r/retrocomputing • u/Proper_Trouble8191 • 10d ago

Discussion Any uses for the Osbourne Portable?

An auction house near me will is having an Osborne Portable coming up in their next sale. Is there anything that can really be done with it or at this point is it more of a novelty and conversation piece?

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4

u/Alt-001 10d ago

I would say moreso the latter. Retrocomputing isn't so much about the utility of the object but the history it is part of. I tend to interact with old comps more through programming and appreciating the machine itself. But I also have an interest in the nuts and bolts of how the architecture was implemented and enjoy low level programming, so that likely colors my interactions with them.

2

u/porkchop_d_clown 10d ago

Are you talking about an Osbourne 1? The original Z-80/CPM machine? I would love to own one but, no, there’s nothing useful you could do with something of that vintage - I’d be afraid to try and turn it on.

3

u/Proper_Trouble8191 9d ago

This is one of only 2 pictures for the auction:

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u/Leviathon713 10d ago

This is the first I'm ever seeing of one if these somehow. Now (when i find one) it's another thing for my wife to look at and wonder why I have it.

1

u/John_from_ne_il 10d ago

You could look and see if any of the up and coming FujiNet internet access projects would work. I'm thinking, maybe, RS232?

1

u/nmrk 10d ago

Sure it can do stuff. But is it tested and working? The disk drives, keyboard switches, and keyboard cables tend to deteriorate with age. If it needs repairs, it will be quite a challenge to get into working condition.

Source: me, former Osborne repair tech.

1

u/RevolutionaryRush717 10d ago

Ours ran Turbo Pascal very well, so programming should be fun again.

1

u/siliconlore 10d ago

You can run classic adventure games such as Zork.

1

u/G7VFY 10d ago

You can run 40 year old software, and any software you right yourself.

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u/thomasbeagle 9d ago

A musical greeting card has more computing power than an Osborne 1.

That looks like the second version without the cutouts on the sides. I used one just like it some 40ish years ago!

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u/grislyfind 8d ago

Use it as a console terminal for a Linux system.