Name/Title
1983- Bubble Memory, Sharp CE 100BTags
Bubble Memory, SharpDescription
The Sharp CE-100B Magnetic Bubble Memory was first introduced in 1983. It was part of the Sharp PC-5000, an early IBM PC-compatible laptop released on November 11, 1983. The CE-100B cartridges were used in this laptop, offering 128KB of data storage capacity2. Although bubble memory didn’t become a mainstream storage solution, it remains an interesting artifact from the early days of computing.
The Sharp CE-100B Magnetic Bubble Memory was a somewhat exotic non-moving storage format that industry analysts once touted as the future replacement for spinning magnetic disks. Here are the key details about this unique technology:General Notes
Note
Introduction and Purpose:
Bubble memory was introduced as a potential alternative to traditional spinning magnetic disks. It promised non-volatile storage without moving parts, making it attractive for certain applications.
Sharp PC-5000 Laptop:
The Sharp CE-100B bubble memory cartridges were used in the Sharp PC-5000, a very early IBM PC-compatible laptop released in 1983. Each cartridge held 128KB of data1.
Reality vs. Hype:
Despite the initial excitement, bubble memory did not live up to the industry’s expectations. Other technologies, such as hard drives and flash memory, eventually surpassed bubble memory in terms of performance and cost-effectiveness.
Legacy:
While bubble memory didn’t become a mainstream storage solution, it played a role in the early days of computing.
The Sharp CE-100B remains a curious artifact from that era.
In summary, the Sharp CE-100B bubble memory cartridges were part of an ambitious but ultimately limited experiment in non-moving storage technology.