Digital HiNote explained

Digital HiNote
Logo Upright:0.5
Developer:Digital Equipment Corporation
Manufacturer:Compal Electronics
Releasedate:November 1994
Discontinued:January 2002
Predecessor:DECpc 433SE Color

The Digital HiNote was a series of laptop computers manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) from 1994 until 1998 and by Compaq from 1998 until 2002. It was generally positively reviewed by technology journalists. The series consisted of the VP and Ultra models which were based on the i486, Pentium, Pentium MMX and Pentium II. After Digital was acquired by Compaq in 1998, the series was phased out.

History

Digital introduced the HiNote brand of laptops in November 1994 as a successor to their x86 laptops marketed under their DECpc brand. The HiNote was introduced simultaneously with the Venturis brand of desktop and towers, which similarly replaced those form factors of x86 computers that bore the DECpc name.[1] The initial lineup comprised a full-sized laptop simply named the HiNote and a subnotebook named the HiNote Ultra; Digital later separated the two sub-brands by designating the former as VP units. Digital offered the initial lineup with either monochrome or color passive-matrix LCDs or color active-matrix LCDs, 33 MHz Intel 486SXs to 50 MHz 486DX2s, and a hard drive capacity between 120 and 340 MB. The standard HiNote included a built-in 3.5 inch floppy drive which could be removed and fitted with a second lithium-ion battery pack in its place, while the drive for the Ultra was external only. Both the original HiNotes proper and Ultras included built-in trackballs as its pointing device of choice.[2] Technology journalists singled out the HiNote Ultra for its sleek industrial design and modularity, which attached the lithium-ion battery to the back of the laptop with a latching mechanism instead of being inserted in the bottom case as was customary for laptop designs.[3] This battery could be rotated to prop up the Ultra at a position more comfortable for typing for long periods of time and allowed it to accommodate the external 3.5-inch floppy disk drive underneath it when placed on a desk. It weighed 4 lb (1,8 kg) and measured only an inch (2,54 cm) high.[4] [5] Digital advertised on television the Ultra's thin and light stature by pulling it out of a manila envelope—an approach replicated by Apple nearly 15 years later, when it advertised its MacBook Air in 2008.[6]

When Compaq acquired Digital in June 1998 for $9.6 billion,[7] [8] they left the design intact but changed the name to Armada 6500. The HiNote-based series was phased out in 2002. Technology writer Brooke Crothers wrote on CNET that its discontinuation was ironic considering that the HiNote received high industry accolades and was "one of the best notebook designs ever and one of the technological gems that Compaq inherited from Digital Equipment."[9]

Models

Line Model
no. 		Processor Clock speed
(MHz) 		Max. memory LCD technology LCD size and resolution Date
baseline 433 33 20 Monochrome passive 9.5 in, [10]
baseline CS433 486SX 33 20 Color passive 9.5 in,
baseline CS450 50 20 Color passive 9.5 in,
baseline CT450 486DX2 50 24 Color active 9.5 in,
baseline CT475 486DX4 75 24 Color active 9.5 in, [11]
baseline CS475 75 24 Color passive 9.5 in,
Ultra 433 486SX 33 20 Monochrome passive 9.5 in,
Ultra CS433 486SX 33 20 Color passive 9.5 in,
Ultra CS450 486DX2 50 20 Color passive 9.5 in,
Ultra CT450 486DX2 50 24 Color active 9.5 in,
Ultra CT475 486DX4 75 24 Color active 9.5 in,
Ultra CS475 486DX4 75 24 Color passive 9.5 in, [12]
Ultra II CTE5100 100 40 Color active 10.4 in, [13]
Ultra II CTS5100 Pentium 100 40 Color active 10.4 in,
Ultra II CTS5120 Pentium 120 40 Color active 10.4 in, [14]
Ultra II CTS5133 Pentium 133 40 Color active 10.4 in,
Ultra II 5150 Pentium 150 40 Color active 11.3 in,
VP 575 Pentium 75 40 Color passive 11.3 in,
VP CSS5100 Pentium 100 40 Color passive 11.3 in,
VP CTS5100 Pentium 100 40 Color active 11.3 in,
VP LSS5100 Pentium 100 40 Color active 11.3 in, [15]
VP 520 Pentium 120 40 Color passive 11.3 in, [16]
VP 525 Pentium 120 40 Color active 11.3 in,
VP 535 Pentium 133 40 Color active 11.3 in,
VP VSS5120 Pentium 120 80 Color passive 12.1 in, [17]
VP VSS5133 Pentium 133 80 Color passive 12.1 in,
VP VTS5150 (545[18]) Pentium 150 80 Color active 12.1 in,
VP VTS5166 166 80 Color active 12.1 in,
Ultra 2000 VTS 5166M Pentium MMX 166 144 Color active 12.1 in, [19] [20]
Ultra 2000 GTX 5166M Pentium MMX 166 144 Color active 14.1 in,
Ultra 2000 VTX 5166M Pentium MMX 166 144 Color active 12.1 in,
Ultra 2000 GTX 5233M Pentium MMX 233 144 Color active 14.1 in, [21]
Ultra 2000 GTX 5266M Pentium MMX 266 144 Color active 14.1 in,
VP 703 Pentium MMX 166 144 Color passive 13 in, [22]
VP 717 Pentium MMX 200 144 Color active 12.1 in,
VP 725 Pentium MMX 200 144 Color active 13.3 in,
VP 745 Pentium MMX 266 144 Color active 13.3 in,
VP 710 Pentium MMX 166 144 Color passive (high-performance addressing) 13.3 in,
VP 715 Pentium MMX 166 144 Color active 13.3 in,
VP 735 Pentium MMX 233 144 Color active 13.3 in, [23]
VP 765 266 144 Color active 13.3 in, [24]

