Gateway HandBook

Last updated
HandBook
Hb486 dillo big.jpg
A HandBook 486 running the Dillo web browser on Linux
Developer
ManufacturerTottori Sanyo
Type Subnotebook
Release date1992;32 years ago (1992)
Lifespan1992–1996
CPU
Memory
  • 640 KB RAM stock (original)
  • 4 MB RAM stock (HandBook 486)
Dimensions9.7 by 5.9 by 1.6 inches (246 by 150 by 41 mm)
Mass<3 pounds (1.4 kg)

The HandBook was a very small and lightweight subnotebook originally introduced by Gateway 2000 in 1992. It quickly achieved critical acclaim and a cult-like following, especially in Japan.

It was designed by IQV and Tottori Sanyo and manufactured by Tottori Sanyo in Japan. The lead engineer on the product was Howard Fullmer and other significant contributors included Bob Burnett and Rick Murayama.

The product was only 9.7 in (250 mm) wide, 5.9 in (150 mm) deep, and 1.6 in (41 mm) high, and weighed less than 3 lb (1.4 kg). [1] While it used a Chips and Technologies 8680 microprocessor, it was marketed as having 286-level performance. [2] [3] The C&T chip set included hardware emulation of the Intel 80186 processor and the HandBook used a special feature of the chip set called SuperSet whereby 80286 instructions were trapped and then emulated in software. This same feature was used to emulate the 8051 keyboard controller, serial port and numerous other I/O functions. Intel worked closely with IQV to include similar capabilities in the SL chip sets which were introduced in the mid-90s.

The HandBook had 640 KB of RAM, a 20 MB hard drive, and a monochrome blue-white CGA-compatible display. The unit could be powered by a rechargeable NiMH battery or six AA batteries in a special battery pack. The rechargeable batteries were unusual in that they are able to be charged without actually being in the laptop. A floppy disk was attached through a proprietary parallel port connector. A tremendous engineering effort went into the design of the HandBook's keyboard. It featured 17.8 mm center-to center key spacing and 2 mm travel for a firm feel.

After the success of the original Gateway HandBook, Gateway came out with a 486 model. The HandBook 486 (as it was called) was originally available as two models: A 486SX/25 and a 486DX/40 model. Gateway later on came out with HandBook 486 models utilizing a 486SX/33 or 486DX/50 processor. All of these handbooks used a grayscale 640x480 VGA display. Because of the small size of the unit, the display was distorted — what appear as circles on other displays come out as ovals on the HandBook 486.

The built-in hard disk for the HandBook 486 was usually 120 MB in size. The HandBook 486 was produced between 1993 and 1995. [4] [5] [6] The HandBook 486 had 4 MB of built-in RAM, which can be expanded to 20 MB. As of 2005, it is still possible to buy memory for the HandBook 486, although one should test the memory with memtest since memory for older computers is more likely to be defective.

It was possible to install Linux or OpenBSD on these computers; the HandBook 486 is probably the earliest Linux-compatible subnotebook released. It was even possible to run the X Window System after the memory was expanded. The HandBook 486 has a PCMCIA II interface. While Modern Cardbus cards do not work with this interface, most older PCMCIA II cards (as long as they use no more than 250 mA of power) [7] work fine. The HandBook 486 also has a pointing device similar to the IBM trackpoint located on the right hand side of the keyboard just above the enter key.

The Gateway HandBook remains one of the smallest laptops ever produced and was a precursor to Netbooks such as the Asus Eee PC, the Dell Inspiron Mini Series, and the Acer Aspire One. The Acer Aspire One is about the same size as the HandBook, and exists in a Gateway-branded form as the Gateway LT1004u.

Related Research Articles

i386 32-bit microprocessor by Intel

The Intel 386, originally released as the 80386 and later renamed i386, was the first x86 32-bit microprocessor designed by Intel. Pre-production samples of the 386 were released to select developers in 1985, while mass production commenced in 1986. The processor was a significant evolution in the x86 architecture, extending a long line of processors that stretched back to the Intel 8008. The 386 was the central processing unit (CPU) of many workstations and high-end personal computers of the time. The 386 began to fall out of public use starting with the release of the i486 processor in 1989, while in embedded systems the 386 remained in widespread use until Intel finally discontinued it in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharp Zaurus</span> Series of personal digital assistants

Sharp Zaurus is a series of personal digital assistants (PDAs) made by Sharp Corporation. The Zaurus was the most popular PDA during the 1990s in Japan and was based on a proprietary operating system. The first Sharp PDA to use the Linux operating system was the SL-5000D, running the Qtopia-based Embedix Plus. The Linux Documentation Project considers the Zaurus series to be "true Linux PDAs" because their manufacturers install Linux-based operating systems on them by default. The name derives from the common suffix applied to the names of dinosaurs.

