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Once we get past the cute comments about abacuses and 100-year-old accountants (my Dad turns 72 tomorrow), we can get to some real history.

In the last day or so, I've received inquiries from someone using a Canon Cat (Early work processor) and from someone still using an Epson HC-40 (early portable CP/M machine.)

They contacted me because of my classic computer collection.

There are, however, still plenty of people out there using Altairs and Model 100's and GRiD's and all the other well-known and not-so-well-known personal computers, probably going all the way back to the very first.

Not everyone has succombed to the idea that if it isn't the latest and greatest computer hardware and software, it doesn't work. I drive a 1959 Land Rover; it still gets me where I want to go. Likewise, a lot of people still use computers that do what they need to do without the cost, complexity, and learning curve that newer machines represent.

Unfortunately, Dell is ignoring the fact that the IBM PC and its successors more than anything else to destroy the innovation, creativity, and variety that had existed previously in the computer industry. Very few desktop "PC's" are collectible; virtually none would be of interest to a museum of any quality or reputation.

If you really want to see older computers, come to the Vintage Computer Festival this fall.

He explains why it's such a shoddy job... He did it in one day doing his research on the web. Do you believe everything you read on the web?

(I know a web page where a supposedly knowledgeable person tells a reputable interviewer that the Gavilan was the first laptop computer. (Not even close.))

And contrary to popular opionion, the MITS machine was not the first PC. (Not even close.)

Furthermore, he left out all kinds of important milestones:

• Doug Englebart and co's work with the mouse, user interfaces, and more (1969)
• The Xerox Parc innovations, including GUI's, ethernet, laser printers, and more (mid-70's)
• Dynalogic, Kyocera, GRiD, Sharp, and more, who gave us portable computing as we know it (early 80's)

There are plenty of others, of course. Some of the names he left out -- Englebart, Metcalfe, Kay, Berkeley, Sutherland, and so on, are equally, if not more, important than the names on his list.

To find out more [plug:] check out the Vintage Computer Festival or my site.

This guy did a bad job of research resulting in another incomplete and misleading web page.

First off, if you go to the OJR home page, you can get to the actual article; their internal links seem to be a little screwy.

I am proud to have in my collection Several significant tablet-type computers: the GRiDPad, the GRiD 2260 and 2270 (aka Convertable), Amstrad PDA600, a Telepad 3, and (soon) a Linux Write-Top.

For more on the history of pen-computing, see:

• probably the best collection of pen-based computers in the world (though not yet documented online)
• some valuable info on the history of pen-based computing

While I love books, and have hundreds (if not thousands), I have long felt that the advantages of reading electronic-based information has definite advantages -- the same ones we have come to take for granted with the web and other electronic references. (Things like hyperlinks to related material, in-line definitions, multi-media, and so on.)

In addition, the easy, familiar format of things like the GRiDPad, CrossPad, etc. lend themselves to quick replacement of the traditional pad of paper for note-taking, surveying, and other data entry. The ease of integrating remotely gathered data into centralized databases/references will ultimately make such devices commonplace.

In short, technology such as the WebPad, e-books, and CrossPad will be augmenting more and more everyday tasks, from taking notes in meetings, to compiling grocery lists, from street corner surveys to reading the latest news while climbing the stairmaster at the gym.

P.S., if anyone has examples of early tablets (such as those from Go, Momenta, Motorola, AT&T, etc.) or other older portable computers they want to find a new home for, please feel free to contact me!