NAME  

Commuter 1083

MANUFACTURER  

Visual Technology

TYPE  

Personal Computer

ORIGIN  

U.S.A.

YEAR  

1983

BUILT IN LANGUAGE 

None

KEYBOARD  

Complete full-stroke keyboard with separated numeric keypad

CPU  

Intel 8088

SPEED  

4.77 MHz

RAM  

128 KB (up to 512 KB max.)

TEXT MODES 

80 chars. x 16 lines

GRAPHIC MODES 

Text mode only

COLORS  

Monochrome

SOUND  

No sound

SIZE / WEIGHT 

50.8 (W) x 44.4 (D) x 18.4 (H) cm / 16 lbs (7.25 kg.)

I/O PORTS 

Async, async/sync, parallel, RGB (monochrome), composite video (color)

BUILT IN MEDIA 

Two 360 KB 5.25'' FDD.

OS  

MS DOS 2.11

POWER SUPPLY 

Integrated

PERIPHERALS  

None

PRICE  

$1995

 

Commuter 1083
Visual Technology

Commuter 1083

 Visual Technology had typically made and sold video terminals for communicating with computers. In late 1983, they spun-off a division, named it Visual Computer Incorporated, and created their own computer, the "Commuter". The Commuter has the distinction of being the first portable IBM-compatible computer with an LCD display. It shows only 16 lines of text (80 characters per line), but it is still very useful. In 1985 it was upgraded to 24 lines of text. The LCD display does not adjust - it tilts all the way back


and rests there, rather annoying if the angle is uncomfortable. But a real monitor can be plugged into the connector on the back of the Commuter, and the LCD display can be removed entirely. The Commuter folds-up into a nice slim, slightly heavy, package, and has a very nice carrying bag. Unfortunately, the Commuter wasn't very popular, and Visual Technology eventually sold the remaining systems to discounter DAK to sell in their catalog.


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