Dulmont Magnum

Dulmont Magnum[1]
Dulmont Magnum
Also known asKookaburra
DeveloperDulmison Pty Ltd[2]
ManufacturerDulmont Electronic Systems Pty Ltd[3]
TypePortable computer
Release dateSeptember 26, 1983 (1983-09-26) (Australia)[4]
1983 (International)[citation needed]
Discontinued1986 (1986)[5]
Operating systemMS-DOS 2.11[6]
CPU8-MHz Intel 80186[7][8]
Memory96KB-384KB RAM,
128KB-384KB ROM
StorageOptionally External Dual 5.25" floppy disk drives, or an external 10 MB hard drive
Removable storageDual 128K ROM cartridge slots
Display8 lines, 80 characters LCD screen (1982–1983)
16 lines, 80 characters LCD screen (1984–1985 international release)
25 lines, 80 characters LCD screen (1985-6 final version)
Earlier versions were able to be upgraded to the larger displays.
Input76-key Keyboard
PowerBattery
External mains power
Dimensions32 x 27.5 x 5.5cm
Mass4.8kg
Dulmont Magnum Kookaburra Laptop PC Keyboard
Dulmont Magnum Kookaburra Laptop PC Cartridges
Dulmont Magnum Kookaburra Laptop PCB
Dulmont Magnum Kookaburra Laptop PC Inside
Dulmont Magnum Kookaburra Laptop PC Rear
Dulmont Magnum Kookaburra Laptop PC Battery Compartment

The Dulmont Magnum[1] is an early laptop computer designed initially by Australian power line equipment manufacturer Dulmison Pty Ltd and subsequently marketed by Dulmont Pty Ltd.[2] Exhibited in September 1983,[4] it was the world's first true battery-powered laptop computer.

Dulmont was a joint venture between Dulmison and an Australian subsidiary of their electrical utility customer the Belgian National Electricity Authority, Tramont Ltd.[9]: 285–6  The Magnum was sold from 1983 to 1986. The company found itself undercapitalized as it sought to enter the international market and faced increased competition from other laptops. It was taken over twice, with Dulmont eventually taken over in 1984 by Time Office Computers (Manufacturing) Pty. Ltd.[10]

  1. ^ a b Name:DULMONT MAGNUM / Registered state/no. NSW H6207808 / Type: Business Names /Date Deregistered: 21/08/1986 / Jurisdiction: Office of Fair Trading, New South Wales, Australia Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine, Dulmont Magnum registered business name, Australian Securities & Investments Commission search
  2. ^ a b Dulmison Pty Ltd - designer of the Dulmon Magnum Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine, Australian Securities & Investments Commission search
  3. ^ "BIOGRAPHY – Dr. Graham Hellestrand". July 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  4. ^ a b A truly portable portable from Sharp, From: Stephen Hutcheon of the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Nov 29, 1983,
  5. ^ "COMPUTERS AND TECHNOLOGY Laptops for the artist, or the artisan". The Canberra Times. 23 November 1987. p. 12. Retrieved 13 April 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ MICROBYTES: Two MS-DOS Portable computers enhanced, Page 10, BYTE Vol 10-08 1985–08 The Amiga
  7. ^ Dulmont Magnum, OLD-COMPUTERS.COM Museum
  8. ^ "Advertising". The Canberra Times. 5 November 1983. p. 8. Retrieved 13 April 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ Dunhunty, Philip (2009). Never a Dull Moment. Philip Dulhunty.
  10. ^ "Time borrows $1m to buy Dulmont". The Canberra Times. 22 October 1984. p. 15. Retrieved 11 April 2015 – via National Library of Australia.