SPARCstation Voyager (S240)
Gallery
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Technical Specifications
| Model: | SPARCstation Voyager (S240) |
|---|---|
| Codename: Platform: |
Gypsy sun4m |
| Processor: Math Copro: |
microSPARC II (in CPU) |
| Clock Speed: | 60MHz |
| RAM: | max. 80MB |
| Graphics: | |
| Operating System: | |
| Introduced: | March 1994 |
| Dealer price (net): | 19.990DM (16MB RAM, 340 MB HD, 14" greyscale LCD) (Jun. 1994) |
The Sun SPARCstation Voyager: The Portable SPARC Experience
Sun Microsystems introduced the SPARCstation Voyager (code-named "Gypsy") in 1994. The system was designed as a portable Unix workstation rather than a conventional laptop.
It was built around a 60 MHz microSPARC-II processor and included an integrated screen. Sun offered two display options: a 12-inch color LCD at 1024×768 resolution or a 14-inch monochrome LCD at 1152×900, both offering higher resolutions than typical laptop panels of the period.
Although not meant for lap use, the unit could run on an optional battery for field service work and software demonstrations. Built-in interfaces included Ethernet, SCSI, and serial ports, as well as PCMCIA slots for add-in cards such as modems.
The machine ran a release of Solaris 2.3 customized for its hardware. High pricing limited its sales, restricting its adoption mainly to professionals who needed portable access to the SPARC and Solaris environment. Today, the Voyager is an uncommon collector's item that represents Sun's effort to build a mobile workstation outside its standard desktop and server lines.