THE NEC 1ST GEN VERSA PAGES

(UltraLite) Versa (1st Gen)

My personal favorite laptop computer from the early 1990's is the NEC (Ultralite) Versa. These were "notebook" laptop computers released by NEC in 1993, and produced until 1996. All but one model was based on various versions of the intel 486 microprocessor (the P/75 being the Pentium based model). They came (generally) standard with 640x480p color screens that could be hot-swapped and/or removed while in operation, and even certain models had touch screens in color or monoochrome that could be flipped over and used as an early form of convertible laptop/tablet combo like the Lenovo Yoga and Microsoft Surface - a full 20 years before Windows 8! The later M and P series introduced smart batteries and sound into the mix (WSS on the M, and SoundBlaster compatible on the P).

NEC HISTORY & GENERAL INFORMATION

NEC History - Versa

History of the NEC UltraLite and Versa Series, focusing on the i486 & 1 Pentium model produced between 1993 and 1996. This includes the UltraLite Autograph/VersaPad, UltraLite Versa, Versa E, Versa M, Versa P, Versa V, and Versa S series machines.

INFORMATION ON SPECIFIC MODELS

NEC UltraLite Versa Series `& NCR Safari 3180`	1993-1994 - This was the original production run of the Versa series, started in 1993 with the Versa 20MHz and 25MHz models, expanded a little later to have a 33MHz model. These were all trackball-less, convertable tablet/laptop computers produced by NEC both under the original brand names, and under the brand of NCR (National Cash Register) as a part of NCR's high-end line of notebook PCs. All of these machines ran on bus-speed 486 DX SL CPUs, had a maximum of 20MB of RAM, and had a detachable screen available in monochrome DSTN and Color, both with or without a 3M MicroTouch touchscreen w/ active wired stylus. See here for an oddity: NEC UltraLite Versa with a Trackball - I'm going to be documenting Prototypes of these machines as well as it seems NEC was not as tightly knit about their prototype computers compared to a lot of other manufacturers, with many survivors out there it seems.
NEC Versa E-Series Info `& AT&T Safari 3181`	1994 -The NEC Versa E series included the Versa 40E (486 DX2-40, 20MHz bus), Versa 50E (486 DX2 SL-50, 25MHz bus), and Versa 75E (486 DX4-75, 25MHz Bus). The E-series introduced the "VersaTrak" trackball as well, and some interior elements to the laptop were updated to make them more servicable out in the field. The "E" supposedly stands for "Enhanced".
NEC Versa V-Series Info `& AT&T Safari 3182`	1994-1996 - The NEC Versa V series was released sometime in mid-late 1994, and was the "Value" based series. These reduced cost with a more spartan motherboard, more VLSI, less glue logic and glue components, cheaper plastic assemblies, and removal of the removable screen feature. Otherwise they were identical to the E-series for the most part - same bus speeds, same CPUs, same options. These were technically a spin-off model in that they were of a different model series - the PC-700 series (710/720).
NEC Versa M/75 & M/100 Info `& AT&T Globalyst 250`	1994-1995 - The NEC Versa "Multimedia" series were a line of 486 DX4 based convertible notebooks based on the original UltraLite Versa and Versa E model platform, but with some minor changes in cosmetics, and the addition of a Crystal Semiconductor CS-4231KQ Windows Sound System compatible audio codec without FM Synthesis - otherwise known as "Crystal Business Audio". There were 4 models: the M/75, a 75MHz workhorse, then 100MHz variant the M/100, and then two special models known as the M/75TC and M/100TC which are electronically different models intended for special "true color" LCD screens. These were also marketed as the AT&T Globalyst 250.
NEC Versa P/75 Info `& AT&T Globalyst 250P`	1995-1996 - The NEC Versa P/75 - PENTIUM 75 - was one of the first portable Pentium products, if not the first, introduced by NEC, and the end of the line for the original PC-400 NEC Versa platform before change to the 2000/4000/6000 series a year later. It still featured the convertible screen, and mostly the same supporting chipset and hardware from the M/75, but ran an intel Pentium 75Mhz CPU in a special mobile format probably only unique to that specific model of NEC Versa. The Versa P/75 later was the only versa model to come factory with a 10.5" LCD Screen (800x600 @256 color) before being replaced by the aforementioned later series of laptop computers.
NEC VersaPad `(aka. NEC UltraLite Autograph)`	1992-1993 - The NEC VersaPad was initially introduced in 1992 as the NEC UltraLite Autograph, and was an early "Windows for Pen Computing" product by NEC designed to compete with products such as the Dauphin DTR-1 and Compaq Concerto. It's generally considered a part of the origianl Versa series because it shares the same design language and general styling with the later products, and likely also some circuitry with the original NEC UltraLite Versa.
NEC Versa S-Series `(aka. NEC UltraLite Autograph)`	1994-1996 - The NEC Versa "S" Series - for "SlimLine" - were a group of non-convertable slimline laptop computers released by NEC during the PC-400-series 1st generation Versa's original product run. These laptops featured 9.4" LCDs, a different BIOS, a "VersaPoint" trackpoint in lieu of the trackball, and had no internal floppy drive to save space and weight - somewhat of a pioneer to today's ultraslim notebook PC's popular with the C-suite crowd.

