Athena Computer & Electronic Systems
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | June 1982 |
| Founder | David Mitchell |
| Defunct | 1987 |
| Headquarters | San Juan Capistrano, California , United States |
The Athena 1 was an early portable computer introduced in 1983 by Athena Computer & Electronic Systems, a U.S.-based firm located in San Juan Capistrano, California. It stood out as one of the pioneering laptops to utilize solid-state storage as its main data medium, showcasing the company’s forward-thinking approach to mobile computing solutions.
Specifications
Equipped with an internal RAM drive varying from 128 KB up to 1 MB, the Athena 1 utilized 16 KB dynamic RAM chips. Its architecture featured dual NCS-800 microprocessors from National Semiconductor—CMOS versions of the Zilog Z80—selected for their energy efficiency, aligning with Athena’s objective to produce a lightweight device. One processor was dedicated to handling input/output operations, while the other served as the central processing unit. The system initially came with 64 KB of RAM, expandable to 512 KB, and supported internal enhancements through circuit boards connected via an expansion bus socket, indicating intentions for future upgrades such as a 16-bit CPU.
Conceptualized by founder David Mitchell, the Athena 1 did not include an internal floppy disk drive to keep its weight near . Instead, users could opt for an external 5.25-inch floppy drive accessory. The laptop was powered by a lead–acid battery offering up to two hours of operation and was housed in an off-white plastic enclosure measuring . The keyboard was designed and produced by Key Tronic, while the LCD panel—provided by Epson—displayed 80 columns across 4 lines. Although competitors like NEC’s PC-8201 offered superior 8-line LCD screens, Athena announced plans for display improvements that ultimately never materialized.
The device operated on CP/M version 2.2 and came bundled with software including a JRT Pascal interpreter, Chang Labs’ Profit Plan spreadsheet application, and the MiniVEDIT text editor—all stored on a 12 KB internal ROM chip. Notably, BASIC was omitted deliberately by Mitchell, presuming that users would already have access to it elsewhere. The BIOS supported networking capabilities for up to 15 units via dual RS-232 serial ports and included a single parallel port for printers.
In early 1984, Athena introduced an upgrade kit featuring a Harris 80C86 CMOS microprocessor—the first laptop implementation of a CMOS Intel 8086 variant—enabling compatibility with MS-DOS and effectively transforming the Athena 1 into a tri-processor system capable of running both CP/M and MS-DOS environments. This enhancement broadened the laptop’s market reach and highlighted Athena’s dedication to advancing business growth through technological progress.
Development and release
David Mitchell, who founded and led the company in San Juan Capistrano, California, launched Athena Computer & Electronic Systems in June 1982 with a vision centered on producing a premium portable computer tailored for sophisticated users. Within just eight months, the enterprise presented the Athena 1 prototype to the media in February 1983. The model was distinguished by its use of solid-state storage as primary data retention—a notable innovation in design at the time.
Despite this early technological breakthrough, Athena Computer & Electronic Systems discontinued operations in 1987 after releasing only the Athena 1 laptop.
Further reading
- Leonard G. Grzanka, "Transitioning from Ticker Tape to Market Bubbles," Portable Computers, McGraw-Hill, April 1984, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 48–51.
- Clare P. Fleig, "Eliminating Cords with Battery Packs," Portable Computers, McGraw-Hill, April 1984, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 32–35.