Engineering:Grid GridCase

From HandWiki
Short description: Line of rugged tablets and laptops
Grid GridCase
GRiDCASE 1537EXP laptop (1).jpg
GridCase 1537EXP
Also known asGRiD Case, GRiDCASE;
Portable Sagem (France only)[1][2]
DeveloperGrid Systems Corporation (1985-1988)
Tandy/GRiD Computer Systems (1988-1990)
GRiD Defence Systems (1995-current)
TypeLaptop/Tablet PC
Release date1985; 39 years ago (1985)
PredecessorGrid Compass II
Websitehttps://www.griduk.com/products/

GridCase (stylized as GRiDCASE) is a line of rugged tablets and laptops by Grid Systems Corporation released as a successor of the GRiD Compass line.

History

The first model was released in 1985.

The notable model - GRiDCASE 1535EXP - is a rugged laptop designed for NASA to be used in space, and becomes the first rugged portable PC to attain full TEMPEST accreditation from the NSA.[3]

GRiDCASE models
1980's 1990's 2000's 2010's 2020's
1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Laptops
Regular rugged 2 3 1520 1530 1550 Tandy GRiD laptops 1580 N/A
Fully rugged Subnotebook N/A 1510
Regular size N/A Tempest N/A 1535;
1537
Tandy GRiD laptops 1580T (Tempest) 1580 XGA 1590[3] 1513;

1590

Desktop replacement N/A 1595
Other
Fully rugged Tablets N/A 2500 series
Rackmount PC's N/A 9161U

Models

Former line

GRiDCASE 2[4]

1985; low-contrast LCD screen with green background (instead of orange/yellow plasma screen with black background on a Compass laptops).

This model was based on a MSDOS 2.11 and a bunch of apps burned on ROM that fit in the ROM tray in front.

GRiDCASE 3 with red plasma screen

GRiDCASE 3

1986; returning to a plasma screens (but with red/orange text color and wide aspect ratio). The internal power supply can be ejected and a battery-pack is installed in its place.[5]

3D view:http://vintage-laptops.com/en/grid-case-3

GRiDCASE 3 Tempest

1986; the rugged version of GRiDCASE 3 with electromagnetic protection.

3D view:http://vintage-laptops.com/en/grid-case-tempest

AEG Olympia Olyport 45, rebranded GRiDCASE 1520

GRiDCASE 1520

1988; can be equipped with plasma or LCD screen.

Was based on a 286 CPU.

3D view:http://vintage-laptops.com/en/grid-case-1520

GRiDCASE 1530[6]

GridCase 153#EXP
GRiD GRiDCASE 1530.jpg
GridCase 1530 series laptop
CPUIntel 80386 (Intel 80387 optional)
ConnectivityDIN-5 Keyboard, Phone line, RS-232, Parallel, External peripheral, Video, Power 16 V DC[7]

The modification of 1530 - the Grid GRiDCASE 1535EXP is a rugged laptop with a 80386 CPU, an optional 80387 floating point processor and up to 8 Mbyte of DRAM. It was first flown into space in December 1992 on the STS-53 for use of the HERCULES geolocation device.

The another modification - the Grid GRiDCASE 1537EXP - has another screen (640x480 instead of 640x400, but with less physical size).

The power input is 100-240 V AC 50/60/400 Hz, 80 W. The 400 Hz utility frequency is common on airplanes and submarines.

3D view:http://vintage-laptops.com/en/grid-case-1537e

GRiDCASE 1550

1990;[6] This model has integrated pointing device,[6] an was based on a Intel 80386sx processor.

The 1550sx wersion has 4M RAM, have a 100 M hard disk, a 1.44 M floppy drive, a hardly visible B/W VGA-LCD screen, a built in 2400 bps modem and weights 5.5 Kg (12 lbs.) without battery or power supply.[8]

3D view:http://vintage-laptops.com/en/grid-case-1550sx

Tandy GRiD laptops

In the period from 1990-1994, the Tandy Corp. together with the GRiD Systems Corp.produced the following models:

GRiD 1450SX -3D view:http://vintage-laptops.com/en/grid-1450sx

GRiD 1810 -3D view:http://vintage-laptops.com/en/grid-1810

GRiD 1660 and 1660C -3D view:http://vintage-laptops.com/en/grid-1660

GRiD 1680 and 1680C -3D view:http://vintage-laptops.com/en/grid-1680

GRiD 1720, 1750, 1755 -3D view:http://vintage-laptops.com/en/grid-1755

GRiD 4025N and 4025NC -3D view:http://vintage-laptops.com/en/grid-4025nc

GRiD Defence Systems GRiDCASE

Reintroduced in 1995 line.

GRiDCASE 1580

Also have Tempest version (1580T).

Pentium and pointing stick (initial model, 1995) or Pentium II and touchpad (1580 XGA, 1998).

3D view:http://vintage-laptops.com/en/grid-case-1580

3D view:http://vintage-laptops.com/en/grid-case-1580-tempest

3D view:https://vintage-laptops.com/en/grid-case-1580-XGA

GRiDCASE 1590

GRiDCASE 1510

See also

Preceded by
GRiD Compass
GRiDCASE
1985 - 1990, 1995-current

References