The Kyotronics 85 may be considered the world's first true laptop computer.
It was designed and sold in Japan by Kyocera (Kyoto Ceramics). But curiously, apart from the Japanese market, it was little sold in the world despite its very innovative design.
On the other hand, three major computer firms noticed this little gem and licenced it. Shortly afterwards, one would see the same computer sold under three different names and case designs in every corner of the world. These machines were the NEC PC-8201, the Tandy Model 100 and the Olivetti M10.
Each brand added its own enhancement - arrow keys for the NEC, tilt display for the Olivetti, but the hardware basis was identical: an 8085 CPU, 8 to 32 KB of RAM, a full-size typewriter keyboard and an 8-line x 40-character LCD display.
Later, Tandy asked Kyocera to introduce changes and released the Tandy 102 (larger memory) then the Tandy 200 (larger display).
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please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.
Please consider donating your old computer / videogame system to Old-Computers.com or one of our partners from anywhere in the world (Europe, America, Asia, etc.).
I worked for the company that imported these to the USA. As I remember we imported about 1000 pcs. We advertised in the ComputerShopper magazine, and sold them at 799.00 retail price. They sold quickly and I remember that few problems in the field. This computer was really ahead of the rest of the market.
The software in ROM made is very powerful out of the box. Some of the first to adapt this computer were news paper reporters, because of the full size keyboard and modem built-in to transmit the story to the office from the field.
Sunday 22nd July 2012
DaveW (USA)
I worked for the company that imported these to the USA. As I remember we imported about 1000 pcs. We advertised in the ComputerShopper magazine, and sold them at 799.00 retail price. They sold quickly and I remember that few problems in the field. This computer was really ahead of the rest of the market.
The software in ROM made is very powerful out of the box. Some of the first to adapt this computer were news paper reporters, because of the full size keyboard and modem built-in to transmit the story to the office from the field.
Sunday 22nd July 2012
DaveW (USA)
NAME
Kyotronic 85
MANUFACTURER
Kyocera
TYPE
Portable
ORIGIN
Japan
YEAR
1983
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
Microsoft BASIC
KEYBOARD
Typewriter type, 72 keys with 16 function keys and 4 arrow keys
CPU
Intel 80C85 CMOS low power version
SPEED
2.4 MHz
RAM
8 to 32 KB
ROM
32 KB
TEXT MODES
40 columns x 8 lines
GRAPHIC MODES
240 x 64 dots
COLORS
Monochrome
SOUND
Beeper
SIZE / WEIGHT
28 (W) x 21.6 (D) x 5 (D) cm
I/O PORTS
Parallel printer, Tape recorder, Bar Code reader, Serial RS232, Phone, System bus
