NEC Versa P/75

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Description

The NEC Versa P/75 was a notebook computer based on the Intel Pentium processor. It was released sometime in early 1995 and was the last version of the original Versa line with a detachable/reversible screen. It was also the first NEC Laptop to have a Pentium Processor and SoundBlaster compatible audio with FM Synthesis.

Technical Details

The NEC Versa P/75 had similar specs to all of the previous NEC laptops in the Versa line before it. It's model# was PC-490-XXXX. See the specifications below.

  • Intel Pentium Processor at 75MHz (Special Mobile version)
  • 8MB of On-Board RAM Expandable to 40MB via 4, 8, 12, 16, 32MB proprietary memory cards
  • 1.44MB, 3.5" "VersaBay" floppy drive swappable with a second battery or other modules such as the VersaVideo TV tuner/DV Capture device or the PCMCIA Expansion module that added 2 more slots
  • 44pin IDE "VersaPak" Hard Drive Modules in 320, 540, or 810MB, possibly higher capacities later on
  • C&T 65545 1MB SVGA Video & LCD Controller
  • ESS 688 AudioDrive SoundBlaster compatible Sound with OPL3 FM Synthesis
  • 2x PCMCIA Type II 16-bit Slots functional as a single Type III, Cirrus Chipset
  • 7.2v 3800mAH NiMH "Smart Battery"
  • Standard load of MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows 3.11 from the factory until Windows 95 came out in early-mid 1995

Just like previous generations to use this platform, it featured several user-upgradable, removable, and reversible screen options from the factory, or that could be carried over from an older NEC Versa UltraLite/E/M model.

  • 9.4" NL6448AC30-10 Active Matrix Color LCD, 640x480p resolution, on P/75C models
  • 9.4" NL8060AC24-01 Active Matrix Color LCD, 800x600p resolution, on P/75HC models
  • Later Versa P/75's were available with a 10.4" version of the screen above using an NEC NL8060AC26-02 LCD Panel

While the Pentium CPU was boasted as having high level performance in heavy applications it was still pretty watered down by the aging PC-4xx platform that was largely designed for 486-based processors. Performance is just a hair better than a similarly equipped, 486-based, NEC Versa M/75. As a result, it was overshadowed by other, later Pentium releases including NEC's own 2000/4000/6000 series laptops of the mid-late 1990's which featured better Lithium ion batteries, 32-bit CardBus slots, and larger screens capable of higher resolutions, and more powerful graphics chipsets. It also sold at a lower price point quickly, starting off around $3000 for a 8MB HC model, with prices dropping to $2500 or less by the end of 1995.

See Also