Grid Systems Corporation (stylized as GRiD) was an early portable computer manufacturer, based in the United States and oriented for the production of rugged and semi-rugged machines. Currently, the Grid computer brand still exists as Grid Defence Systems Ltd. in the United Kingdom.
Grid Systems Corporation was founded in late 1979 by John Ellenby,[1] who left his job at Xerox PARC and joined Glenn Edens, Dave Paulsen and Bill Moggridge to form one of Silicon Valley's first stealth companies. The company went public in March 1981. It was located at 47211 Lakeview Boulevard, Fremont, California, 94537.
The "GRiD" name with the unusual lowercase "i" in the middle was the result of discussion between John Ellenby, Glenn Edens and John Ellenby's wife, Gillian Ellenby, who pushed for the final choice. The lowercase "i" was a note of thanks to Intel for helping in the early days.[2]
In 1988, Tandy Corporation purchased the Grid company.[3]AST Computer acquired the US wing of company, and was itself later acquired by Samsung.[4]
Grid still produced the GRiDCASE laptops, and the first GRiDPad tablet also was released in 1989;[5] Also a few rebranded models of another manufacturers were released, include Tandy/Victor Technologies Grid 386 (Compaq SLT clone), GRiDPad SL 2050 (Samsung PenMaster clone) and AST GRiDPad 2390 (Casio Zoomer/ Tandy Z-PDA clone).
Edens co-founded Waveform Corp and in 2003 joined the board of F5 Networks Inc.,[6] and John Ellenby went on to co-found the companies Agilis and augmented reality pioneer GeoVector.
GRiD Defence Systemsedit
Grid Defence Systems formed in London, England by former employees during a management buyout of the former GRiD Computer Systems UK Ltd. in 1993.[5]
The UK Grid company starts with a simply "GRiD 1###"-branded rugged laptop line, and in 1995 was reintroduced the GRiDCASE line.
Innovationsedit
Grid developed and released several pioneering ideas:[2]
First portable computer. Marketed almost exclusively to CEOs
First use of electro-luminescent displays in a portable
First use of magnesium for the case
First use of the Intel 8086 and 8087 floating-point co-processor in a commercial product
Pioneered the concept of a "bus" for connecting peripherals (using GPIB)
First computer that included a fully functional telephone and telephone handset
The first commercially available tablet-type portable computer was the GRiDPad,[9] released in September 1989. Its operating system was based on MS-DOS.
A GRiD Compass 1101 was the first laptop in space. Required special modification to add a fan to pull air through the case.[10] Subsequently a GRiD 1530 flew on STS-29 in March 1989.
OldComputers.net called the 1982 GRiD Compass 1101 the "grand-daddy of all present-day laptop computers". It had 256k RAM, an 8086, 320x240 screen, and 384k of internal 'bubble memory' that held data with power off.[11]
^ abEmail from Glenn Edens to Karen Tucker @ ComputerHistory.org
^"Tandy to Buy Grid Systems". The New York Times. 1988-03-17. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
^"NASA's Original Laptop: The GRiD Compass Rugged and well designed, the first clamshell laptop flew on the space shuttle". IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
^"The BYTE Awards: GRiD System's GRiDPad". BYTE Magazine. Vol. 15, no. 1. 12 January 1990. pp. 285–294.
^Wood, Frank (2007-02-06). (PDF) (Briefing). United Space Alliance, LLC for NASA Johnson Space Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-05-30.
^"GRiD Compass 1101 computer". Retrieved 9 January 2010.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to GRiD Systems Corporation.
