Data General Walkabout: Difference between revisions

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The Walkabout/SX, introduced in March 1990, was a radical departure from its predecessor, measuring larger and heavier than the original Walkabout while giving it true [[IBM PC compatible|IBM PC compatibility]] through the adoption of [[Intel]]'s [[i386SX]] processor, a 3.5-inch, high-density [[floppy disk drive]], a [[Video Graphics Array|VGA]] display, and a standard IBM PC–compatible [[chipset]] and [[BIOS]]. A 40-MB [[hard disk drive]] came standard, as did [[Microsoft]]'s [[MS-DOS 4.1]] and [[GW-BASIC]] on floppy disk.<ref name=iw1>{{cite journal | last=Darrow | first=Barbara | date=March 26, 1990 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1DsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT20 | title=Data General Adds 386SX Laptop to Line | journal=InfoWorld | publisher=IDG Publications | volume=12 | issue=13 | page=21 | via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name=specs>{{cite journal | last=Howard | first=Bill | date=September 25, 1990 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LVCsAZClkfUC&pg=PT146 | title=Portable PCs: Summary of Features | journal=PC Magazine | publisher=Ziff-Davis | volume=9 | issue=17 | pages=130–139 | via=Google Books}}</ref>{{rp|135}} [[Sony]] and [[Conner Peripherals]] respectively manufactured the floppy and hard drives (the latter a CP3044 model hard drive), while [[Chips and Technologies]], [[Cirrus Logic]], and [[Phoenix Technologies]] respectively supplied the [[chipset]], the [[Graphics processing unit|GPU]] and [[BIOS]] ROM. A slot on the motherboard allows an [[Intel 80387|80387]] math coprocessor to be installed by the user.<ref name=specs />{{rp|135}} The i386SX processor operates at its fullest 16-MHz clock speed only when connected to wall power; when powered off the battery, the clock speed is cut in half. This was a power conservation feature on the part of Data General.<ref name=pcmreview />{{rp|148, 151}}

The laptop comes with 1&nbsp;MB of [[Random-access memory|RAM]] stock, expandable to up to 8&nbsp;MB with the use of [[SIMM]] slots on the motherboard, in increments of 1&nbsp;MB or 2&nbsp;MB.<ref name=iw1 /> Two proprietyproprietary [[expansion slot]]s on the side take Data General's proprietary expansion cards for the machine. One slot is reserved for 8-bit cards, while the other is for 16-bit cards. Available in 1990 were a 2400-baud [[modem]] card, a [[StarLAN]] [[Ethernet]] networking card, and a [[barcode reader]] card; in 1991, the company released an expansion chassis card, allowing [[Industry Standard Architecture|ISA]] cards to be used with the Walkabout/SX.<ref name=pcmreview />{{rp|148, 151}} Data General also included two [[RS-232]] serial ports and one [[parallel port]] on the back of the Walkabout/SX allowing common peripherals like mice and printers to be used with the laptop.<ref>{{cite journal | date=March 26, 1990 | url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A8279932/GPS?sid=wikipedia | title=DG debuts 386SX portable | journal=PC Week | publisher=Ziff-Davis | volume=7 | issue=12 | page=15 | via=Gale}}</ref>

The Walkabout/SX's backlit VGA display measures 8.25&nbsp;inches wide by 5.25&nbsp;inches high, making for a somewhat irregular [[Aspect ratio (image)|aspect ratio]] of 1.70:1, and can only display monochrome images, with 32 shades of grey. However, users can hook up an external monitor to obtain color display in a truer 1.33:1 aspect ratio.<ref name=pcmreview>{{cite journal | last=Brown | first=Bruce | date=September 25, 1990 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LVCsAZClkfUC&pg=PT162 | title=Data General Corp.: Walkabout/SX | journal=PC Magazine | publisher=Ziff-Davis | volume=9 | issue=17 | pages=148–151 | via=Google Books}}</ref>{{rp|151}}