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[REPOST] Epson HX-20 / HC-20 - first laptop 1980 (lemmy.today)
submitted 3 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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Original post by [email protected]:

Source: Photo by Sandstein - File:Epson HX-20 in case - MfK Bern.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Wikipedia: Epson HX-20

The Epson HX-20 (also known as the HC-20) was the first "true" laptop computer. It was invented in July 1980 by Yukio Yokozawa, who worked for Suwa Seikosha, a branch of Japanese company Seiko (now Seiko Epson), receiving a patent for the invention.

Seen on Functional object - Object, Epson, Epson portable computer, 1980-1989

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[-] [email protected] 15 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Oh, damn, sorry

this repost should have gone to the new community. Didn't realize this one had been unlocked.

looks embarrassed

Crossposting.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

Where is the new community please?

[-] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago

[email protected]

The lemm.ee instance is going down at the end of the month.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

Thanks!

[-] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago

hmm what other .ee replacements should we can subscribing to? anyone have a list?

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

There’s a Lemm.ee communities migration megathread here:

https://lemmy.world/post/30859458

[-] [email protected] 10 points 3 weeks ago

A cassette AND little rolls of paper! Amazing 😍

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

The transparent plastic archive thingy bottom left. Keeps the important pieces of paper. Glorious.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

God microcassetes are so fucking cool

[-] [email protected] 8 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

It's dawning on me how much my life could be improved by a receipt printer built into my latop:

  • Quick grocery list to stuff in my pocket.
  • Crinkly on-demand business cards.

Okay...I guess that's it. Still - awesome.

[-] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

They actually do make little portable battery-powered ones. I was looking at them the other day when I was wondering how much it would cost to set up a Linux teletype terminal in response to some other comment.

https://www.amazon.com/Sunydog-Portable-Wireless-Compatible-Restaurant/dp/B0CL481GS1

Not built into the laptop, but can pull it out of a laptop bag and use it.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Yea, they've been around since about 2000, at least. I carried one then for work (I traveled a lot). Thermal printer the size of 2 decks of cards, ran on 4 AA batteries. I don't recall ever replacing the batteries, and I just recycled it a couple years ago (donated to a tech group).

Oh, it connected either via USB or you could do infrared!

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

Ooh. Neat. Thanks.

[-] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago

Damn. You could hack into so many mainframes with this!

[-] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

Literally cassette futurism, love that tape drive

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

*swoon*

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Wow even equipped with toilet paper on the left there for those who can't step away from the computer. Seiko sure knew their audience.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

My god those kecaps are amazing, loom at that finger hugging deep dish

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

Have a look on AliExpress for a decent Gmk Rome SA profile keycap set, that'll get you pretty close.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

Not sure I've ever seen one! And not IRL! Had no idea such a thing was on the market when I was 9.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

But. Can. You. Play. Doom. On. It.

The only question that matters.

this post was submitted on 06 Jun 2025
130 points (98.5% liked)

Cassette Futurism

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Welcome to Cassette Futurism Lemmy and Mbin Community.

A place to share and discuss Cassette Futurism: media where the technology closely matches the computers and technology of the 70s and 80s.

Whether it's bright colors and geometric shapes, the tendency towards stark plainness, or the the lack of powerful computers and cell phones, Cassette Futurism includes: Cassettes, ROM chips, CRT displays, computers reminiscent of microcomputers like the Commodore 64, freestanding hi-fi systems, small LCD displays, and other analog technologies.

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