Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The Laptop Celebrates Its 40th Year

Posted by kdawson on from the child's-play dept.

Wired has an interview with Alan Kay on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the idea of the laptop computer. Kay's vision, which he dubbed the "Dynabook," was for a 2-pound, 1-Mpixel color computing device. "... the Dynabook was never built. But it greatly inspired the devices we now call laptops, although it's taken four decades to slim the tech down to the point where usable computers actually weigh as little as two pounds. To honor his achievements, Mountain View's Computer History Museum on Wednesday will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the legendary Dynabook. [Quoting Kay:] 'The Amazon Kindle is kind of a subset of a Dynabook — too much of a subset. The screen is too small, it is not very capable of dynamics, the keyboard is poor, etc. But it does have several limited service ideas that are good. The next version of a Kindle could be really exciting.'"

12 of 88 comments (clear)

  1. I Hereby Decree by Skeetskeetskeet · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    That I am first!!!

    --
    Yeah, my karma sucks....but so do the mods.
  2. 2 wars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Approximately 5000 soldiers died defending us and our freedom. DO NOT vote Obama!

    McCain 2008, the only choice.

    1. Re:2 wars by ClosedSource · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      "Approximately 5000 soldiers died defending us and our freedom."

      Yes, they did, but unfortunately despite their good intentions and their great sacrifices there never was any threat to the US. Iraq neither had WMDs nor any way to deliver them to the US if they did have them. So, in the end they died for nothing but Bush's ego.

    2. Re:2 wars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      I'm sorry when exactly was Iraq threatening us and our freedom?

      Yeah. I thought not.

      Obama 2008, the only choice.

    3. Re:2 wars by afabbro · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Conventional weapons and invasions just slap at the problem. Nuclear weapons solves it.

      --
      Advice: on VPS providers
    4. Re:2 wars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      "Approximately 5000 soldiers died defending us and our freedom."

      Yes, they did, but unfortunately despite their good intentions and their great sacrifices there never was any threat to the US. Iraq neither had WMDs nor any way to deliver them to the US if they did have them. So, in the end they died for nothing but Bush's ego.

      Bush's ego, Iraq's oil, and most importantly - Israel.

    5. Re:2 wars by Mistshadow2k4 · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Normally I never reply to BS like this, but I have to point out the amusing contradiction in terms presented here. We're told that 5000 soldiers have died defending our freedom and then told who to vote for because he is "the only choice". That sounds an awful lot like Henry Ford saying that you can have any color you want as long as it's black (and I apologize for the car analogy). Did anyone actually chuckle a little at this or is it just me?

      --
      I dream of a better world... one in which chickens can cross roads without their motives being questioned.
    6. Re:2 wars by ClosedSource · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      I guess I keep forgetting that some people treat Israel as the 51st state.

    7. Re:2 wars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      But you are free:

      Vote McCain or don't vote!

  3. Re:Title again by Warll · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    What do we expect from kdawson?

    You mean besides from from this?

  4. Re:Title again by RockWolf · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Very little, yet he still manages to disappoint.

    --
    February 9th, 2009 8:55pm: Slashdot becomes self-aware.
  5. Re:Title again by Linker3000 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    ...usually it's a chance to comment on the same story in a few days when the dupe is posted.

    --
    AT&ROFLMAO