Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 4, 2026

NEC MultiSpeed

The MultiSpeed was a line of laptop computers developed by NEC between 1986 and 1988. The inaugural MultiSpeed was the first battery-powered laptop with a 16-bit microprocessor, sporting a NEC V30 clocked at either 4.77 MHz or 9.54 MHz. The clock speed was able to be changed via a DIP switch on the back, hence the name MultiSpeed. The MultiSpeed received positive reviews in the press and performed well in the marketplace, becoming the top-selling laptop in the United States in early 1988, per one survey.

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Jun 4, 2026
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NEC MultiSpeed
Original MultiSpeed in its carrying case
DeveloperNEC
ManufacturerNEC
TypeLaptop
ReleasedDecember 1986 (1986-12)
MS-DOS
CPUNEC V30 at 4.77/9.54 MHz
DisplayPassive monochrome LCD
GraphicsCGA
SuccessorProSpeed

The MultiSpeed was a line of laptop computers developed by NEC between 1986 and 1988. The inaugural MultiSpeed was the first battery-powered laptop with a 16-bit microprocessor, sporting a NEC V30 clocked at either 4.77 MHz or 9.54 MHz.1: 34  The clock speed was able to be changed via a DIP switch on the back, hence the name MultiSpeed.2 The MultiSpeed received positive reviews in the press and performed well in the marketplace, becoming the top-selling laptop in the United States in early 1988, per one survey.13

Models

NEC MultiSpeed
Model
no. 		Processor Clock speed
(MHz) 		LCD
technology 		LCD
resolution 		Notes Date
original NEC V30 4.77/9.54 Monochrome passive, non-backlit CGA, 640×200 December 1986 (1986-12)42
EL NEC V30 4.77/9.54 Monochrome passive, electroluminescent backlight CGA, 640×200 EL upgrade path was available to owners of the original June 1987 (1987-06)56
HD NEC V30 4.77/9.54 Monochrome passive, electroluminescent backlight CGA, 640×200 Sold 55,000 units in 19887 October 1987 (1987-10)89
EL Model 2 NEC V30 4.77/9.54 Monochrome passive, electroluminescent backlight CGA, 640×200 Improved EL panel March 1988 (1988-03)10
References

References

  1. Levitan, Arlan (May 1988). "Taking It on the Road". Compute!. No. 96. ABC Publishing. pp. 31–36 – via the Internet Archive.
  2. Levinson, Sherwin (September 21, 1987). "NEC Multispeed: Laptop Machine Not Just Another Me-Too Product". InfoWorld. 9 (21). CW Communications: 69–71. ProQuest 194248693.
  3. March, Richard (April 5, 1988). "NEC grabs 42% of lap-top sales; bests Toshiba, Zenith". PC Week. 5 (14). Ziff-Davis: 119 – via Gale.
  4. Staff writer (November 6, 1986). "Business Briefs". San Francisco Chronicle. p. 32. ProQuest 302035397.
  5. Somerson, Paul (July 1987). "Road Warriors: 11 Laptops Battle It Out – NEC MultiSpeed". PC Magazine. Vol. 6, no. 13. Ziff-Davis. pp. 217–222 – via Google Books.
  6. Pepper, Jon; Steve Rosenthal (August 1987). "Letter from Atlanta: nearly every company jumped on the 80386 bandwagon at Comdex-Spring '87". Lotus. Vol. 3, no. 8. pp. 13 et seq. – via Gale.
  7. Lewyn, Mark (November 14, 1988). "Choosing a Laptop". USA Today. Gannett Company. p. 3B. ProQuest 306132821.
  8. Angus, Jeff (September 28, 1987). "NEC Extends MultiSpeed Line". InfoWorld. 9 (39). IDG Publications: 29 – via Google Books.
  9. Rash, Jr., Wayne (June 1988). "A Tale of Two Laptops". Byte. Vol. 13, no. 6. McGraw-Hill. p. 127. ProQuest 217781997 – via the Internet Archive.
  10. LaPlante, Alice (April 4, 1988). "NEC Shipping New Version of MultiSpeed EL". InfoWorld. Vol. 10, no. 14. IDG Publications. p. 5 – via Google Books.