Toshiba T1200
[Vin89]
The Toshiba T1200, introduced in 1987, was a groundbreaking laptop notable for being one of the first to feature a swappable battery pack, internal hard drive, and a “hard RAM” non-volatile memory option—features that made it highly practical for mobile professionals of its era. Its claim to fame lies in making true portable IBM PC-compatibility more accessible, combining a 9.54 MHz Intel 80C86 processor, 1MB RAM (with memory available for EMS or as a RAM disk), and a readable backlit LCD, all in a package light enough to fit in a briefcase. The T1200 was widely praised by the trade press, stayed in production into the early 1990s, and is seen as an important step in laptop evolution.
- Manufacturer: Toshiba Corporation
- Type: Laptop
- Model: T1200
- Release Date: 1987
- Cost at release: USD $6,499 (CAD ~$20,000 adjusted for inflation)
- MIPS: 0.4 (400 KIPS)
Hardware Specifications
- CPU: Intel 80C86, switchable between 4.77 MHz (compatibility mode) and 9.54 MHz (full performance) with optional 8087 math co-processor socket
- RAM: 1 MB (384 KB could be used as LIM EMS or as a RAM disk).
- Storage: Internal 20 MB hard drive (JVC/Ricoh interface, proprietary 26-pin connector)
- 3.5″ floppy disk drive (720 KB formatted). Some models offered two floppy drives instead of a hard drive.
- Display: 9.75″ monochrome LCD (CGA compatible), 640 x 200 pixels, 80 x 25 text; models included EL backlit and reflective screen versions.
- Graphics: CGA, 16 gray shades.
- Weight: 4.1 kg (9 lb).
- Battery: Swappable NiCad battery pack for main power; separate batteries for RAM (backup) and CMOS.
- Expansion/Connectivity: Parallel (printer) port, Serial (RS-232C) port, External floppy drive port, CGA RGB video out, composite video out, Numeric keypad connector (proprietary), Optional internal modem slot.
- Keyboard: 82-key, full-size QWERTY layout.
- Sound: PC Speaker.
- External numeric keypad, external floppy drive, carrying case.
Operating System & Programming Languages
- Operating System: MS-DOS 3.3
- Supported Languages: As an IBM PC-compatible running MS-DOS 3.3, the Toshiba T1200 could execute a wide variety of computer languages available for DOS at the time.
- BASIC: Microsoft GW-BASIC, and later versions of QuickBASIC, were common and widely used.
- Pascal: Turbo Pascal and UCSD Pascal could be installed and run under MS-DOS.
- C and C++: Compilers like Microsoft C, Turbo C, and Borland C++ were compatible.
- Assembly Language: Programs could be developed and executed using assemblers such as Microsoft MASM or Borland TASM.
- FORTRAN: Microsoft FORTRAN and other DOS FORTRAN compilers were available.
- Other Languages: Software for COBOL, dBASE, and various scripting/interpreted environments (such as Perl or REXX, after installation) could also run, within the hardware’s limitations.
Notables
- The T1200 was the first laptop with a swappable battery pack, setting an industry standard for mobile computing power.
- It featured “Hard RAM”: a battery-backed RAM section that could function as non-volatile storage—a rare innovation for its time.
- The hard drive used a proprietary, rare 26-pin interface (developed with JVC/Ricoh), making replacements or upgrades exceptionally challenging.
- Part of its RAM was user-selectable as EMS memory or a RAM disk, giving flexibility for advanced DOS usage.
- The T1200 used a distinctive keyboard layout nicknamed “MiniTouch” in retro computing circles, appreciated for its mechanical switches and compact but functional design.
- The T1200 cemented Toshiba’s position as a leader in professional portable computing during the late 1980s.
- Offered desktop-like capabilities in a true briefcase-size form, it was a “premium” business tool and helped define expectations for subsequent laptop generations.
- It remained in production into the early 1990s, a testament to its advanced features and popularity among business travelers and organizations
Donated by: Arlen Michaels