Dinosaur Sightings: Computers from 1984-1989

Computers from 1984-1989

As the year of George Orwell's totalitarian future passed us by, PC technology took tremendous steps forward-including the first GUI. This gallery showcases several 1984-1989 machines from Steven Stengel‘s vintage computer collection. Steven has graciously allowed us to republish his photos and descriptions.

Commodore SX-64 "Executive"

As the world‘s first portable color computer, the SX-64 was designed to be a portable Commodore 64, with a built-in 5-inch color monitor, 5-1/4 inch floppy drive, and power supply.

Although heavy at 23 pounds, it is a very nice and sturdy system. Almost 100 percent compatible with the C64, it runs all cartridges and floppy based programs. The only thing missing is the cassette port, which is a minor consequence.

Apple Macintosh

Except for the very expensive and unpopular Apple Lisa which came out in 1983, the Macintosh is considered to be the first commercially successful computer to use a GUI (Graphical User Interface), as seen above.

Before the Macintosh, all computers were ‘text-based‘ - you operated them by typing words onto the keyboard. The Macintosh is run by activating pictures (icons) on the screen with a small hand-operated device called a "mouse". Most modern-day computers now operate on this principle, including modern Apple computers and most others which run the Microsoft Windows operating system

Sinclair QL (Quantum Leap)

Sinclair, of Great Britain, developed and sold some of the most popular home computers of the decade - the Sinclair ZX-81 and Timex/Sinclair TS-1000, each selling millions of units. They were very cheap, but equally limited and difficult to use.

IBM PCjr

Following the success of the IBM PC business computer three years earlier, IBM attempted to capture the home market as well, with the IBM PCjr.

The PCjr was based on the same technology as the PC, and was compatible enough to run most of the software applications written for the PC.

Apple IIc

In April 1984, Apple unveils the Apple IIc with an intense publicity extravaganza, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Priced at US$1300, 2,000 dealers place orders for more than 52,000 units on the day of its introduction.

The Apple IIc (the "c" means compact) is pretty much a portable Apple IIe computer, with its most obvious feature being its small size. It has a membrane under the keyboard to help keep dirt and contamination from getting inside the system. The keyboard provides both QWERTY and Dvorak layouts.

Atari 520ST

The Atari 520ST was introduced at the Winter CES in January of 1985, 6 months before the Commodore Amiga. Atari did take some shortcuts, though, as the Operating System did not yet exist in ROM, and had to be loaded from floppy-disk when powered on (but then again, so did the Amiga). The 520ST also had no internal floppy drive, but later versions included it.

Bundled with an external 360K single sided 3.5 inch floppy drive, mouse and monochrome monitor, it costs $799.