jpg
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- title: DISPLAY
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subtitle: ''
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text: The display could be turned down when the computer was used with an external monitor.
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_display_s1.jpg
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- title: KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP
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subtitle: ''
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text: A complete PC-type keyboard with separate arrow keys. The BIOS allowed to shitch between letter or numeric keys (in red).
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_keyboard_s1.jpg
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- title: PROFILE
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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Notice the 'Line' and 'Tel' RJ11 sockets of the built-in modem.\
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The second floppy disk drive is available on the right side of the Spark.
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_profile_s1.jpg
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- title: SPARK CARRYING BAG
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_bag_s1.jpg
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- title: SPARK LABEL
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_logo_s1.jpg
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- title: BOTTOM LABEL
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_label_s1.jpg
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- title: ORIGINAL DOS DISKETTE
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subtitle: ''
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text: Original Datavue DOS 2.11 and utilities diskette.
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_dosdiskette_s1.jpg
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- title: REAR CONNECTORS
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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From left to rignt:\
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• Reset button\
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• Serial RS-232 DB9 connector\
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• RGBI connector for external CGA monitor\
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• Monochrome Composite video output jack\
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• Parallel printer DB25 connector\
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• External floppy drive DB15 connector\
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• Extension bus connector (covered).
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_rearcon_s1.jpg
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- title: INSIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** 256 KB Expansion RAM card (8 x 4464 Dip IC's)\
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**(2)** Dual 3.5" 720 KB floppy disc drives\
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**(3)** Modem card\
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**(4)** Power regulation card
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_inside_s1.jpg
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- title: MAIN BOARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** Expansion RAM card connector\
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**(2)** A faster NEC V20 replaces the original Intel 8088\
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**(3)** The rare and expensive 8087 math co-processor option has been added\
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**(4)** Modem and power regulation card connectors\
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**(5)** Battery pack housing\
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**(6)** Keyboard cable\
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**(7)** RAM banks. 12 x 4464 chips hold 384 KB of RAM
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_mainboard_s2.jpg
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- title: CUSTOM CHIPSETS
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subtitle: ''
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text: Each custom chip has different and enigmatic figurines painted on it!
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_chipsigns_s1.jpg
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- title: MODEM AND RAM CARDS
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subtitle: ''
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text: Internal Modem and 256 KB RAM expansion cards
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_modemcard_s1.jpg
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- title: CHARLY
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subtitle: ''
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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.
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image: /media/museum/photos/datavue_spark_charly_s1.jpg
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links:
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- title: Good pictures of the Spark, manual, bag,...
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url: http://sbibuilder.free.fr/spark/
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text: ''
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oc_id: 808
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230531230529/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=808
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date: '2023-05-31'
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---
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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.
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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.
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DOS could be run on this system, but needed a boot disk to do anything.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Thanks to **Michael Buchan, Ronald Harper** for information.
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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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