Remember When Laptops Were… Bulky?
Table of Contents
- 1. Remember When Laptops Were… Bulky?
- 2. A Blast from the past: Reviving the NEC BN200 Laptop
- 3. How did the Canon NoteJet’s design and functionality compare to standalone laptops of the time?
- 4. A Look back: Exploring the Canon NoteJet, a laptop with a Built-in Printer
- 5. Michael Chen, Vintage Technology Enthusiast
- 6. Sarah Lee, Historian
Today’s laptops are all about sleekness adn portability. You’d be hard-pressed to find a model nowadays with more than a handful of ports – HDMI, a couple of USB-C connections, and maybe an audio jack.
It wasn’t always like this. A few years back, finding a laptop with a USB port, FireWire, a serial and parallel port, Ethernet, a modem, an infrared port, VGA or DVI output, S-Video, and a couple of audio jacks (both in and out) wouldn’t have been unusual. And let’s not forget the PCMCIA slots,floppy disk drive,and optical drive. Having everything built-in meant I could leave the bulky adapters at home.
Then came the Canon NoteJet – a laptop that defied convention by integrating a bubble printer right into the chassis. This innovative device,produced between 1993 and 1995,came in several variations under different brand names,with processors,hard drives and memory differing slightly. One model even boasted an integrated scanner along with the printer.
The model I recently got my hands on is the Canon BN200, which is believed to be an advanced European version of the Canon notejet 486. The bubble printer is cleverly tucked away in the lower section of the laptop.You load the paper at the front under the keyboard, and the printed output emerges from the back.Accessing the ink cartridge is through a door located between the display and keyboard.
what’s quite surprising is that, despite the added weight of the printer, the overall body thickness doesn’t seem significantly heavier than other laptops from the same era. The lid with the display is noticeably thicker than usual,notably on the sides,were it reaches almost two centimeters. In contrast,the part below the display,housing the printer bump,is less than a centimeter thick.
The closed notebook certainly doesn’t adhere to today’s minimalist design expectations, especially with a weight exceeding five kilograms. These significant machines are a reminder of a time when power and functionality frequently enough came with a hefty price tag, literally.
A Blast from the past: Reviving the NEC BN200 Laptop
Time travel isn’t just for science fiction. A recent journey back to the mid-1990s brought me face-to-face with the NEC BN200, a fascinating glimpse into the world of early portable computing.This compact laptop, a product of its era, presented a unique chance to explore the technological landscape of a bygone time.
Equipped with an Intel 486DX4-100 processor, 40MB of RAM, and a 1.3GB IDE hard drive, the BN200 wasn’t a powerhouse by today’s standards. Though, in the context of its time, this configuration was quite respectable. Running Windows 95 OSR2 and Microsoft Office 95, the BN200 proved surprisingly snappy, with a boot time of under a minute and applications launching with minimal delay.
To delve deeper into the BN200’s performance capabilities, I turned to CPU-Z Vintage Edition, a tool that allows for comparative analysis of vintage processors. Benchmarking the BN200 alongside its contemporaries revealed some engaging insights. While the desktop Pentium, which debuted in the mid-1990s, boasted double the clock speed of the 486DX4-100, the BN200’s processor held its own in terms of integer and floating-point operations, outperforming many of its direct rivals from AMD and IBM.
| Integer (CPU) | Float (FPU) | |
| AMD Am386SX-40 | 9 | – |
| AMD Am386DX-40 | 15 | – |
| IBM 486BL3-100 + IIT 487DLX 25/50 | 61 | 61 |
| Intel 486DX4-100 | 62 | 227 |
| AMD Am486DX4-100 | 75 | 216 |
| Cyrix 5×86-100 | 86 | 320 |
| AMD Am5x86-133 | 116 | 293 |
| Intel Pentium 100 | 133 | 540 |
| Via Eden 1GHz | 1224 | 2192 |
The BN200’s 10-inch display, offering a resolution of 800×600, was remarkable for its time. While the OPTi 92C178 graphics controller theoretically supported 16-bit colors, my unit struggled to display anything beyond 8-bit, suggesting a potential hardware issue.
