538:, found the computer overall comfortable to use and its processor speedier than advertised. He also gave the built-in LCD high marks for readability and graphical reproduction. Athey called the built-in floppy disk quite slow and found the keyboard occasionally intermittent, however. Van Van Horn, also writing about the Walkabout/SX in the same publication, deemed the computer heavier than most laptops on the market at the time (at 22 lb for his configuration) but found it nonetheless roadworthy and sturdy. Horn rated the laptop's PC compatibility well and found parallel communications with other computers speedy. Unlike Athey, Horn found the LCD mediocre in most reading environments except broad daylight.
1115:
24:
466:. The clock speed of the computer's i386SX was bumped up to 20 MHz, while the stock RAM was increased to 2 MB (although the memory ceiling was decreased to 6 MB). Data General offered the Walkabout/320 with a 60-MB Conner hard drive, as well as the same 40-MB Conner drive of its predecessor as a lower-cost alternative. Most other features were carried over from its predecessor.
490:
The original
Walkabout sold slowly, according to Weiss, who wrote that, as a thin email client in the late 1980s, "t was a great idea that was ahead of the hardware curve". In retrospect, Weiss deemed Data General's original asking price too expensive. Despite its lack of success in the marketplace,
448:
The
Walkabout/SX measures 15.7 by 14.2 by 3.2 inches (39.9 by 36.1 by 8.1 cm) and weighs, depending on the configuration, between 16 pounds (7.3 kg) and 22 pounds (10.0 kg). The computer's stock Ni–Cd battery lasts between three and five hours on a single charge. Power conservation
547:
Bruce Brown, reviewing the
Walkabout/SX, concluded that while the average user would not want to transport the machine "back and forth every day or use it as a constant computing companion" due to its heft, the machine overall was "a viable portable candidate for those who want a full-featured
526:(PLCs) for use in factory automation. Data General manufactured for AB a custom board slotting into one of the proprietary expansion slots a communications board, allowing it to interface with Allen-Bradley's 1784-KL PLC. As well, the T47 came preinstalled with AB's 6200 Series software.
395:
math coprocessor to be installed by the user. 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.
461:
The
Walkabout/320, introduced in July 1991, was another radical redesign, reducing its weight to just under 6 pounds (2.7 kg) and measuring smaller across all dimensions, measuring 11 by 5 by 1.8 inches (27.9 by 12.7 by 4.6 cm), making for Data General's first
247:
Introduced in
December 1989, the original Walkabout has a built-in modem capable of communicating at speeds of either 1,200 baud or 2,400 baud, depending on the model ordered. It is capable of emulating Data General's own
411:
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
478:
processor—now clocked at 25 MHz. The 2 MB stock RAM and 6 MB RAM ceiling was retained, while the stock hard drive was increased to 60 MB. The new model also added a
445:
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.
315:
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
292:
application that displays the time in the corner of the screen, as well as a timer function allowing users to set timed reminders over the course of using the machine.
522:(AB) division to rebrand the Walkabout/SX as the Allen-Bradley T47. This incarnation of the laptop was remarketed by Allen-Bradley as a terminal for its line of
474:
The
Walkabout/386SL, introduced in September 1992, was a slight revision over its predecessor, replacing the i386SX with the portable-oriented, power-saving
894:
222:
on the market. Weiss and the design team conceived of the original
Walkabout as a portable email client: a device which would allow users to check their
1322:
619:
570:
449:
features include the aforementioned underclocking on battery power, as well as automatic screen blanking and automatic hard drive shutoff
593:
508:
482:
slot for improved expandability. The Walkabout/386SL, as well as the entire Walkabout line, was phased out in mid-to-late 1993.
441:
The Walkabout/SX's backlit VGA display measures 8.25 inches wide by 5.25 inches high, making for a somewhat irregular
1065:
299:, measures 12 by 10.6 by 1.9 inches (30.5 by 26.9 by 4.8 cm) and weighs 5 pounds (2.3 kg). The Walkabout takes five
450:
902:
285:
438:
on the back of the Walkabout/SX allowing common peripherals like mice and printers to be used with the laptop.
