{"id":23055,"date":"2025-12-12T15:40:38","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T20:40:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=23055"},"modified":"2026-06-19T15:22:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T19:22:33","slug":"vin190","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin190\/","title":{"rendered":"Computer Devices Miniterm 1202D"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        Computer Devices Miniterm 1202D\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"computer-devices-miniterm-1202d\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Computer Devices Miniterm 1202D<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>[Vin190]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260220_164325523-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260220_164325523-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Computer Devices Miniterm 1202D\" class=\"wp-image-23634\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260220_164325523-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260220_164325523-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260220_164325523-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260220_164325523-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260220_164325523-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260220_164325523-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260220_164325523-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260220_164325523-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Computer Devices Miniterm 1202D stands out as a rare 1970s portable printing terminal paired with teletype mechanisms, prized for its acoustic coupler that enabled dial-up connections to mainframes without dedicated lines, embodying early mobile data access. Its claim to fame lies in pioneering compact, battery-powered teletype-style interfaces for field engineers and researchers, bridging the gap between bulky ASR-33 teletypes and future CRT terminals by offering tilt-adjustable ergonomics and RS-232 compatibility in a briefcase-sized form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: Computer Devices, Inc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Portable video display &amp; printing terminal \/ teletype<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Released<\/strong>: 1976<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost at release<\/strong>: ~$12,500 (adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: N\/A<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"hardware-specifications\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW169789978 BCX0\">Hardware Specifications<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>CPU<\/strong>: N\/A &#8211; likely used TTL chips such as UART equivalents like the AY-5-1010 or MC6850<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Interfaces<\/strong>: RS-232 serial port; optional acoustic coupler modem for dial-up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Printer<\/strong>: Thermal dot-matrix, 80-column, ~60 CPS speed, paper roll-fed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keyboard<\/strong>: QWERTY full-travel, integrated with tiltable display\/printer hood.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Power<\/strong>: Battery-powered (NiCd packs) for portability; AC adapter option.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dimensions<\/strong>: Briefcase-sized (~14x10x6 inches).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weight<\/strong>: 7-9 kg including batteries and paper.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"operating-system-programming-languages\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW50331614 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW50331614 BCX0\">Operating System &amp; Programming Languages<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW50331614 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>None (Video display terminal)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"notables\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Notables<figure><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251119_211746512-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-large wp-image-23063\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251119_211746512-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Computer Devices Miniterm 1202D\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251119_211746512-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251119_211746512-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251119_211746512-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251119_211746512-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251119_211746512-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251119_211746512-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251119_211746512-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251119_211746512-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Computer Devices Miniterm 1202D, a mid-1970s &#8220;dumb&#8221; portable printing terminal, earned niche fame as one of the first briefcase-sized teletypes with acoustic couplers, enabling field engineers to dial into minicomputers without fixed lines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>nicknamed the &#8220;engineer&#8217;s briefcase&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Miniterm 1202D marked a transitional &#8220;first&#8221; in mobile I\/O by shrinking ASR-33-style printers into battery-powered units, influencing later portables like the TI Silent 700 and bridging teletype era to CRT dominance during timesharing boom.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Donated By<\/strong>: Dr. Arlen Michaels<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Computer Devices Miniterm 1202D [Vin190] The Computer Devices Miniterm 1202D stands out as a rare 1970s portable printing terminal paired with teletype mechanisms, prized for its acoustic coupler that enabled dial-up connections to mainframes without dedicated lines, embodying early mobile data access. Its claim to fame lies in pioneering compact, battery-powered teletype-style interfaces for field [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cu_dining_location_slug":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_page_type":[125,90,123],"class_list":["post-23055","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","cu_page_type-luggable","cu_page_type-vintage-computing","cu_page_type-vintage-inventory"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23055"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23055\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24951,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23055\/revisions\/24951"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_page_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_page_type?post=23055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}