Why do I never see Cromemco mentioned in these stories.

I had a Cromemco System III. It must have weighed 150 lbs. I financed it at the bank using the computer as colateral, just like an automobile. The bank had never done this with a computer before.
I couldn't afford any software other than a $100 version of C programming language. My son sold it many years later at a flea market for $5 and he had to carry it for the old gentleman who bought it.

I still have my 1972 Compaq "suitcase". It even has a handle on top to carry it. About the size (and weight), of a portable sewing machine! Laid down, open the catches, and the base is the keyboard. This also uncovers a storage compartment where the mouse is stored. 9" green screen, with dual 360 floppys. And yes - it still works! Will your laptop still function in 40 years???

It was the TRS-80 with an audio tape player to store programs! MAN! It took forever to find the program I wanted, since you can't listen to the tape, or have it indexed.

http://oldcomputers.net/trs80i.html