【Oki Electric Industry】 if386AX

In December 1988, Oki Electric announced the if386AX50 Series of 32-bit laptop personal computers employing the AX architecture.
The AX architecture came into being when the AX Discussion Group was formed in 1987, with the participation of Microsoft Corporation and more than 10 Japanese firms, and the AX standard was drafted -- adding Japanese language capabilities for machines compatible with IBM's PC/AT. The AX architecture conformed to this standard. The basic concepts of AX were: (1) Integrated operability, (2) Connectability between systems, (3) Compatibility of software and data, (4) System extendability, and (5) Compatibility with the IBM "PC/AT" personal computer.

The primary feature of the if386AX50 Series was that it achieved high-speed processing as Japan's first AX laptop by using the 80386 32-bit microprocessor (clock frequency 16MHz) as its CPU. It was also possible to install the 80387 high-speed arithmetic processor. With the standard MS-DOS operating system, this series supported MS-Windows 2.1 (a multi window interface), and thereby achieved multi window operation and multitasking. Later, Oki Electric marketed the if386AX Series together with the previous if800 Series.

Then, in May 1989, Oki announced the 30L-32L which enabled installation of a communication board. The communication board was equipped with an electronic phone book (capable of storing a maximum of 250 telephone numbers), a telephone automatic send/receive mechanism, and a 2,400bps modem.
In August 1990, the 51LC, a 32-bit AX laptop equipped with a color liquid crystal panel was introduced as a sister machine of the if386AX51L.

if386AX Model Specifications
  if386AX50L if386AX51L if386AX51LC
Announcement date December 1988 August 1990
CPU 32bit microprocessor 80386
(16MHz)
32bit microprocessor
80386DX(16MHz)
OS MS-DOS
Memory ROM96KB RAM2-4MB (Max.)
Display 640x480 640x480
8 gradation liquid crystal with backlight
Chinese character (kanji) display
16x19dot
TFT liquid crystal with backlight
Chinese character (kanji) display
16x19dot
Display colors Monochrome 16/8 colors out of 64 colors
Built-in flexible disk 3.5inch,1.44MBx2 3.5inch,1.44MBx1 3.5inch,1.44MBx1
Hard disk - 3.5inch, 40MBx1 3.5inch, 40MBx1
Interfaces RS232C, Centronix, external CRT interface etc.
Expansion slots AX half-size specifications, 16bit bus etc.
Features Could connect external color CRT


  if386AX30L if386AX31L if386AX32L
Announcement date May 1989
CPU 32bit microprocessor 80386SX (16MHz)
OS MS-DOS
Memory ROM96KB RAM1-2MB(Max.)
Display 640x480
8 gradation liquid crystal with backlight
Chinese character (kanji) display 16x19dot
Display colors Monochrome
Built-in flexible disk 3.5inch, 1.44MBx2 3.5inch, 1.44MBx1 3.5inch, 1.44MBx1
Hard disk - 3.5inch, 20MBx1 3.5inch, 40MBx1
Interfaces RS232C, Centronix, external CRT interface etc.
Expansion slots AX half-size specifications, 16bit bus etc.
Features Could connect external color CRT
Communication board (Optional)

  
if386AX51L