Timeline of Laptop Sound Card Adoption
This page shows a timeline of when each relatively established laptop manufacturer released their first laptop with a built-in sound card. Some manufacturers are listed twice in the case that their first laptop with sound did not support FM synthesis. In such a case, that laptop and their first laptop with FM synthesis will both be listed.
In order to qualify for this timeline, a laptop manufacturer must have released at least one laptop without a sound card prior to the introduction of their first laptop with one.
I have researched this page as heavily as I could, but there may still be missing details.
Pre-1993
Many early laptops/luggables included an ISA expansion slot, which could allow you to add an Adlib or Sound Blaster card.
1993
1994
- February - Compal releases the TS30AS and TS30AT, which supported an optional sound card. It is unclear whether or not this was available at initial launch.
- March - Nan Tan Computer Co. releases the 9200 Series, which included an ESS 488 sound chip.
- March - Toshiba releases the T4700CS & T4700CT, which both included a AB1848 sound chip. This chip lacks FM synthesis.
- May - WinBook releases the XP, which supported optional ESS sound cards.
- May - Zenith Data Systems announces the Z-Noteflex, which shipped a month later and included a sound card. I don't believe this one supported FM synthesis.
- June - Jetta Computers Co. releases the Jetbook E1 Series, which included an ESS sound daughtercard.
- August - Sunrex (also known as HyperData and InnovACE) releases the HyperBook 600 Series, which included 16-bit sound.
- September - NEC releases the Versa M-Series, which included a Crystal CS-4231-KQ sound chip. This chip lacks FM synthesis.
- October - Toshiba announces the T4900CT. To ship a month later, it was their first laptop to include a sound card with FM synthesis.
- October - Twinhead releases the Slimnote 5, which included a sound chip.
- November - Chicony releases the NB5, which included an ESS sound chip.
1995
- January - Epson announces the ActionNote 800 Series. To be shipped a month later, this new series included integrated sound.
- January - Gateway2000 launches the ColorBook2, which included a built-in ESS AudioDrive 688 sound chip.
- February - NEC announces the Versa P-Series, which included an ESS AudioDrive 688 sound chip with proper FM synthesis support, unlike the earlier Versa M.
- March - Samsung releases the SENS 700 and SENSLite 200, which both have built-in sound support.
- May - AST releases the Ascentia 950N, which shipped standard with a Creative Vibra 16 sound chip.
- August - Compaq releases the LTE 5000, which included an ESS AudioDrive 1688 sound chip.
1996
- April - Dell releases updated models of it's 1995 Latitude XPi Series (P100SD and P133ST) which included an ESS sound card. Dell was the last major laptop manufacturer to release a laptop with an integrated sound card.
Page last updated: 08/18/2024
Update Reason: page created
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