GridCase (stylized as GRiDCASE) is a line of rugged tablets and laptops by

Grid Systems Corporation Grid Systems Corporation (stylized as GRiD) was an early portable computer manufacturer, based in the United States and oriented for the production of rugged and semi-rugged machines. Currently, the Grid computer brand still exists as Grid Defen ...

released as a successor of the

GRiD Compass The Grid Compass is a family of laptop computers introduced in 1982 by the Grid Systems Corporation. The design for the Compass was rendered by Bill Moggridge. Owing to its clamshell design—the first in a portable computer—some historians ...

line. The first model was released in 1985.

Models

Former line

GRiDCASE 2

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

Compass A compass is a device that shows the cardinal directions used for navigation and geographic orientation. It commonly consists of a magnetized needle or other element, such as a compass card or compass rose, which can pivot to align itself with No ...

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 screen

GRiDCASE 3

1986; returning to a plasma screens (but with red/orange text color and wide

aspect ratio The aspect ratio of a geometry, geometric shape is the ratio of its sizes in different dimensions. For example, the aspect ratio of a rectangle is the ratio of its longer side to its shorter side—the ratio of width to height, when the rectangl ...

). The internal power supply can be ejected and a battery-pack is installed in its place. 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

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

Source: The modification of 1530 – the Grid GRiDCASE 1535EXP is a

rugged ''Rugged'' is a 2019 Indian Kannada-language romantic action film written and directed by Mahesh Gowda and produced by Arun Kumar A. The film stars Vinod Prabhakar and Chaitra Reddy. The film's caption is "Neenu Malagisiruva Goriyolage Nanninu ...

laptop A laptop computer or notebook computer, also known as a laptop or notebook, is a small, portable personal computer (PC). Laptops typically have a Clamshell design, clamshell form factor (design), form factor with a flat-panel computer scree ...

with a

80386 The Intel 386, originally released as the 80386 and later renamed i386, is the third-generation x86 architecture microprocessor from Intel. It was the first 32-bit processor in the line, making it a significant evolution in the x86 architect ...

CPU A central processing unit (CPU), also called a central processor, main processor, or just processor, is the primary processor in a given computer. Its electronic circuitry executes instructions of a computer program, such as arithmetic, log ...

, an optional

80387 x87 is a floating-point-related subset of the x86 architecture instruction set. It originated as an extension of the 8086 instruction set in the form of optional floating-point coprocessors that work in tandem with corresponding x86 CPUs. These m ...

floating-point processor A floating-point unit (FPU), numeric processing unit (NPU), colloquially math coprocessor, is a part of a computer system specially designed to carry out operations on floating-point numbers. Typical operations are addition, subtraction, multipli ...

and up to 8 Mbyte of

DRAM Dram, DRAM, or drams may refer to: Technology and engineering * Dram (unit), a unit of mass and volume, and an informal name for a small amount of liquor, especially whisky or whiskey * Dynamic random-access memory, a type of electronic semicondu ...

. It was first flown into space in December 1992 on the

STS-53 STS-53 was a NASA Space Shuttle ''Discovery'' mission in support of the United States Department of Defense (DoD). It was Discovery's 15th flight. The mission was launched on December 2, 1992, from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. This was also ...

for use of the

HERCULES Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures. The Romans adapted the Gr ...

geolocation Geopositioning is the process of determining or estimating the geographic position of an object or a person. Geopositioning yields a set of Geographic coordinate system, geographic coordinates (such as latitude and longitude) in a given map datum ...

device. The 1535EXP was also the first rugged portable PC to attain full TEMPEST accreditation from the NSA. Another modification – the Grid GRiDCASE 1537EXP – has another screen (640×480 instead of 640×400, 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

airplane An airplane (American English), or aeroplane (Commonwealth English), informally plane, is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, Propeller (aircraft), propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a vari ...

s and

submarine A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. (It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability.) The term "submarine" is also sometimes used historically or infor ...

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

GRiDCASE 1550

1990; This model has an integrated pointing device, and was based on an Intel 80386sx processor. The 1550sx version has 4 MB RAM, a 100 MB hard disk, a 1.44 MB 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. 3D view: http://vintage-laptops.com/en/grid-case-1550sx

Tandy GRiD laptops

In the period from 1990–1994, the Tandy Corporation together with GRiD Systems Corporation 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

There is also a Tempest version of this model (1580T). Pentium and

pointing stick A pointing stick (or trackpoint, also referred to generically as a nub, nipple or clitmouse) is a small analog stick used as a pointing device typically mounted centrally in a computer keyboard. Like other pointing devices such as mice, touchp ...

(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

References

Grid Systems laptops Computer-related introductions in 1985 Early laptops {{compu-stub