427:
1307:
523:
253:
1146:
1317:
1312:
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1286:
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1006:
304:
167:, released in 1990, was an architectural redesign allowing the laptop to be used as a general-purpose
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627:
578:
384:
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respectively manufactured the floppy and hard drives (the latter a CP3044 model hard drive), while
1165:
515:
368:
296:
155:
capable of emulating multiple protocols; as well, it contains a rudimentary word processor, an
757:
725:
268:
protocol. Aside from its terminal emulation functionality, the original Walkabout contains in
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display and timer application for setting reminders. The successor to the first model, the
137:
71:
8:
249:
980:"Data General adds two new 486 desktop EISA PCs; reduces all PC prices up to 26 percent"
211:'s portable product manager. Weiss was also responsible for leading the team behind the
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364:
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1157:
1136:
328:
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slots on the motherboard, in increments of 1 MB or 2 MB. Two proprietary
269:
212:
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in 1989 and discontinued in 1993. The first entry in the line, simply named the
423:
408:
273:
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1301:
1104:
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519:
435:
176:
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372:
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application, capable of composing and storing up to 16 KB of text. An
261:
208:
204:
144:
58:
45:
40:
540:
492:
392:
180:
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card; in 1991, the company released an expansion chassis card, allowing
949:(36). IDG Publications: 26. September 7, 1992 – via Google Books.
684:(7). CW Communications: 30. February 12, 1990 – via Google Books.
500:
496:
430:
cards to be used with the Walkabout/SX. Data General also included two
352:
300:
281:
277:
183:
from 16 MHz to 20 MHz, while the last entry in the line, the
156:
962:"Data General Corp.: Two Machines Are Added To Personal Computer Line"
1232:
348:
1114:
864:(30). CW Communications: 42. July 29, 1991 – via Google BOoks.
23:
1196:
1099:
812:(21). CW Communications: 92. May 21, 1990 – via Google Books.
419:
356:
303:
to operate; alternatively, users could have bought a rechargeable
479:
416:
380:
336:
1191:
1043:
649:"Walkabout terminal offers built-in access to DG and DEC hosts"
514:
In July 1990, Data General won a $ 3.6 million order from
491:
the Walkabout proved to be the conceptual prototype for mobile
475:
431:
324:
280:
utility allows users to store contact information in a virtual
265:
219:
192:
140:
990:(141). EDGE Publishing: 26. February 1, 1993 – via Gale.
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412:
320:
257:
227:
223:
188:
404:
388:
360:
340:
901:. New Statesman Media Group. July 24, 1991. Archived from
203:
Development of the Walkabout began in the mid-1980s, with
927:(36). Ziff-Davis: 29. September 7, 1992 – via Gale.
875:
McMullen, Barbara E.; McMullen, John F. (July 24, 1991).
659:(49). Ziff-Davis: 57. December 11, 1989 – via Gale.
295:
The original Walkabout, with its non-backlit monochrome
284:
and automatically dial out one's phone number over the
790:(12). Ziff-Davis: 15. March 26, 1990 – via Gale.
594:"Data General DG/One with Printer and DG/One Model 2"
403:
stock, expandable to up to 8 MB with the use of
710:(13). IDG Publications: 21 – via Google Books.
768:(17). Ziff-Davis: 148–151 – via Google Books.
736:(17). Ziff-Davis: 130–139 – via Google Books.
534:Robert D. Athey Jr., reviewing the Walkabout/SX in
453:included on one of seven application floppy disks.
968:. Dow Jones & Company: 1 – via ProQuest.
895:"Data General Enters Notebook Fray with Walkabout"
591:
568:
1299:
874:
234:instead of a general-purpose personal computer.
883:. The Washington Post Company – via Gale.
1059:
1010:. GlobalData. July 24, 1990 – via Gale.
