My Journey with Laptops: From IBM Convertibles to Modern Devices

I remember the early days vividly when technology was still in its nascent stages, and one of the most significant devices was the laptop. My journey with laptops has been unique, starting from my first exposure during my work at IBM to the modern devices I use today. Here, I will share my experiences and how laptops have evolved over the years.

Early Experiences at IBM

My first exposure to a laptop was during my time as a functional test engineer at IBM, working on the PC Convertible around 1985-1986. However, what I had was the 'piece parts' rather than a full-fledged laptop. The term 'planar' was used for the motherboard components, and we used them in an unconventional manner. My work involved making the motherboards, but it wasn't until the late 1990s that I actually had a laptop for personal use.

The transition from workstations to laptops was gradual. For most of the 1990s, we continued to use workstations due to the limitations of email systems like Lotus Notes and the PROFS system. When the company decided to support laptops, it was a significant shift for our team. The laptop came with a Cisco wireless PCMCIA card, a time when laptops didn't have built-in Wi-Fi but had Ethernet ports for wired connections.

Our office was converting from IBM's token ring to Ethernet, and wireless routers were being added for remote network access. This was also a time when my father bought his first router using wired Ethernet only. I brought my work laptop to his house and connected to the new wireless network, marking the first time the family used Wi-Fi.

The Evolution of Desktops and Laptops

Despite the convenience of laptops, I have always preferred desktops due to their ease of working on and upgrading. The TRS80 Mod 1 was one of the first computers I used, and I eventually moved on to an original IBM PC. In 2006, I finally purchased my first laptop, which was a significant milestone in my professional and personal life.

The IBM Convertible was a device that required specialized attention, particularly when dealing with floppy disks. We desperately needed 720k floppy disks, which were not yet widely available and cost 10 each. We needed them for the convertible as well as for test equipment that also relied on these disks. It was a time when 1.44MB floppy disks were not yet common, and the 720k disks were still a rare find.

The Role of Lotus Notes in the Transition

A significant reason for the transition to laptops was the decision by Lotus to discontinue support for its product on workstations. The version of Lotus Notes that ran on workstations would no longer be supported, and the company was encouraging migration to laptops. While desktops would have been sufficient, the convenience of having a laptop to bring to meetings and the lab made laptops a more practical solution.

The laptop I received included a Cisco wireless PCMCIA card, and we were entering an era of converting offices from token ring to Ethernet. We were also adding wireless routers to support remote network access. This was a time of exciting technological changes, and the transition from workstations to laptops marked a significant shift in how we worked and communicated.

Conclusion: My journey with laptops has been one of continual evolution, from the early days of IBM Convertibles to the modern devices of today. Each device played a unique role in shaping the technology landscape, and the transition from one to the other has been a testament to progress and innovation.