The UltraLite is a line of notebook-sizedlaptops first released by NEC in 1988. The original model was released in October 1988, alongside the heavier and more-capable ProSpeed.[2] The UltraLite was the first notebook computer on the market compatible with the IBM PC.[3] The original model was based on the NEC V30 microprocessor; the computer includes MS-DOS 3.3 built into ROM.
PC Magazine featured the UltraLite on its cover in November 1988[4] and shortly thereafter journalists began referring to any A4-sized computer as "notebooks", to distinguish them from the larger and heavier laptops of the time.[5]
The product was originally developed by an NEC Japan telecommunications engineering team that was trying to make an inexpensive lightweight terminal for programming PABX systems. In 1988, as NEC was trying to create products to update their best selling MultiSpeed, the NEC engineering team in charge of developing personal computers showed the UltraLite to a product management team from NEC Home Electronics USA.
Tom Martin, the Vice President in charge of the group, asked, "Can you make this thing run MS-DOS"? When an affirmative response was received, the NEC team knew they had a hit product on their hands.
The product was launched shortly before COMDEX in October 1988 at a gala event in New York City. It was applauded by the media, who were dying to find a small lightweight computing platform that could be used for note-taking and article writing. Unfortunately the publicity surrounding the UltraLite did not reflect itself in consumer demand. This was due to the UltraLite's two Achilles heels ... the lack of a hard drive which prevented storage of one's work (for more than a week or so without charging the internal RAM drive) and the use of a relatively slow 8086-compatible processor when the market was moving to the 80286 class. The main downside to the Ultralite (which weighed only 4 pounds) was its price. It sold for between 4 and 5 thousand dollars which was significantly higher than other, albeit heavier, less innovative, computers of the time. Given its use of the ram drive boot times were actually faster than 80386 class computers.
So although the UltraLite ushered in a new era in portable computing, its original design as a telecommunications maintenance terminal proved to be its commercial downfall. Commercial success in that product category was not achieved until Compaq launched its LTE brand nearly 12 months later.
Data storageedit
Data storage can be done by an optional external 720 kb (in fact it supported "Japanese" 1.2 Mb format but did not support more common 1.44 Mb) 3.5-inch floppy drive, by the internal non-volatile RAM drive (silicon hard drive), or by proprietary RAM and ROM cards.[4] The internal ram drive is powered by an auxiliary battery inside the unit which needs to be recharged every week or so in order to keep the contents of the ram drive. The credit-card sized, battery-powered RAM cards come with capacity sizes of 256 kb or 512 Kb. Both RAM cards and ROM cards use a proprietary NEC interface because this laptop came out at a time when there were no standard portable computing interfaces. The PCMCIA standard did not exist until 1990. The RAM cards were powered by a replaceable 3 volt lithium coin battery and had a write-protect switch.
ROM cardsedit
Software can be bought running from ROM cards.[4] Examples include:
There are other models in the NEC Ultralite series—for example, the Ultralite SX/20, which was released in 1991. The Ultralite SX/20 had a 80386 processor and runs Microsoft Windows 3.0
Others in the series include the NEC Ultralite 286F, 286V, and the NEC UltraLite Versa models.
^Lewis, Peter H. (October 4, 1988). . The New York Times. p. C12. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015 – via ProQuest.
^Parker, John (June 3, 1991). "Notebook Computers Grow Up in a Hurry". Electronic Business. 17 (11). Reed Business Information: 60 – via ProQuest. Quoted in Bugra, Ayse, ed. (2011). State, Market and Organizational Form. De Gruyter. p. 235. ISBN9783110800739 – via Google Books.
^ abcdFront Cover:NEC's Incredible 4-Pound DOS Laptop, 1988-11-15, Volume 7 Number 19, PC Magazine
^Lewis, Peter H. (August 21, 1990). "Notable Notebooks". The New York Times: C7 – via ProQuest.