Versa Technical Information

NEC Versa Accessories	Just like any other line of laptops from any other manufacturer, NEC had quite a line of accessories for their NEC Versa notebook computers including the usual stuff like RAM modules, extra batteries, "VersaPaks" (Hard Disks), Port Replicators, and Docking Stations. Here I'm attempting to list all of those plus various 3rd party add-ons that were often proivided with these laptops including PCMCIA Cards both branded with NEC branding, and those from 3rd Party Manufacturers wuch as 3Com, Clippercom, and Netgear, and maybe even some other gimmicky Versa-specific products that were introduced - such as the VersaBay II modules for the Versa M and P series.
NEC Versa Upgrades	Basically, the various ways to upgrade your vintage NEC 1st Generation Versa to be a more capable machine in the 21st Century. Despite common belief that these laptops are obsolete and useless for anything, the truth is they are actually quite capable machines, even today if given the right, well-placed upgrades, and correct stuff. I will also be including future pending upgrade projects of various independant hardware creators such as TexElec and FutureShop, as while modern computers keep coming, vintage ones keep getting new leases on life.
NEC Versa Part#'s and FRUs	A list of part#'s and FRUs (Field Replaceable Units) from all over the internet compiled for locating replacement parts for your vintage NEC Versa without having to cannibalize other machines to do it. Surprisingly, there seems to be a lot of replacement parts on the second-third hand market for these machines still, the problem is finding them at a reasonable cost, or even just finding them in general beause the only thing the seller knows to post up is the part number for the part, and not what the part is or what it is for. This is a tremendous issue in retro-computing that plagues the field due to the lack of information out there on legacy systems that keeps getting slimmer and slimmer by the year as more archives and manufacturers dump off their "obsolete" documentation.
NEC Versa Detachable LCD Panel Info	A deep dive into the world of the NEC Versa's most distinguishing feature at the onset - the removable, user-upgradable, and flippable LCD panel. 20 years before Microsoft's Surface and Lenovo's Yoga - NEC was really looking to the future with these devices, and unlike either of those, you can actually take the screens apart and fix them yourself, even things like leaky caps on an inverter board or controller board. The NEC NL-series of TFTs are some of the best vintage TFTs money can buy - so much so they are still being sold en-masse on the second hand market for ridiculous prices, and even new alternatives are being made (if only they were more affordable). They don't de-laminate, there's LED kits for them, and using them is as comfortable and easy as using a modern laptop. Some even had Touch thanks to 3M's MicroTouch Technology (which we'll be messing with as well).
NEC Systems Model# Matrix & Dating	A general listing of all of NEC's computing products by product number. We may eventually expand this section to include other models (UltraLites, MultiSpeed, ProSpeed, etc). This will help you identify any one of a number of products NEC has produced since the 1980's. I may even start including some PC-88 and PC-68 stuff in here from Japan, because the PC-88 series did have some influence on the design language used on the original NEC Versa and other NEC products.