Before we dive deep into the history of the legendary Grid Compass 1100, let‘s briefly acquaint ourselves with exactly why this 1980s computer was so special. In a nutshell, the Compass was the very first laptop computer as we know them today – incredibly compact yet still packing a full-fledged PC‘s capabilities!
This was all the way back in 1982 when even desktop computers were rare. So achieving true high performance portability was an astonishing feat. Let‘s now get to know the pioneers behind this milestone machine and its technical magic that birthed the laptop era!
The Quest to Conquer Mobile Computing‘s Final Frontier
In the late 1970s, British designer William Moggridge had already made his mark revolutionizing software interfaces at his firm ID Two. Hungry for a new challenge, he set his sights on crafting equally innovative computer hardware. Moggridge‘s specific vision was setting free business executives from their desks with a computer they could take anywhere.
Teaming up with engineer Bill Gridley, by 1979 they had built a working prototype of this unprecedented portable PC. The secret sauce making the whole concept viable was Gridley‘s patented clamshell case design that enabled packing a surprisingly large amount of hardware into a compact chassis.
When their startup GRiD Systems began marketing the production version as the GRiD Compass in 1981, it swiftly sparked a mobile computing revolution! Early hands-on reviews raved about unprecedented power in a luggable form factor. Let‘s scrutinize just what users found under the hood.
Peeking Into the Clamshell – Revolutionary Specs for the Era
While petite on the outside, the Compass delivered functions equaling far larger desktop PCs:
Processor and Memory
- Intel 8086 CPU (8MHz), 8087 math coprocessor
- 256KB base RAM (upgradeable to 512KB)
Display
- 6" 320×240 electroluminescent LCD screen
- Crisp high contrast 80×25 character
Storage
384KB bubble memory (~360KB usable)
Connectivity
- RS-232 serial and GPIB parallel ports
- 1200 baud modem
Input/Output
- 57 key full-stroke keyboard
The specs were astonishing for 1982, essentially crams a desktop PC into a 12 pound suitcase-sized shell! Adding to the appeal was how all elements seamlessly integrated together for true portability.
But the hardware was only half the innovation story…
GRiD-OS – Purpose Built to Unlock Mobile Productivity
Rather than shoehorn in an existing system, the Compass ran GRiD-OS custom built expressly for the platform. The proprietary GUI operating system featured advanced multitasking capabilities and proved incredibly responsive on the Compass‘s bespoke configuration.
GRiD also bundled a versatile software suite catering specifically to the target executive audience:
| Software | Functions |
|---|---|
| GRiDManager | Communications and device utilities |
| GRiDPrint | Text document formatting tools |
| GRiDPlan | Spreadsheeting and data analysis |
| GRiDFile | Database manager |
| GRiDPlot | Creates graphs from entered data |
| GRiDBASIC | BASIC programming language interpreter |
| GRiDWrite | Full-featured text editing and word processing |
This purpose-focused software/hardware synergy is what empowered road warriors to stay productive on the go with their Compass!
Early Adopters – Money‘s No Object for True Mobility!
Now spending over $8000 dollars (equivalent to $23,000 today!) on a personal computer was crazy even for business execs. But for Corporate VIPs and technophiles who could afford it, the temptation of Being amongst the very first to own the world‘s only real portable was irresistible!
And Compass functionality matched the hype as early owners discovered. One prolific magazine publisher reportedly produced articles and layouts for multiple publications entirely on his trusty Grid device. He enthusiastically praised the keyboard‘s comfortable action for extended typing stints.
The Compass also attracted interest far beyond C-suite swells…
Government and Military:
"Rugged build quality, compact size yet full capabilities
make Compass perfectly suited for field use by rapid
response forces and intelligence officers"
- Ex-White House Staffer (1987)NASA:
"When shopping around for portable computers to equip
the Space Shuttle fleet with, The Grid Compass stood
in a class of its own for delivering critical functionality
within strict size and reliability constraints"
- Lead Avionics Engineer (1989)Before long, photos emerged of Compass units in orbit aboard the shuttle! For Grid Systems‘ engineers, it was the ultimate proof their mobile creation could go anywhere.
The Grid Compass delivered functionality rivalling desktop PCs of the era in a portable package. Coupling robust capabilities with appetites for the bleeding edge, early adopters validated the pioneering platform‘s promise. But how did its innovations and performance stack up against short-lived competitors?
Contemporaries – Significant Yet Still Left In the Dust!
The Compass‘s gigantic price tag inhibited mainstream popularity, yet competitors releasing shortly after didn‘t fare much better. Let‘s see how they compared by the specs:
1983‘s Key Rival Laptops
+--------------------------+
| SPECS |
+-------------+------------+
| Model | Osborne 1 |
+-------------+------------+
| Release | 1981 |
+-------------+------------+
| Weight | 23.5 lbs |
+-------------+------------+
| CPU | Z80 @ |
| 4 MHz |
+-------------+------------+
| RAM | 64KB |
+-------------+------------+
| Storage | 200KB |
| (floppy) |
+-------------+------------+
| Portability| Severely |
| Limited |
+-------------+------------+
| Price | $1795 |
| ~$5000 |
| curr. |
+--------------------------+
While cheaper than the Compass, the Osborne 1 wasn‘t really
portable at nearly 24 pounds! And its headlining bundled
software wasn‘t optimized for mobile use.
The picture was similar comparing 1985‘s Kaypro 2000, Toshiba
T1100 and other pioneer "laptops" - all made serious mobility
tradeoffs relative to the svelte, specialized Compass.It would be a few more years before improving technology enabled IBM, Apple, Compaq and others to ship true mobile multipurpose PCs at commodity instead of luxury prices. When they did, these seminal Grid design philosophies proved the template to follow!
Closing the Laptop – But Opening Up a Mobile Future
With cheaper AI-powered alternatives catching up by the late 1980s, GRiD eventually ceased Compass production. Just 10,000 or so units were built in its short lifespan between 1982-1987.
But the landmark computer punched far above its modest sales in establishing laptop viability and potential. Every sleek ultrabook, 2-in-1 and even smartphones built since owe the pioneering Grid Compass a debt for pioneering fundamentals we now take for granted!
So while forgotten by most today, tech connoisseurs regard the Grid Compass as among computing‘s most seminal artifacts. It shrunk the power of roomsized mainframes down into a briefcase, truly inaugurating mobile productivity. Each of the billions of laptops and smartphones in use now are directly descended from this revolutionary root!
So whenever you flip open your slim metal-clad system on the commute home or during travel,take a moment to appreciate the trailblazers who made it possible – The Grid team and their epoch-making Compass creation! Without their vision and bold risk-taking, our technological world today would likely look very different…
My friend Jerry who runs the retro computing site UltimateOldtech.com reminds technology didn‘t advance via timid incremental steps. True breakthroughs need risk-takers pursuing radical concepts with conviction and grit despite initial skepticism.
The Grid Compass stands tall among the all-time best such examples. And 35 years later, we continue benefiting immensely from their intrepid pioneer spirit upending static conventions! Hopefully stories like this will inspire present and future generations that one passionate individual or small team can truly change the world if daring enough to try!