External linksedit
NEC Ultralite: Last of a Breed
January 01, 1970
ultralite, ultralite, line, notebook, sized, laptops, first, released, 1988, original, model, released, october, 1988, alongside, heavier, more, capable, prospeed, ultralite, first, notebook, computer, market, compatible, with, original, model, based, micropro. The UltraLite is a line of notebook sized laptops first released by NEC in 1988 The original model was released in October 1988 alongside the heavier and more capable ProSpeed 2 The UltraLite was the first notebook computer on the market compatible with the IBM PC 3 The original model was based on the NEC V30 microprocessor the computer includes MS DOS 3 3 built into ROM NEC UltraLiteDeveloperNECTypeLaptop notebook Release dateOctober 1988 35 years ago 1988 10 Introductory priceUS 4 000 to US 5 000Operating systemMS DOS 3 3 1 CPUNEC V30 at 4 92 MHz and 8 14 MHzMemory640k RAMDisplaySupertwist electroluminescent backlit 8 25x4 25 LCD screenGraphicsCGA compatible 320x200x4 or 640x200x2Connectivitybuilt in 2400 bit s modemPower12VMass4 4 lb 2 0 kg PC Magazine featured the UltraLite on its cover in November 1988 4 and shortly thereafter journalists began referring to any A4 sized computer as notebooks to distinguish them from the larger and heavier laptops of the time 5 Contents 1 Specifications 2 History 3 Data storage 3 1 ROM cards 4 Other models 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksSpecifications editStorage battery backed storage memory non volatile RAM drive PC 17 01 had 1 MB PC 17 02 had 2 MB RS 232C port ROM RAM card slot NEC proprietary interface optional accessories external 3 5 inch floppy drive reader SRAM cards using proprietary interface ROM cards using proprietary interface parallel port adapter cable internal software in 456 Kb integrated ROM MS DOS 3 3 Laplink 2 Microsoft DOS Manager Version 2 0History editThe product was originally developed by an NEC Japan telecommunications engineering team that was trying to make an inexpensive lightweight terminal for programming PABX systems In 1988 as NEC was trying to create products to update their best selling MultiSpeed the NEC engineering team in charge of developing personal computers showed the UltraLite to a product management team from NEC Home Electronics USA Tom Martin the Vice President in charge of the group asked Can you make this thing run MS DOS When an affirmative response was received the NEC team knew they had a hit product on their hands The product was launched shortly before COMDEX in October 1988 at a gala event in New York City It was applauded by the media who were dying to find a small lightweight computing platform that could be used for note taking and article writing Unfortunately the publicity surrounding the UltraLite did not reflect itself in consumer demand This was due to the UltraLite s two Achilles heels the lack of a hard drive which prevented storage of one s work for more than a week or so without charging the internal RAM drive and the use of a relatively slow 8086 compatible processor when the market was moving to the 80286 class The main downside to the Ultralite which weighed only 4 pounds was its price It sold for between 4 and 5 thousand dollars which was significantly higher than other albeit heavier less innovative computers of the time Given its use of the ram drive boot times were actually faster than 80386 class computers So although the UltraLite ushered in a new era in portable computing its original design as a telecommunications maintenance terminal proved to be its commercial downfall Commercial success in that product category was not achieved until Compaq launched its LTE brand nearly 12 months later Data storage editData storage can be done by an optional external 720 kb in fact it supported Japanese 1 2 Mb format but did not support more common 1 44 Mb 3 5 inch floppy drive by the internal non volatile RAM drive silicon hard drive or by proprietary RAM and ROM cards 4 The internal ram drive is powered by an auxiliary battery inside the unit which needs to be recharged every week or so in order to keep the contents of the ram drive The credit card sized battery powered RAM cards come with capacity sizes of 256 kb or 512 Kb Both RAM cards and ROM cards use a proprietary NEC interface because this laptop came out at a time when there were no standard portable computing interfaces The PCMCIA standard did not exist until 1990 The RAM cards were powered by a replaceable 3 volt lithium coin battery and had a write protect switch ROM cards edit Software can be bought running from ROM cards 4 Examples include Lotus 123 4 Lotus Agenda citation needed Lotus Metro Express citation needed Wordperfect 5 0 citation needed Wordstar citation needed Microsoft Works citation needed Other models editThere are other models in the NEC Ultralite series for example the Ultralite SX 20 which was released in 1991 The Ultralite SX 20 had a 80386 processor and runs Microsoft Windows 3 0Others in the series include the NEC Ultralite 286F 286V and the NEC UltraLite Versa models See also editHistory of laptops Grid Compass HP 200LXReferences edit NEC Ultralite specifications NEC FastFacts Lewis Peter H October 4 1988 Personal Computers Slim Laptop Is Appealing at 4 4 Pounds The New York Times p C12 Archived from the original on May 25 2015 via ProQuest Parker John June 3 1991 Notebook Computers Grow Up in a Hurry Electronic Business 17 11 Reed Business Information 60 via ProQuest Quoted in Bugra Ayse ed 2011 State Market and Organizational Form De Gruyter p 235 ISBN 9783110800739 via Google Books a b c d Front Cover NEC s Incredible 4 Pound DOS Laptop 1988 11 15 Volume 7 Number 19 PC Magazine Lewis Peter H August 21 1990 Notable Notebooks The New York Times C7 via ProQuest External links editNEC Ultralite Last of a Breed Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title NEC UltraLite amp oldid 1222447909, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
