Bondwell Model 12
I have the main unit.
type computer
country USA
year 1984
os CP/M 2.2
cpu Zilog Z80A
speed 4 MHz
ram 64 KB
rom 4 KB
disk 2 x 5,25″ single side
graphic 9″ CRT, 80 columns x 25 lines
colors mono
sound beeper
ports 2 x RS323cparallel, composite video
The Bondwell Model 12 — The CP/M Luggable
The Bondwell Model 12, released in 1984 at $1,595, was a ”luggable” portable computer in the tradition of the Osborne 1 and Kaypro II — a self-contained, transportable CP/M workstation with a built-in 9-inch monochrome CRT display, 64 KB of RAM, two single-sided 5.25-inch floppy drives, and a speech synthesiser. Emphasising compatibility with Kaypro systems, it targeted business users who needed a portable CP/M machine capable of running the extensive library of Kaypro-compatible software that had developed around that popular platform.
The Luggable Era
The ”luggable” computer — a portable machine too heavy for comfortable lap use but small enough to carry — was a transitional form factor between the desktop computer and the true laptop. Adam Osborne’s Osborne 1 (1981) had pioneered the concept, demonstrating that professionals would pay for portable computing capability even if it came in a 10 kg package. The Bondwell 12 followed this tradition, offering a complete CP/M workstation in a package that could be carried to client sites, meetings, or different offices without the hassle of setting up a full desktop system.
The Speech Synthesiser
An unusual and distinctive feature of the Bondwell 12 was its built-in speech synthesiser — a capability that was genuinely novel in a business portable computer of 1984. While its primary applications were accessibility features and novelty demonstrations rather than core productivity use, the speech synthesiser gave the Bondwell 12 a memorable differentiating feature in a competitive market. It appeared in all the early Bondwell luggable models and became something of a signature characteristic of the product line.
Kaypro Compatibility
The Bondwell 12’s emphasis on Kaypro compatibility was a deliberate marketing strategy targeting users already invested in the Kaypro ecosystem. Kaypro had become one of the most popular CP/M computers for small businesses, and compatibility with its software library — including popular business applications like Perfect Writer, Perfect Calc, and Perfect Filer — was a meaningful selling point for buyers who had already standardised on Kaypro software.