Laptop

History

Before laptop computers were technically feasible, similar ideas had been proposed, most notably Alan Kay's Dynabook concept, developed at Xerox PARC in the early 1970s.

Related Topics:
Alan Kay - Dynabook - Xerox PARC - 1970s

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The first commercially available portable computer was the Osborne 1 in 1981, which used the CP/M operating system. Although it was large and heavy compared to today's laptops, with a tiny CRT monitor, it had a near-revolutionary impact on business, as professionals were able to take their computer and data with them for the first time. This and other "luggables" were about the size of a portable sewing machine, and importantly could be carried on a commercial aircraft. However, it was not possible to run the Osborne on batteries; it had to be plugged in.

Related Topics:
Portable computer - Osborne 1 - 1981 - CP/M - Operating system - Sewing machine

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A more enduring success was the Compaq Portable, the first product from Compaq, introduced in 1983, by which time the IBM Personal Computer had become the standard platform. Although scarcely more portable than the Osborne machines, and also requiring AC power to run, it ran MS-DOS and was the first true IBM clone. (IBM's own later Portable Computer, which arrived in 1984, was notably less IBM-compatible than the Compaq.)

Related Topics:
Compaq Portable - Compaq - 1983 - IBM Personal Computer - MS-DOS - IBM clone - 1984

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However, the first true laptop was the GRiD Compass 1101, designed by William Moggridge in 1979, and released in 1982. Enclosed in a magnesium case, it introduced the now familiar clamshell design, in which the flat display folded shut against the keyboard. The computer could be run from batteries, and was equipped with a 320×200-pixel plasma display and 384-kilobyte bubble memory. It was not IBM-compatible, and its high price (US$ 10,000) meant that it was limited to specialized applications. However, it was used heavily by the U.S. military, and was used on the Space Shuttle during the 1980s. The GRiD company subsequently earned significant returns on its patent rights as its innovations became commonplace. GRiD Sytems Corp was later bought by Tandy (RadioShack).

Related Topics:
GRiD Compass - William Moggridge - 1979 - 1982 - Clamshell - Plasma display - Kilobyte - Bubble memory - Space Shuttle - 1980s - RadioShack

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Two other noteworthy early laptops were the Sharp PC-5000 (1983) and the Gavilan computer, announced in 1983 but first sold in 1984. The Gavilan was notably the first computer to be marketed as a "laptop." It was also equipped with a pioneering touchpad-like pointing device, installed on a panel above the keyboard. Like the GriD Compass, the Gavilan and the Sharp were housed in clamshell cases, but they were partly IBM-compatible, although primarily running their own system software. Both had LCD displays, and had optional printers that attached to their cases.

Related Topics:
Sharp - PC-5000 - 1983 - Gavilan computer - 1984 - Touchpad - Pointing device

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1983 also saw the launch of what was probably the biggest-selling early laptop, the Kyocera Kyotronic 85. Although it was at first a slow seller in Japan, it was quickly licensed by Tandy Corporation, Olivetti, and NEC, who saw its potential and marketed it as the Olivetti M-10, NEC PC-8201, and http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=233 Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100 or Tandy 100. The machines ran on standard AA batteries. The Tandy's internal programs, including a BASIC interpreter, a text editor, and a terminal program, were supplied by Microsoft, and are thought to have been written in part by Bill Gates himself. The computer was not a clamshell, but provided a tiltable 8×40-character LCD screen above a full-travel keyboard. With its internal modem, it was a highly portable communications terminal. Due to its portability, good battery life (and ease of replacement), reliability (it had no moving parts), and low price (as little as US $300), the model was highly regarded, becoming a favorite among journalists. It weighed less than 2 kg (4 lb) with dimensions of 30 x 21.5 x 4.5 cm (12 x 8.5 x 1.75 inches). Initial specs included 8 kb of RAM (expandalbe to 24 kb) and a 3 MHz processor.

Related Topics:
Kyocera - Kyotronic 85 - Tandy Corporation - Olivetti - NEC - Radio Shack - TRS-80 Model 100 - Tandy 100 - AA batteries - BASIC - Microsoft - Bill Gates

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Among the first commercial IBM-compatible laptops were the IBM PC Convertible, introduced 1986, and the Toshiba T1000 and T1200, introduced 1987. Although limited floppy-based DOS machines (the operating system was stored in ROM), the Toshiba machines were small and light enough to be carried in a backpack, and could be run off lead-acid batteries. These also introduced the now-standard "resume" feature to DOS-based machines; the computer could be paused between sessions, without having to be restarted each time.

Related Topics:
IBM PC Convertible - 1986 - Toshiba - T1000 - T1200 - 1987 - ROM - Lead-acid batteries

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Another notable computer was the Cambridge Z88, designed by Clive Sinclair, introduced in 1988. About the size of an A4 sheet of paper, it ran on standard batteries, and contained basic spreadsheet, word processing, and communications programs. Although it anticipated the future miniaturization of the portable computer, as a ROM-based machine with a small display it can ? like the TRS-80 Model 100 ? also be seen as a foreruner of the PDA.

Related Topics:
Cambridge Z88 - Clive Sinclair - 1988 - A4 - Spreadsheet - Word processing - Miniaturization - PDA

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By the end of the 1980s, laptop computers were becoming popular among businesspeople. The NEC Ultralite, released in mid-1989, was perhaps the first notebook computer, weighing just over 2 kg; in lieu of a floppy or hard drive, it contained a 2-megabyte RAM drive, but this reduced its utility as well as its size. The first notebook computers with standard drives were the Compaq LTE series, introduced toward the end of that year. Truly the size of a notebook, they had hard drives and standard-resolution screens.

Related Topics:
NEC Ultralite - 1989 - RAM drive - Compaq LTE

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The first Apple Computer machine designed to be used on the go was the 1989 Macintosh Portable (although an LCD screen had been an option for the transportable Apple IIc in 1984). Another "luggable," rather than laptop, the Mac Portable was praised for its clear active matrix display and long battery life, but was a poor seller due to its bulk. In the absence of a true Apple laptop, several compatible machines such as the Outbound Laptop were available for Mac users; however, for copyright reasons, the user had to supply a set of Mac ROMs, which usually meant having to buy a new or used Macintosh as well.

Related Topics:
Apple Computer - 1989 - Macintosh Portable - Apple IIc - Active matrix - Outbound Laptop - ROM

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The Apple PowerBook series, introduced in 1991, heralded many changes that are now standard on laptops, including ergonomic improvements such as the placement of the keyboard at the back of the machine, thus creating a palm rest, and the inclusion of a built-in pointing device (a trackball). The following year, IBM released its Thinkpad series, offering similar miniaturization.

Related Topics:
PowerBook - 1991 - Ergonomic - Trackball - IBM - Thinkpad

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Later PowerBooks introduced the first 256-color displays, first true touchpad, and first built-in Ethernet networking.

Related Topics:
Touchpad - Ethernet - Networking

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