PB286LP
| Industry | Computer hardware |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Beny Alagem, Alex Sandel, Jason Barzilay |
| Headquarters | United States |
The PB286LP, introduced in 1989, marked Packard Bell's initial entry into the laptop market, equipped with an 80C286 processor running at 12 MHz and 1 MB of RAM, expandable up to 5 MB. It offered a single ISA expansion slot and was primarily aimed at business users. Originally, it supported only Color Graphics Adapter display standards but received an upgrade to VGA compatibility in 1990. Although reviews were generally favorable, its 16-pound weight and monochrome LCD screen were considered disadvantages. Production ceased in 1991 as Packard Bell shifted focus toward more compact notebook models.
Development and specifications
After being reestablished as a computer brand by Beny Alagem, Alex Sandel, and Jason Barzilay in 1986, Packard Bell unveiled the PB286LP in November 1988 as part of its strategy to penetrate the corporate computing sector. The laptop featured a 12 MHz Intel 80286 processor that could be slowed to 6 MHz, paired with 1 MB of SIMM-based RAM expandable to 5 MB. It included a full-length ISA expansion slot for hardware enhancements, a 1.44 MB floppy disk drive, and optional Conner Peripherals hard drives available in 20 or 40 MB capacities. An optional modem supporting speeds up to 2400 bit/s was also offered.
The system utilized an Intel chipset alongside BIOS firmware from Award Software. Packard Bell engineered the video chipset internally, which supported both double-scan CGA and MDA video modes via an eight-bit interface. The monochrome LCD measured 9.7 inches diagonally with a 1.6:1 aspect ratio. Power was supplied by a removable nickel–cadmium battery providing approximately three hours of operation; power-saving features could disable the display and hard disk after periods of inactivity.
The PB286LP's dimensions were 3.2 by 12.8 by 13.5 inches. Initial prototypes weighed under 15 pounds; however, production units typically weighed between 16 and 18 pounds—with some reports indicating up to 20 pounds—primarily due to the Ni-Cd battery’s weight of about 3.5 pounds.
In April 1990, Packard Bell introduced the PB286LP-VGA model featuring doubled RAM at 2 MB and VGA video support. Both versions were manufactured in Taiwan.
Reception
Critics often remarked on the PB286LP’s substantial weight; Bruce Brown from PC Magazine described it as "on the high side" for clamshell laptops within its category but commended its extended battery life. He found the LCD screen "exceptionally clear" and "excellent for text," despite some flickering during graphic displays. Brown appreciated the keyboard design but pointed out the absence of an unshifted asterisk key, which posed minor issues for users frequently handling files. Performance benchmarks assessing memory speed, hard disk access, and processor capabilities placed the PB286LP in the mid-range among a group of 34 comparable 286 laptops. Nonetheless, Brown regarded it as "a solid choice" for those valuing battery longevity over advanced graphics features.
John Diebold from PC World described the PB286LP as "a decent generic laptop" delivering "adequate performance" along with "notable battery endurance," while criticizing Packard Bell’s customer support for being unreliable and difficult to contact. Gene Wilburn of Computing Canada favored a rival lunchbox-style computer from Semi-Tech Microsystems, despite its slower 10 MHz CPU and lack of battery power, because STM’s plasma display and more conventional keyboard were superior.
In Personal Computing, Christopher O'Malley lauded the PB286LP as "both fast and stylish," favorably comparing it to contemporaries such as Toshiba's T1600 and Compaq's SLT/286 models. He reported battery life reaching up to four hours and emphasized its competitive pricing near US$2,500—approximately $1,000 less than similar alternatives. However, O'Malley expressed disappointment with the display’s lack of VGA compatibility and noted ghosting effects. He also criticized the limited accessory options, single ISA slot availability, no upgrade path from the smaller to larger hard drive capacity, and cramped keyboard layout. Despite these limitations, he concluded that the PB286LP delivered an impressive balance between cost and performance and could be considered one of the best fully featured 286 laptops under $3,000.
Eva J. Blinder from Home Office Computing awarded the subsequent PB286LP-VGA model three out of four stars, commending its responsive keyboard and fairly legible LCD screen while mentioning certain design shortcomings that prevented a perfect rating.
Legacy
In November 1990, the PB286NB was introduced as the successor to the laptop, featuring a smaller form factor and a weight of just six pounds. The PB286LP series was phased out the subsequent year.