959:
917:"DG rolls out notebook, 486DX-based system"
751:
749:
747:
745:
743:
1113:
1066:
1052:
821:
819:
600:. DigiBarn Computer Museum. Archived from
577:. DigiBarn Computer Museum. Archived from
335:display, and a standard IBM PC–compatible
288:via its modem. The laptop also includes a
22:
868:
794:
391:ROM. A slot on the motherboard allows an
1020:
931:
909:
877:"Data General introduces 386SX notebook"
740:
700:"Data General Adds 386SX Laptop to Line"
564:
562:
560:
826:Athey, Robert D., Jr. (November 1990).
816:
719:
717:
159:utility for placing phone calls, and a
1323:Computer-related introductions in 1989
1300:
802:"Laptops and notebooks (4 to 14 lbs.)"
723:
697:
613:
611:
1047:
825:
755:
693:
691:
643:
641:
639:
637:
585:
557:
230:. Therefore, the computer was made a
846:
714:
668:
666:
617:
592:Damer, Bruce; Allan Lundell (2004).
569:Damer, Bruce; Allan Lundell (2004).
327:processor, a 3.5-inch, high-density
1014:
887:
756:Brown, Bruce (September 25, 1990).
726:"Portable PCs: Summary of Features"
724:Howard, Bill (September 25, 1990).
608:
399:The laptop comes with 1 MB of
13:
960:Staff writer (September 2, 1992).
758:"Data General Corp.: Walkabout/SX"
698:Darrow, Barbara (March 26, 1990).
688:
634:
469:
195:processor clocked at 25 MHz.
14:
1334:
663:
626:. CBS Interactive. Archived from
618:Haff, Gordon (January 25, 2008).
286:public switched telephone network
242:
237:
1073:
1033:(7). New Media Publications: 14
854:"DG notebook PC makes its debut"
838:(5). New Media Publications: 50
456:
994:
972:
953:
310:
1021:Van Horn, Van (January 1991).
772:
524:programmable logic controllers
198:
187:, replaced the processor with
175:, increased its predecessor's
1:
828:"A Workout for the Walkabout"
551:
171:. The penultimate entry, the
529:
7:
207:leading the design team as
118:; 31 years ago
92:; 34 years ago
10:
1339:
1287:The Talking Propellerheads
1007:Computergram International
780:"DG debuts 386SX portable"
379:respectively supplied the
307:pack to power the system.
252:D216 protocol, as well as
28:First generation Walkabout
1281:The Soul of a New Machine
1272:
1247:
1216:
1209:
1184:
1155:
1129:
1122:
1111:
1081:
620:"HP goes thin and mobile"
112:
104:
86:
64:
54:
33:
21:
899:Computer Business Review
571:"Data General Walkabout"
485:
319:through the adoption of
151:, was a battery-powered
966:The Wall Street Journal
422:networking card, and a
516:Rockwell International
495:of the 2000s, such as
369:Chips and Technologies
347:came standard, as did
939:"Pipeline: Announced"
905:on November 13, 2023.
604:on February 24, 2004.
581:on February 25, 2004.
434:serial ports and one
1308:Data General laptops
377:Phoenix Technologies
317:IBM PC compatibility
191:'s portable-centric
1156:Microcomputers and
215:, one of the first
18:
1318:Computer terminals
1313:IBM PC compatibles
365:Conner Peripherals
90:December 1989
16:
1295:
1294:
1268:
1267:
1217:Operating systems
1205:
1204:
1037:– via Gale.
842:– via Gale.
464:notebook computer
329:floppy disk drive
232:portable terminal
217:IBM PC–compatible
169:IBM PC compatible
153:portable terminal
130:
129:
77:Portable terminal
72:Notebook computer
1330:
1214:
1213:
1171:Data General/One
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1038:
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630:on July 3, 2022.
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583:
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566:
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359:on floppy disk.
