• Palm TX.
  • HP Pavilion.
  • Lilith 7: 15" PowerBook Aluminum 1.25 GHz.
  • MacBook.
  • PowerBook 100...Lilith 1, as a matter of fact.
  • NEC MobilePro 790 HPC.
  • Panasonic H1400 HHC handheld computer.
  • Newton Messagepad 2100.
  • Newton Messagepad 100.
  • TRS-80 Pocket Computer.
  • HP 95LX.
  • Palm VII.
  • Sharp Pocket Computer PC-1250A.
  • iPod 5G.
  • iPod Nano 2G.
  • HTC Star Trek Windows Mobile smartphone.
  • OnHand WristPC.
  • JavaRing. Yes, it really IS a computer!
  • I remember Lilith!
    My PB100 was "Uhuru". - laughtonb
  • Is this really green? - macfixer
  • Indeed it is; I disassembled Lilith 1 and painted its plastics green (insides), blue (outsides and trackball keeper), and metallic-purple (interrupt and reset switches).
  • Which I would recognize anywhere even if I were not typing on it this very second. *Sigh* - TheJillWrites

Nesting Dolls

Let's click through the "History" menu on this particular articulation of my dementia:

1) "I bet the paper won't be able to find a good picture of the MobilePro for my column. I should shoot one."

2) "That's a nice picture...actually, it'll be even more interesting if I shoot it on top of my Powerbook, just for scale."

3) "Ha...you know, before I put everything away, I should put the MobilePro and the Powerbook on top of the 17" Pavilion, just for fun."

4) "Wouldn't that old HP palmtop look cool on top of the stack? It looks like a mini-laptop. I know it's in that big drawer of palmtops in my hardware locker..."

And the next thing you know, I'm rummaging through my digital locker in the office, pulling out all kinds of current and vintage gear, trying to produce the tallest stack of incrementally-smaller mobile computers that I can.

("Computer" defined as "an electronic device capable of running user-installable software, which can take in data through some sort of input port, perform a calculation or a transformation on that data, and then spit it out through some sort of output.")

No, I don't have some sort of OCD, dammit. Looking at this shot, I realize that hell, I could have put my MacBook between the PowerBook and the MobilePro. I think the MagicCap device could go between the MobilePro and the Newton, too. But am I going to go back and reshoot this? Nope. So there.

Comments and faves

  1. ★

    MacSmiley, DNSF David Newman, sandrino, laughtonb, and 132 other people added this photo to their favorites.

  2. MacSmiley (62 months ago | reply)

    Where'ya gonna put the iPhone, Andy?

  3. gl3n (62 months ago | reply)

    Great pile! Sure, you don't have a trace of OCD, but what about your poor Flickr contacts? Please reshoot with a MacBook added in whenever's convenient for you. That'd be great, thanks.

  4. Big DumpTruck (62 months ago | reply)

    Dude, I swear, if I wasn't already married....

    p.s. I left the dark side two weeks ago. I'm typing this from my shiny new MacBook Pro. I could put my MacBook on top of my Pavillion, but after that, I only have a T-Mobile Sidekick. Do you have a closeup of the ring?

  5. chickenofeathers (62 months ago | reply)

    Now I'm obsessed with seeing the MacBook between the PowerBook and the MobilePro. Now that you've mentioned it, that is. I can almost see it in my mind's eye, the whiteness of it. The photo look entirely not white enough now.

    MacBook!

    MacBook.

  6. splorp (62 months ago | reply)

    I love tech piles. Not to be too big of a nitpicker ... but you forgot to ‘note’ the Newt. By the way, we’d appreciate it if you’d consider adding this image to the Newton group. Ta, Andy.

  7. sandrino (62 months ago | reply)

    How about a real HP RNP calculator?
    HP-41CV Calculator

  8. sandrino (62 months ago | reply)

    view photos “But am I going to go back and reshoot this? Nope. So there.”

    Couln't resist, could you? What was that again about OCD?

