History of Computers - Xerox Notetaker

Introduction

The Xerox Notetaker was the first portable computer. It never reached commercial production and only around 10 were ever made but it pioneered the path for later personal portable computers.

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Overview

The Xerox Notetaker was designed as the first truly portable computer. The design borrowed heavily from Alan Kay's Dynabook concept. Xerox PARC released the Xerox Notetaker in 1978. The main team that created the Notetaker consisted of Adele Goldberg, Larry Tesler, Douglas Stewert, Dick Resnick, Ben Sato, James Leung, Bob Nishimura, Dan Ingalls, Ted Kaehler, Ron Freeman, Bruce Horn and was managed by Douglas Fairbairn. [2]. As stated in the 1978 user's manual, the Notetaker was "a powerful personal tool designed to be its user’s constant companion”. [3]

Users were able power the device through batteries that usually lasted 2-3 hrs. The power system could provide 125 watts, at maximum the system used 80 watts. The device featured a small monochrome display monitor with a transparent overlay for pointing on the screen.The display monitor had a screen resolution of 118 dots/inch. The device also featured a mini floppy disk capable of storing 340K bytes of data, a central CPU with an Intel processor and 16 bits of local memory, a 2-inch speaker, analog to digital converter, 8 high voltage drivers, a mouse and a standard keyboard identical to the Alto 1 keyboard. The modem was capable of operation at 300 bps and could connect directly to a telephone. The Xerox Notetaker weighed 48 lbs with batteries and came in a case 21" length, 14" width and 7" tall.[4]

Significance

The Xerox Notetaker heavily influence the design of future commercially successful portable computers such as the Osbourne 1 and Compaq Portable computers. It pioneered the creation of computers that could work without being plugged into a power source and made Alan Key's concept of a portable device a reality.