[inforoots] Re: MCM-70 and portable/laptop question

[Stan Sieler]

Re: Barrie Robinson writes:
> This is just a shot into the darkness of computing history.  Was 
> Micro Computer Machinery of Kingston & Toronto, Ontario the first 
> "PC" with their little APL machine of the mid 70's??.  It was small 
> enough to be called a laptop

The MCM-70 had a one line video display, and had battery backup
which would allow it to run for at least a few minutes.

Thus, you could run it without A/C power, on your lap, with a
display.  

That's a laptop.   

Not a very good laptop, perhaps, but a laptop nonetheless.

And, it was unquestionably a personal computer.
The only two owners of MCM-70s that I've ever talked to
both purchased it themselves (i.e., a personal purchase).

I don't know if they influenced GRiD at all.

If any GRiD founders went to some mid-late 1970's APL 
conferences, they might have seen the MCM-70.

Stan