GRiD history 1979–2020 (on the website of GRiD Defence Systems, UK)
Pioneering the Laptop – The GRiD Compass
Annotated bibliography of references to handwriting recognition and tablet and touch computers
Notes on the History of Pen-based Computing (YouTube)
1000BiT in english and Italian
January 01, 1970
grid, systems, computing, method, grid, computing, corporation, stylized, grid, early, portable, computer, manufacturer, based, united, states, oriented, production, rugged, semi, rugged, machines, currently, grid, computer, brand, still, exists, grid, defence. For the computing method see Grid computing Grid Systems Corporation stylized as GRiD was an early portable computer manufacturer based in the United States and oriented for the production of rugged and semi rugged machines Currently the Grid computer brand still exists as Grid Defence Systems Ltd in the United Kingdom Grid Systems CorporationThe Grid Compass one of the first laptops ever madeIndustryComputersFounded1979 45 years ago 1979 FounderJohn EllenbyDefunct1988 1988 US division 1993 1993 UK division FatePurchased by Tandy Corporation US division Reformed to GRiD Defence Systems Ltd UK division HeadquartersFremont California United States A woman using a GridCase 3 to access the PDQ cancer database in 1987 Contents 1 History 1 1 Early history 1 2 Sale of company and US division 1 3 GRiD Defence Systems 2 Innovations 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editEarly history edit Grid Systems Corporation was founded in late 1979 by John Ellenby 1 who left his job at Xerox PARC and joined Glenn Edens Dave Paulsen and Bill Moggridge to form one of Silicon Valley s first stealth companies The company went public in March 1981 It was located at 47211 Lakeview Boulevard Fremont California 94537 The GRiD name with the unusual lowercase i in the middle was the result of discussion between John Ellenby Glenn Edens and John Ellenby s wife Gillian Ellenby who pushed for the final choice The lowercase i was a note of thanks to Intel for helping in the early days 2 Sale of company and US division edit nbsp GRiDPad 1989 In 1988 Tandy Corporation purchased the Grid company 3 AST Computer acquired the US wing of company and was itself later acquired by Samsung 4 Grid still produced the GRiDCASE laptops and the first GRiDPad tablet also was released in 1989 5 Also a few rebranded models of another manufacturers were released include Tandy Victor Technologies Grid 386 Compaq SLT clone GRiDPad SL 2050 Samsung PenMaster clone and AST GRiDPad 2390 Casio Zoomer Tandy Z PDA clone Edens co founded Waveform Corp and in 2003 joined the board of F5 Networks Inc 6 and John Ellenby went on to co found the companies Agilis and augmented reality pioneer GeoVector GRiD Defence Systems edit Grid Defence Systems formed in London England by former employees during a management buyout of the former GRiD Computer Systems UK Ltd in 1993 5 The UK Grid company starts with a simply GRiD 1 branded rugged laptop line and in 1995 was reintroduced the GRiDCASE line Innovations editGrid developed and released several pioneering ideas 2 First portable computer Marketed almost exclusively to CEOs The Grid Compass 1100 the first clamshell laptop computer 7 Patented the clamshell laptop design 8 First portable to use non volatile bubble memory Grid OS was a multi tasking Text based user interface or TUI and operating system First use of electro luminescent displays in a portable First use of magnesium for the case First use of the Intel 8086 and 8087 floating point co processor in a commercial product Pioneered the concept of a bus for connecting peripherals using GPIB First computer that included a fully functional telephone and telephone handset The first commercially available tablet type portable computer was the GRiDPad 9 released in September 1989 Its operating system was based on MS DOS A GRiD Compass 1101 was the first laptop in space Required special modification to add a fan to pull air through the case 10 Subsequently a GRiD 1530 flew on STS 29 in March 1989 OldComputers net called the 1982 GRiD Compass 1101 the grand daddy of all present day laptop computers It had 256k RAM an 8086 320x240 screen and 384k of internal bubble memory that held data with power off 11 See also editGrid Compass Grid GridCase GRiDPadReferences edit John Ellenby Biography Archived 2010 11 28 at the Wayback Machine a b Email from Glenn Edens to Karen Tucker ComputerHistory org Tandy to Buy Grid Systems The New York Times 1988 03 17 ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2021 09 14 NASA s Original Laptop The GRiD Compass Rugged and well designed the first clamshell laptop flew on the space shuttle IEEE Spectrum Technology Engineering and Science News Retrieved 2021 03 02 a b Company History GRiD Defence Systems Retrieved 2021 07 30 Business Wire 2003 Aug 13 access 2010 1 9 Sandberg Diment Erik July 6 1982 PERSONAL COMPUTERS THE PORTABLES COME MARCHING IN The New York Times USPTO Portable Computer The BYTE Awards GRiD System s GRiDPad BYTE Magazine Vol 15 no 1 12 January 1990 pp 285 294 Wood Frank 2007 02 06 Laptops in Space PDF Briefing United Space Alliance LLC for NASA Johnson Space Center Archived from the original PDF on 2009 05 30 GRiD Compass 1101 computer Retrieved 9 January 2010 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to GRiD Systems Corporation GRiD history 1979 2020 on the website of GRiD Defence Systems UK Pioneering the Laptop The GRiD Compass Annotated bibliography of references to handwriting recognition and tablet and touch computers Notes on the History of Pen based Computing YouTube 1000BiT in english and Italian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grid Systems amp oldid 1220727165, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