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Digital Equipment announces new lines for notebook PCs. November 11, 1994. Austin American-Statesman. GateHouse Media. D6. ProQuest.
  2. News: Lee. Yvonne L.. Digital rolls out portable line. November 11, 1994. InfoWorld. 16. 46. International Data Group. 47. Google Books. August 18, 2021. August 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818062637/https://books.google.com/books?id=bTgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA47. live.
  3. News: Lee. Yvonne L.. Digital Equipment announces new lines for notebook PCs. November 11, 1994. InfoWorld. 16. 45. International Data Group. 1, 120. Google Books.
  4. News: Brandel. Mary L.. DEC notebooks fashionably late. November 14, 1994. Computerworld. 28. 46. International Data Group. 20. Google Books. August 18, 2021. August 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818062638/https://books.google.com/books?id=AcDPzRXuvqsC&pg=PA20. live.
  5. Web site: Gallagher . Brian . 1998-10-01 . Digital HiNote Ultra 2000 . 2022-11-26 . ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More . en.
  6. News: Beschizza. Rob L.. DEC HiNote the First Laptop to Be Pulled from a Manila Envelope in an Ad?. January 16, 2008. Wired. Condé Nast. March 16, 2021. December 22, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161222073729/https://www.wired.com/2008/01/dec-hinote-the/. live.
  7. News: Reuters . Compaq to Acquire Digital . en-US . Wired . 2022-12-03 . 1059-1028.
  8. Web site: Compaq will buy Digital . https://web.archive.org/web/20221203180206/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1998/01/27/compaq-will-buy-digital/ . dead . December 3, 2022 . 2022-12-03 . Tampa Bay Times . en.
  9. Web site: Crothers. Brooke. January 2, 2002. Compaq phasing out HiNote notebook line. March 14, 2021. CNET. en.
  10. News: Sholkin. Howard. Digital redefines notebook computers with new HiNote line. PR Newswire. November 11, 1994. ProQuest. August 18, 2021. August 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818062640/https://www.proquest.com/docview/447338522/. live.
  11. Goldberg. Michael. Weinberg. Neal. Digital trolls for PC users with cost lure. Computerworld. International Data Group. August 28, 1995. 29. 35. 6. August 18, 2021. August 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818062639/https://books.google.com/books?id=Dc6E48QmXxwC&pg=PP8. live.
  12. Scannell. Ed. Digital adds multimedia options to notebooks. InfoWorld. International Data Group. June 19, 1995. 17. 25. 39. August 18, 2021. August 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818062635/https://books.google.com/books?id=uDoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA39. live.
  13. News: Rohlf. Lisa. Digital HiNote notebooks strike new chord with all-Pentium lineup. PR Newswire. March 14, 1996. ProQuest.
  14. Lin . Charles . Pentium Notebooks: HiNote VP CSS5100/HiNote VP CTS5100/HiNote Ultra II CTS5120 . PC Magazine . Ziff-Davis Publishing Company . August 1996 . 15 . 14 . 158 . 2021-08-18 . 2021-08-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210818062638/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZV8jJvJv-zYC&pg=PA158 . live .
  15. Web site: Digital HiNote VP 500 Series Service Guide . Digital Equipment Corporation . August 18, 2021 . September 1996 . Manx.
  16. April. Carolyn A.. Digital shifts focus to low-price laptops. InfoWorld. International Data Group. October 7, 1996. 18. 41. 27. August 18, 2021. August 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818062635/https://books.google.com/books?id=KDoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27. live.
  17. Web site: Digital HiNote VP 550, 575 Series Service Guide . Digital Equipment Corporation . August 18, 2021 . March 1997 . A1 . Manx.
  18. Venezia . Carol . Cade . Metz . John . Morris . Digital HiNote VP 545 . PC Magazine . Ziff-Davis Publishing Company . February 18, 1997 . 16 . 4 . 47 . August 18, 2021 . August 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210818062634/https://books.google.com/books?id=yS8YYaj_giAC&pg=PA47 . live .
  19. Web site: Digital HiNote Ultra 2000 Service Guide . Digital Equipment Corporation . August 18, 2021 . April 1997 . A1 . Manx . August 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210818062637/https://manx-docs.org/collections/mds-199909/cd2/pc/pf1wwuaa.pdf#page=100 . live .
  20. Web site: Digital HiNote Ultra 2000 Service Guide . Digital Equipment Corporation . August 18, 2021 . May 1997 . A1 . Manx . August 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210818062633/https://manx-docs.org/collections/mds-199909/cd2/pc/pf1wwsma.pdf#page=101 . live .
  21. News: Digital Adds to HiNote Notebook Families New High-Powered Systems with Latest Intel Mobile Processor. PR Newswire. January 12, 1998. ProQuest. August 18, 2021. August 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818062641/https://www.proquest.com/docview/448010726/. live.
  22. Web site: Digital HiNote VP 700 – Technical Specifications . Compaq . August 18, 2021 . Arthur Rinkel . August 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210818062633/http://declegacy.gomtuu.net/legacysupport/digital/hinote_vp_700_specs.html . live.
  23. Briody. Dan. Toshiba, HP, and Digital to launch notebooks. InfoWorld. International Data Group. November 3, 1997. 19. 44. 24. August 18, 2021. August 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818062634/https://books.google.com/books?id=8zsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA24. live.
  24. News: Digital Announces Powerful New Mobile System Incorporating Intel's Mobile Pentium II Processor. PR Newswire. April 2, 1998. ProQuest. August 18, 2021. August 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818062641/https://www.proquest.com/docview/448010726/. live.

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