Early laptop

This NEC Microcomputer model PC-8201A early laptop was used by journalists at the Hobart Mercury. While journalists initially used typewriters, by the 1980s personal computers were beginning to appear. This is an example of one of those early models used by journalists.

Introduced in March 1983, the PC-8201A was one of the first notebook computers. The size of an A4 notebook and weighing less than 2 kilos, the PC-8201A had an LCD screen and a full sized keyboard. It was powered by four AA batteries and could last for up to 20 hours. Pre-programmed with BASIC programming language (BASIC), Text Editor (TEXT), and telecommunications (TELCOM) software this computer could be used for a variety of functions.