  9. sandrino (62 months ago | reply)

    You don't have a shuffle? It could go right on top of that nano.

  10. sandrino (62 months ago | reply)

    You know what would really be cool? Taking the photo again with all the devices on at the same time.

  11. andyi (62 months ago | reply)

    Judges...?

    ...

    BZZZZZT. No, I'm sorry; the judges say that this device is a calculator and not a computer. Couple number three: what computer didyour husband say was closest the last time you made whoopee?

  12. andyi (62 months ago | reply)

    I do and I do and I do for you kids. Here's an updated (and final) photo. There are 18 portables in the new stack instead of just 11...yes, including the MacBook.

    I might possibly have fit more machines into the stack. But I didn't want this to turn into a really expensive game of Jenga...

  13. sandrino (62 months ago | reply)

    Why is lilith 1 green?

  14. andyi (62 months ago | reply)

    Sandrino:

    1) It's not about OCD. It's about serving the needs of my readers. This is why I stand among the world's most beloved technology pundits.

    2) "Taking the photo again with all the devices on at the same time"...that's a terrific idea; you should get right on that.

    3) I did get a shuffle...from a company who did Something Naughty by loading their press releases on it and inviting me to keep it as a gift. I gave it to the Red Cross. All through the month of December I enjoyed seeing the phrase "DONATE BLOOD; WIN AN IPOD" on their sign by Route 1.

  15. andyi (62 months ago | reply)

    4) Lilith 1 is green because my creativity knows no bounds. And early PowerBook cases were fantastically easy to disassemble and paint.

  16. sandrino (62 months ago | reply)

    view photos “It's not about OCD.”

    view profile Keep telling yourself that.

    view photos “‘Taking the photo again with all the devices on at the same time"’...that's a terrific idea; you should get right on that.”

    view profile OK, just overnight the devices to me. I'll take the picture for you. ;)

    view photos “Lilith 1 is green because my creativity knows no bounds. And early PowerBook cases were fantastically easy to disassemble and paint.”

    view profile Cool!

  17. zuhl (62 months ago | reply)

    That is eleventy-forty kinds of awesome, Andy.

  18. Jerrie (62 months ago | reply)

    I'm impressed!!!!

  19. gawd (62 months ago | reply)

    Yeah, definitely not an ocd. .. Right..

  20. Michelle Brea (62 months ago | reply)


    This photo deserves a big HEART,
    please post this beautiful picture at
    Heart Awards Group

  21. sandrino (62 months ago | reply)

    view photos “I did get a shuffle...from a company who did Something Naughty by loading their press releases on it and inviting me to keep it as a gift.”

    view profile Why not delete the offending marketing material and keep the shuffle? Not that donating it wasn't a cool thing to do.

  22. andyi (62 months ago | reply)

    Because it's a major no-no. The iPod has nothing to do with the product in question, I in no way need it to cover the product on a continuing basis...I'm sure they just thought "He gets a million press kits a day; here's a way to stand out and make sure he gets the product and tech info" but it's too close to graft.

    As it was, I loved their product and I wrote a very positive review. I sure wouldn't want people saying "Well, sure...they gave him a free iPod!"

  23. alaejano58 (62 months ago | reply)

    Genial.

  24. Big DumpTruck (62 months ago | reply)

    If I'm couple number three, either his Treo or my Sidekick.

    Hey, does a Tivo fit the qualifications? If so, that was closest.

  25. Big DumpTruck (62 months ago | reply)

    Okay, my last comment....If you liked the documentation that came with that NEC MobilePro - you have me to thank for it. I learned to field strip one as well, and wrote some of the doc for the Tech guide. Ahhh, the good old days, before they laid us all off.

  26. andyi (62 months ago | reply)

    Hey, cool. The MobilePro came with absolutely nothing...but I downloaded the manual. I found it clear and helpful.

  27. Peter John Hill (62 months ago | reply)

    I used to have one of those trs80 pocket computers.. I even had the printer accessory that it docked into. The one with the paper roll tape.

