Portable Pioneer Adam Osborne dead at 64

douglips writes "Yahoo News has the story. He's best remembered for the blunder of announcing that his next version of the Osborne portable computer was so much better, that nobody bought the current version and the company died quickly. I'm sure everyone in the Slashdot community will miss him - even if you didn't enjoy his work, there's no denying his contributions to popular culture. Truly an American icon."

So sad...

[SpanishInquisition]

I hope Sharon,Kelly,Jack and of course Ozzy will be able to go trough this with force and pride.

Never heard of him...

[}InFuZeD{]

But I really hope when I die I'm not best known for what I did wrong =/

For a minute there...

[IgD]

Just for a minute there I thought this was one of those "(name) dead at (age)" trolls you always see when you browse at -1!

A fitting number.

[RatBastard]

It seems fitting, in a nerdish way, that he should die at 64. There is a certain symmetry somehow.

Re:A fitting number.

[Anonymous Coward]

Just as well, I'd rather hold out for 128, thanks.

Last Words

[Anonymous Coward]

"My reincarnated self is going to be waaaaaay better than this.

Re:A fitting number.

[FrostedWheat]

It seems fitting, in a nerdish way, that he should die at 64. There is a certain symmetry somehow.

Real programmers never die, they are simply cast into (void*)

Re:A fitting number.

[Sloppy]

Well, he could have lived to age 128, but that would have required bank switching.

Sorry to say..

[Adam9]

You have been trolled.

64 years of life...

[gonzo_bozo]

"Nobody will ever need more than 64 years of life..." Yet another shortsighted designer :(

We have our finger on the pulse of Slashdot,

[Anonymous Coward]

We have our finger on the pulse of Slashdot, Crackmonkey, the Internet, and the world. We know how and when you think, and when you don't. We are in charge, we have the power, and never forget that. But... be nice to us and we'll be nice to you. Usually. Just for reference, here's a list of the people on this list who DON'T SUCK: 1. Mae Ling Mak 2. Kieran John Hervold 3. Open Source Man 4. Nick Moffit The following people *DO* suck: 1. Rick Moen (on and off) 2. Deirdre only-a-moron-would-remember-her-last-name If you're not on either list, that means you're not important enough for me to remember. Sorry. Better luck next time! Good luck to all.

Re:A fitting number.

[Anonymous Coward]

Sorry..I program in Java, and I'm unsettled by the fact that I will be collected as garbage in the afterlife.

My favorite Osborne story...

[Cuthbert Calculus]

I remember reading that when the Osborne computer company finally went out of business, the bank sent guards to the offices to make sure the (now jobless) employees didn't make off with any of the expensive computer equipment.

However, nobody bothered to inform the guards that the company manufactured portable computers--a new idea at the time--and many of the employees walked an Osborne right out the door, carrying it like a briefcase. The guards had no idea the company's precious assets were being removed right under their noses.

Re:So sad...

[devnull17]

I hope Sharon, Kelly, Jack and Ozzy follow soon.

Re:Heh, great form.

[kfg]

I never had an Osborne, although I knew a few people who did. I ended up with the Compaq clone and you could have seen me using it (as I've posted before, for anybody keeping score) to run the core functions of my business until 1999.

I loved that old 4mhz battle ax, and only retired it because purely mechanical bits that I couldn't find replacements for began to wear out.

I'd beg to differ somewhat on the Toshiba comment. Sometimes a luggable really is the proper portable solution because sometimes you don't want a laptop or "desktop replacement."

You want a desktop that's easy to take with you.

And now, for the first time, with new low power, low heat cpu's and integrated chipsets on *desktop* motherboards a quarter the size that Osborne was able to make them, and loverly full size, flat panel, LCD screens, a true transportable, *NOT* a laptop, is truly possible to make.

I intend to make one.

I'd name it in honor of Adam Osborne, only I can't name it Osborne, of course, and I can't name it Adam, for, ummmmm, obvious reasons.

I know, I'll use a TLA for (A)dam (O)sborne (L)uggable.

Yeah, that'll work.

KFG

Re:A fitting number.

[Anonymous Coward]

As long as your related objects keep a link open to you, you will exist forever, or until the universe crashes.

no, whats scary is:

[caino59]

we all find humor in the above ;o)

Re:But it WAS a great machine in its time

[john82]

No, no, you misunderstand. I wanted one of these in the worst way. I'm just pointing out what we thought was irresistible back then in light of present day capabilities.

Still, the Osborne1 was a pacesetter. And for a time it was considered one the best offerings available.

Do you recall the print advertising though? I do. Byte magazine used to run an ad showing an attractive business woman carrying one as though it was her attache. After I carried one the first time, I thought she must have been a weightlifter.

Re:A fitting number.

[buffer-overflowed]

I had NOTHING to do with it, I swear. I thought he was 8 bit, not my fault he crashed when I entered 65. It's that damned two's compliment! When will you learn, people need to be unsigned. Why god... why?