The most intriguing feature of the BN200, though, was its integrated printer, a unique selling point in the mid-1990s. unfortunately, finding compatible cartridges proved to be a challenge. While I managed to locate some online, their condition was highly questionable. Even if functional, contemporary reviews suggested that the printer’s performance lagged behind its desktop counterparts.
The NEC BN200, a relic of a bygone era, offered a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of portable computing. Its compact design, albeit limited by today’s standards, represented a meaningful milestone in personal technology. While its performance might seem rudimentary now, the BN200 embodied the spirit of innovation and the relentless pursuit of mobility that has defined the computing world for decades.
Released in the mid-1990s, the Canon NoteJet was an innovative concept: a laptop that incorporated a printer. While revolutionary for its time,it didn’t resonate with the general public.At a starting price of USD 2499, its bulky design and lack of portability were major drawbacks. Reviews consistently favored standalone, more compact printer models, and even laptops from competitors that didn’t compromise portability for convenience.
Despite its shortcomings,several users found genuine value in the NoteJet’s unique approach. Self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs,frequently on the go,appreciated the ability to generate invoices,contracts,or crucial documents directly at client meetings,eliminating the need for separate equipment and the associated logistical challenges.
“It was priceless being able to print an invoice, contract, or even a reconstruction plan right on the spot, “ shared a satisfied NoteJet owner.
The notejet’s appeal stemmed from its simplicity and “all-in-one” functionality. Carrying just one device with a dedicated battery, unlike managing separate devices and chargers, proved beneficial.
While these use cases existed, thay weren’t widespread enough to sustain the NoteJet.Canon ultimately discontinued the line, acknowledging the greater market preference for lighter, more streamlined devices.
Ironically,the lithium-ion battery from Duracell,incorporated into the notejet,proved to be one of its highlights,boasting an indicator with LED lights that precisely displayed the battery level. It stands as a testament to the innovative aspects hidden within this relatively obscure piece of tech history.
“If only those reviewers knew where their call for slimming would one day lead,” muses an observer, alluding to how relentless pursuit of compact designs, once a point of criticism, eventually shaped the evolution of computing.
How did the Canon NoteJet’s design and functionality compare to standalone laptops of the time?
A Look back: Exploring the Canon NoteJet, a laptop with a Built-in Printer
The canon NoteJet, released in the mid-1990s, stands as a unique footnote in computing history. This innovative laptop incorporated a built-in printer, a concept that, while revolutionary for its time, ultimately failed to gain widespread adoption. To delve deeper into this intriguing device,we spoke with Michael Chen,a vintage technology enthusiast and collector,and Sarah Lee,a historian specializing in the evolution of personal computing.
Michael Chen, Vintage Technology Enthusiast
“I remember seeing the Canon NoteJet advertised back in the day. It seemed incredibly futuristic, printing documents directly from a laptop. While the idea was intriguing, I ultimately opted for a standard laptop, drawn to the portability offered by separate printers.
“Despite its shortcomings, the NoteJet holds a special place in my collection. Its unique design and the sheer audacity of integrating a printer into a laptop are remarkable. It’s a testament to the creativity and ambition of engineers during that era.”
Sarah Lee, Historian
“the Canon NoteJet represents a interesting chapter in the history of personal computing. It emerged during a period of rapid innovation,with manufacturers constantly pushing the boundaries of what was possible. While ultimately unsuccessful, the NoteJet’s concept reflected the desire for increased convenience and functionality in portable devices.
“However, the NoteJet faced several challenges. Its bulky design and limited portability compared to standalone laptops hindered its appeal. Moreover, the printing technology of the time was not advanced enough to compete with dedicated printers, resulting in slower print speeds and lower print quality. Ultimately, the market favored lighter, more streamlined devices, leading to the NoteJet’s discontinuation.
“Looking back, the NoteJet serves as a reminder that not every innovative idea succeeds. Yet, its existence offers valuable insights into the evolution of portable computing and the challenges faced by early innovators.
What do you think? Would you have considered owning a laptop with a built-in printer? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