The Sony U series of subnotebook computers refers to two series of Sony products the PCG-U and the VGN-U. The later VGN-U were, at their release, the smallest independent computers running Windows XP and the most powerful high-end subnotebooks at the time. The VGN-U50 and VGN-U70P models are roughly the size of two DVD cases stacked on top of each other.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psion netBook</span>

The Psion netBook is a small subnotebook computer developed by Psion. Released in 1999, it was for the mobile enterprise market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subnotebook</span> Obsolete term for smaller laptops

Subnotebook, also called ultraportable, superportable, mini notebook or mini laptop, is a type of laptop computer that is smaller and lighter than a typical notebook-sized laptop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultra-mobile PC</span> Obsolete type of handheld computer

An ultra-mobile PC, or ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), is a miniature version of a pen computer, a class of laptop whose specifications were launched by Microsoft and Intel in Spring 2006. Sony had already made a first attempt in this direction in 2004 with its Vaio U series, which was only sold in Asia. UMPCs are generally smaller than subnotebooks, have a TFT display measuring (diagonally) about 12.7 to 17.8 centimetres, are operated like tablet PCs using a touchscreen or a stylus, and can also have a physical keyboard. There is no clear boundary between subnotebooks and ultra-mobile PCs, but UMPCs commonly have major features not found in the common clamshell laptop design, such as small keys on either side of the screen, or a slide-out keyboard.

The Classmate PC, formerly known as Eduwise, is Intel's entry into the market for low-cost personal computers for children in the developing world. It is in some respects similar to the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) trade association's Children's Machine (XO), which has a similar target market. Although made for profit, the Classmate PC is considered an Information and Communication Technologies for Development project (ICT4D). Introduced in 2006, the device falls into the then popular category of netbooks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP OmniBook</span> Line of laptops produced by Hewlett-Packard

OmniBook is a brand for a line of laptop computers originally produced by Hewlett-Packard and currently marketed by its successor, HP Inc. HP first introduced the brand as a line of business-oriented laptops and notebooks produced between 1993 and 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asus Eee</span> Product family

Asus Eee is a family of products by AsusTek Computer Inc. The product family began with the release of the Eee PC subnotebook in 2007; since then, the product family has diversified into a number of PC form factors. According to the company, the name Eee derives from "the three Es," an abbreviation of its advertising slogan for the device: "Easy to learn, Easy to work, Easy to play".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asus Eee PC</span> Netbook computer line by Asus

The ASUS Eee PC is a netbook computer line from Asus, and a part of the ASUS Eee product family. At the time of its introduction in late 2007, it was noted for its combination of a lightweight, Linux-based operating system, solid-state drive (SSD), and relatively low cost. Newer models added the options of Microsoft Windows operating system and rotating media hard disk drives (HDD), and initially retailed for up to 500 euros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Compaq Contura</span>

The Contura is a line of notebook-sized laptops produced by Compaq from 1992 to 1996. The Contura was Compaq's first attempt at making an affordable, entry-level laptop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of laptops</span>

The history of laptops describes the efforts, begun in the 1970s, to build small, portable personal computers that combine the components, inputs, outputs and capabilities of a desktop computer in a small chassis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acer Aspire One</span> Line of netbooks by Acer Inc.

Acer Aspire One is a line of netbooks first released in July 2008 by Acer Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acorn A7000</span>

The A7000 and A7000+ were Acorn Computers' entry level computers based somewhat on the Risc PC architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samsung NC10</span> 2008 netbook computer

The Samsung NC10 is a subnotebook/netbook computer designed by Samsung. At the time of its introduction (2008), it was noted for its combination of a 10.2" screen and large 6-cell battery as standard, giving a battery life of up to 7.5 hours, a large hard disk drive and a release price of 499 USD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toshiba T3100</span>

The Toshiba T3100 is a discontinued portable PC manufactured by Toshiba released in 1986. It features a 10 MB hard drive, 8 MHz Intel 80286 CPU and a black & orange 9.5" gas-plasma display with a resolution of 640 × 400 pixels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IBM ThinkPad 350</span>

The IBM Thinkpad 350 series was a notebook computer series introduced in 1993 by IBM as part of their Thinkpad laptop series. It was the successor to the IBM ThinkPad 300. With only 2 models ever made in the series, it was succeeded in 1994 by the IBM Thinkpad 360 series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IBM ThinkPad 360</span> Notebook computer series by IBM

The IBM ThinkPad 360 series was a notebook computer series introduced in 1994 by IBM as part of their ThinkPad laptop series. It was succeeded in late 1995 by the IBM ThinkPad 365 series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olivetti Quaderno</span>

The Quaderno was a subnotebook produced by Olivetti in two versions from 1992: Quaderno (PT-XT-20) and Quaderno 33 (PT-AT-60).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zenith SupersPort</span> Line of PC-compatible laptops

The SupersPort is a line of PC-compatible laptops manufactured by Zenith Data Systems and sold from 1988 to 1993. The first two main entries in the SupersPort line included either an Intel 80286 microprocessor clocked at 12 MHz or an 8088 processor clocked at 8 or 4.77 MHz, switchable. Later entries included the 386SX, 486SX and 486 processors. The SupersPort 286 in particular was one of the top-selling laptops of the late 1980s, although Zenith's position in this segment faltered by the early 1990s.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.