Luggable

Findex

The Findex, produced by Findex, Inc., was a luggable computer system introduced in January 1979. Similar to the Micral V, and unlike many other luggables of the 1980s, the Findex incorporated a multi-line plasma display, as well as a full alphanumeric printer and keyboard, floppy drive, and a rechargeable battery, another unusual feature for portables of the time. This was all packaged in a custom built all-in-one enclosure with a handle, which altogether weighed only 20 pounds, significantly less than later luggables like the Osborne and Compaq. Another unusual capability of the Findex was its support for optional bubble memory, an obsolete form of non-volatile memory storage also used by other early high-end microcomputers such as the 1977 Q1/Lite. Another similarity to the Q1/Lite was a Findex system's capability to network with other units to form a system of terminals. However, a drawback of these advanced features was its high cost, which was $4,980 for the base System 100, and $8,230 for the System 128 with bubble memory.