Hewlett-Packard OmniBook 300 (1993)

#18 on the PC World Top 25 Computers of all time.

The innovative OmniBook 300 wasn't just one of the first sub-laptops--it was one of the most innovative hardware designs ever, albeit one that didn't prove particularly influential. Weighing 2.9 pounds, the system stored Windows 3.1, Excel 4.0, Word 2.0 and MS-DOS 5.0 in ROM memory rather than on a hard drive; this allowed it to boot up instantly. User storage was solid-state too, on a 40MB PCMCIA Type III hard disk or a 10MB PCMCIA Type II flash-disk drive.

Productivity was a central theme for the OmniBook. The unit came with LapLink Remote Access and HP's organizational tools (contacts, appointments and a financial calculator, same as in the HP 100LX) and provided one-button access to all applications. It also had a unique integrated mouse that popped out of the laptop's right side on a thin piece of plastic; the design eliminated the need for an annoying mouse cable, but the mouse was small and awkward to move about.

Given the OmniBook's basic 386SXLV CPU, monochrome 9-inch VGA screen and power-friendly ROM storage, it's not surprising HP gave the notebook a high battery-life rating--up to 9 hours of power for the 10MB flash-disk version. (In a pinch, the unit could run on AA batteries--unheard of for a computer with a full-size keyboard). Although the solid-state approach to laptop storage didn't catch on at the time, it's back today in products like Samsung's new 16GB and 32GB flash-memory drives. Funny how things come full circle.

Hardware

Size closed

• 16.3 x 28.2 x 3.6 cm
• (6.4 x 11.1 x 1.4 in)

Weight

• 1.31 kg @2.888 ]b) with flash disk
• 1.36 kg 2.998 lb) with hard disk

Traveling weight  (includes adapter and power cable):

• 1.70 kg (3.75 lb) with flash disk
• 1.74 kg (3.84 lb) with hard disk

Processor -

• 386 SXLV CPU

Display

• 640 x 480 dot VGA
• 9-inch diagonal LCD
• 16 shades of gray

Power --

• 4.8 volts DC rechargeable battery pack with nickel-metal hydride cells
• Battery pack recharges in less than 1.5 hours using AC adapter
• Low battery warning when approximately 2 minutes of operation remaining
• Battery life -- up to 5 hours with hard disk, 9 hours with flash disk
• AC adapter -- 100 to 240 volts AC (50 to 60 Hz) input, 12 volts DC output
• Backup power option -- battery back can be replaced by four 1.5 volt lithium AA batteries; or for the flash disk OmniBook only, four 1.5 volt alkaline AA batteries.

Operating Requirements

• Operating temperature: 0 to 40 (degree symbol) C (32 to 104 (degree symbol) F)
• Storage temperature with data retention: 0 to 55 (degree symbol) C (32 to 131 (degree symbol) F)
• Operating and storage humidity: 90% relative humidity at 40 (degree symbol) C (104 (degree symbol) F) maximum

Available versions of mass storage

• 40-MB hard disk (approximately 80-MB compressed)
• 10-MB flash disk (approximately 20-MB compressed)

System RAM

• 2 MB expandable to a total of 8MB with optional RAM expansion card

Input/Output

• 9-pin, 115K baud, RS-232 port (with hardware handshaking)
• 25-pin parallel port
• 9-pin to 9-pin serial cable included
• 115K baud, bi-directional infrared port
• Communications port for optional fax/modem

Keyboard and mouse

• 85 keys
• Touch-typeable keyboard, industry-standard full-sized key spacing
• Embedded numeric keypad
• 9(Fn) keys
• Built-in pop-up mouse

Expandability

• Mass storage or communications capabilities using PCMCIA, Type II, Version 2.0 card slots
• Two slots available with the 10-MB flash disk version
• One slot available with the 40-MB hard disk version