213:Data General/One
126:
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79:(1st generation)
26:
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1089:Edson de Castro
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509:HP Compaq 6720t
505:Hewlett-Packard
488:
472:
470:Walkabout/386SL
459:
409:expansion slots
345:hard disk drive
313:
290:real-time clock
245:
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185:Walkabout/386SL
161:real-time clock
136:is a family of
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424:barcode reader
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274:word processor
272:a rudimentary
244:
243:1st generation
241:
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238:Specifications
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143:introduced by
138:notebook-sized
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1105:Edward Zander
1103:
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1095:Steve Wallach
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1023:"On the Road"
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858:Computerworld
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731:
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683:
679:
678:Computerworld
675:
674:"I/O devices"
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520:Allen-Bradley
517:
512:
510:
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499:'s cancelled
498:
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483:
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477:
467:
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457:Walkabout/320
454:
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437:
436:parallel port
433:
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305:Ni–Cd battery
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279:
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271:
267:
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260:protocol and
259:
255:
251:
235:
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226:remotely via
225:
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196:
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173:Walkabout/320
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32:
25:
20:
1279:
1248:Applications
1175:
1075:Data General
1034:
1030:
1026:
1016:
1005:
996:
987:
983:
974:
965:
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946:
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903:the original
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733:
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703:
681:
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628:the original
623:
602:the original
598:DigiBarn.com
597:
587:
579:the original
575:DigiBarn.com
574:
539:
535:
533:
513:
493:thin clients
489:
473:
460:
451:TSR programs
447:
443:aspect ratio
440:
398:
373:Cirrus Logic
314:
311:Walkabout/SX
301:AA batteries
294:
262:Lear Siegler
246:
209:Data General
205:Vernon Weiss
202:
184:
172:
165:Walkabout/SX
164:
148:
145:Data General
133:
131:
113:Discontinued
87:Release date
59:Data General
55:Manufacturer
46:Vernon Weiss
41:Data General
1002:"Minigrams"
762:PC Magazine
730:PC Magazine
541:PC Magazine
199:Development
181:clock speed
1302:Categories
552:References
548:machine".
353:MS-DOS 4.1
343:. A 40-MB
282:phone book
278:autodialer
179:processor
157:autodialer
1233:AOS/VS II
1176:Walkabout
1166:microNOVA
1123:Computers
1091:(founder)
943:InfoWorld
881:Newsbytes
832:DG Review
704:InfoWorld
536:DG Review
530:Reception
349:Microsoft
149:Walkabout
134:Walkabout
108:1989–1993
34:Developer
17:Walkabout
1210:Software
1197:Clariion
1100:Tom West
1027:Van Horn
420:Ethernet
415:card, a
357:GW-BASIC
105:Lifespan
1273:Related
1185:Servers
1147:MV/8000
1142:Eclipse
921:PC Week
784:PC Week
653:PC Week
480:PC Card
417:StarLAN
381:chipset
337:chipset
220:laptops
141:laptops
121: (
97:1989-12
95: (
1192:Aviion
1082:People
1035:et seq
840:et seq
545:'s
476:i386SL
432:RS-232
383:, the
375:, and
325:i386SX
266:ADM-3A
250:Dasher
224:emails
193:i386SL
177:i386SX
1239:DG/UX
501:Foleo
486:Sales
413:modem
393:80387
321:Intel
258:VT100
228:modem
189:Intel
1224:RDOS
1137:Nova
984:EDGE
810:XXIV
682:XXIV
624:CNET
503:and
497:Palm
405:SIMM
389:BIOS
387:and
363:and
361:Sony
355:and
341:BIOS
339:and
331:, a
132:The
123:1993
116:1993
65:Type
1260:CEO
1229:AOS
1158:PCs
862:XXV
518:'s
507:'s
428:ISA
401:RAM
385:GPU
351:'s
333:VGA
323:'s
297:LCD
270:ROM
264:'s
256:'s
254:DEC
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1031:11
1029:.
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986:.
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947:14
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1067:e
1060:t
1053:v
988:4
925:9
788:7
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657:6
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