    Nice photo Andy!

  28. kmarsh227 (62 months ago | reply)

    Very cool picture, but I can't help wondering: How did the HP Pavilion laptop feel about having all those computers stacked on top of it?

  29. andyi (62 months ago | reply)

    "Pressured," I'd guess. :)

    Actually, while in the first version of this photo I'd fanned the computers out somewhat artfully, in this edition I made sure that the notebooks were supporting the weight on their frames, distributed as widely as possible.

  30. kmarsh227 (62 months ago | reply)

    "Actually, while in the first version of this photo I'd fanned the computers out somewhat artfully, in this edition I made sure that the notebooks were supporting the weight on their frames, distributed as widely as possible"

    Imagine that phone call to tech support, if any mishaps had happened.

  31. andyi (62 months ago | reply)

    It'd go something like this:

    "I dunno; it just won't wake from sleep for some reason. It is still under warranty..."

  32. saillena (62 months ago | reply)

    Too Good To Be True Too Good to Be True4

  33. antiapathy (62 months ago | reply)

    wow, all of those things must make your life really happy and fulfilling.

  34. rglenn (62 months ago | reply)

    antiapathy: Wow, that attitude must make you a total joy to hang out with.

  35. mortimer? (62 months ago | reply)

    You like gadgets hey! :-P

    --
    Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)

  36. Lunasmom (62 months ago | reply)

    Groovy cool!

  37. mgratzer (61 months ago | reply)

    Nice collection, every Geeks dream!

  38. Robbie Howell (60 months ago | reply)

    this is clever & inventive.

    well done.

  39. Half-light (58 months ago | reply)

    That’s awesome!
    Nice photo!

  40. Christopher Vigliotti (58 months ago | reply)

    could sell this as stock photography...very nice

  41. chinaski_83 (57 months ago | reply)

    fantastic!

  42. ☼ Helder (52 months ago | reply)

    this looks like those evolution charts but instead of a monkey you have computers :-D

  43. flarthurhu (50 months ago | reply)

    you don't throw much away, do you? I actually recognize 3/4 of the computers, still have my HP 200LX.

  44. npearson99 (43 months ago | reply)

    That's clever!

    I was doing a search for nesting dolls, and this took me by surprise.

    I think you're missing a desktop system at the bottom of the pile ;-)

  45. Zrajm (40 months ago | reply)

    Hmm. Dates, or at least years for these devices would be incredibly nice to have for the image comments.

    Were they bought from the bottom up? I'm guessing not, but half of the stuff in this picture is completely unknown to me..

  46. eha11oran (38 months ago | reply)

    Where's the Apple IIc Andy?

  47. Art, as a weapon. (35 months ago | reply)

    i'd do this except most of my old technology is in pieces.

    and i cant find the HP jornada

    www.pocketpcfaq.com/wce/21/jornada680.JPG
    =[

  48. Art, as a weapon. (35 months ago | reply)

    i was inspired
    gave you credit

    www.flickr.com/photos/dividedxwexstand/373855 2199/

  49. celticsaga (31 months ago | reply)

    haha-hihi-hehehe :D

  50. velocity_186 (25 months ago | reply)

    Hey buddy you got a lot of stuff pls give me some for my website
    mobile app developers

  51. h.curry (24 months ago | reply)

    Great photo! Just to let you know I used it here with a link back to the photo helencurry.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/being-mob ile-friendly/

  52. FattoreWow (19 months ago | reply)

    I am the administrator of Love for Tech. I like this photos, please add it to our young group and add "lovefortech" and "bananaffair" tag (if you want).

    All photos will be displayed on BananAffair!
    Feel free to add more tech photos!

  53. This photo was invited and added to the Love for Tech group.

  54. vonreichenbach (15 months ago | reply)

    Nice sculpture.

  55. RetroRuss (11 months ago | reply)

    Gotta think that's not good for some of the devices down low... :P Nice picture though, very neat.

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