It's been quite a while since the last contest on RetroBattlestations. Life has a way of piling on stress, and between that and the effort of managing voting and creating hand-crafted sticker prizes, it became a bit too much for me to keep up with. Since then I've been on an "extended break" from work, which gave me time to contribute to the FujiNet project. It's been a lot of fun and a great way to stay engaged with the community while keeping my passion for retrocomputing strong.

Now November is here, and that means it's time for what has become an annual tradition and one of the most beloved contests on RetroBattlestations: Portable Week! With the biggest travel holiday in the US approaching, it's the perfect time to celebrate the machines that could travel too.

For those of you new to RetroBattlestations, this contest is all about computers that didn't have to stay at home or the office. Once upon a time, the idea of unplugging a computer from the wall and taking it with you was just a dream. Slowly but surely, that dream became a reality, and these portables, luggables, laptops, and handhelds paved the way. Whether they helped you work, play games, or just avoid family interactions during the holidays, they were made to travel—and that's what makes them perfect for this contest!

Portable Week is one of the biggest traditions we have, and there's no way I could let it pass without a contest. So, dust off your portable systems, fire them up, and let's see what you've got!

On a side note, I recently acquired a Toshiba T3200SX, and I thought it would be perfect to bring along for some holiday travel. This year, though, I'm staying home and hosting Thanksgiving instead. To top it off, I haven't been able to get the power supply fixed yet—a real bummer, not sure I'll be able to get it going before the end of the contest since switching power supply repair is way outside my skillset.

RULES:

Portable Week is from November 23rd through December 1st.

To participate in the contest you need to make a new post to RetroBattlestations with a photo or video that you shot for this contest of a portable computer. The photo or video of your machine must include your reddit username and the date together, either displayed on screen or written on a piece of paper. Make sure your username, the date, and the entire machine are visible. If you're submitting an album please put the verification photo first. No photos or video of just a screen and no emulators. Posts that don't meet these criteria will be disqualified and removed. You are welcome to submit multiple entries.

At the end of the contest three entries will be selected by the RetroBattlestations community and nine retro stickers will be divided up among the winners, with the most going to the first place winner, and the least going to the last place winner.

Curious about previous contests? Check out the complete list here! Previous Portable Week contests: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2013