Evolution of Laptops (Portable Computers) 1975 - 2020

Captain Gizmo

13 Feb 201910:39

Summary

TLDRThe evolution of portable computing is traced from the IBM 5100, the first portable computer, to modern laptops. Key milestones include the Osborne 1's commercial success, the grid compass's use by NASA, and the introduction of color displays with the Commodore SX 64. Innovations like the touchpad in Olivetti's laptop, the netbook with Asus's 701, and the convertible designs of the Yoga series are highlighted. The script also covers unique concepts like the Concerto's detachable keyboard and the Yoga Book's digitizer panel, showcasing the continuous advancement towards compact, versatile devices.

Takeaways

💼 The IBM 5100 was one of the first portable computers, weighing 55 pounds and featuring an external monitor.
📚 The Xerox Note-Taker was a more portable device with a folding keyboard and advanced technology for its time, including 256 KB of RAM and a 5 MHz Intel CPU.
💼 The Osborne 1, launched in 1981, is recognized as the first laptop computer and was the first commercially successful portable computer.
📺 Epson released a compact, battery-powered portable computer that was praised by Businessweek as a revolution in personal computing.
⌨️ The TRS-80, sold by RadioShack, was popular among journalists for its ability to type and transmit text using a built-in modem.
🎨 The Commodore SX 64 was innovative for featuring a full-color display, although it did not sell well initially.
💿 The IBM PC convertible was notable for using the 3.5-inch floppy disk format, which later became an industry standard.
🖥 The SLT/286 was a pioneering laptop with an internal hard disk drive and VGA compatible LCD screen.
💻 The NEC Ultralight was considered the first notebook-style laptop due to its lightweight design under five pounds.
🍎 Apple's PowerBook line, released in 1991, made a significant impact with its unique design and ability to run both MS-DOS and Macintosh software.
📱 In 1992, Olivetti introduced the first laptop with a touchpad, which was positioned near the base of the screen to suit text-based applications.

Q & A

What was the first portable computer, and how much did it weigh?
-The first portable computer was the IBM 5100, and it weighed 55 pounds.
What technological advancements did the Xerox Note-Taker feature?
-The Xerox Note-Taker featured advanced technology for its time, including 256 kilobytes of RAM.

Outlines

00:00

💻 Evolution of Early Laptops and Portable Computers

The script discusses the evolution of portable computing devices starting with the IBM 5100, the first portable computer, and the Xerox Note-Taker. It then moves on to the Osborne 1, recognized as the first commercially successful laptop, and the Epson HX 20, a compact battery-powered device. The Grid Compass, used by NASA and the US military, is highlighted for its ruggedness and solid-state memory. The TRS-80, popular with journalists for its built-in modem, and the Commodore SX 64, the first portable computer with a full-color display, are also mentioned. The IBM PC convertible, with its 3.5-inch floppy disk format, and the SLT/286, the first laptop with an internal hard disk and VGA screen, are noted. NEC's ultralight and Apple's PowerBook line, with its innovative design, round out the early developments.

05:02

📱 Advancements in Laptop Technology and Design

This section covers significant advancements in laptop technology, starting with Olivetti's introduction of the first laptop with a touchpad in 1992. The Cuaderno, capable of audio recording and instant boot-up, is highlighted for its innovative features. The Concerto, a convertible laptop with a detachable keyboard and touchscreen, is noted for its ahead-of-its-time design. The Portégé 8, recognized as the thinnest laptop with a 1.8-inch hard drive, and the TC 1100, a hybrid laptop with a touchscreen and tablet mode, are mentioned. The Asus Eee PC 701, the first netbook, and the Yoga 13, one of the first modern hybrid laptops, are discussed. The Razer Blade, a slim gaming laptop, and the Yoga Book, with its digitizer panel as a keyboard, showcase the evolution towards versatile and specialized laptops.

10:06

🔄 Dual-Screen Innovations in Laptop Design

The final paragraph focuses on the innovative dual-screen laptop concept, where one screen serves as a display while the other functions as a keyboard or control panel. This design allows for versatile usage, such as gaming or presentations, and the potential for both screens to be used independently or together, enhancing the laptop's functionality and user experience.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Portable Computer

A portable computer is a computer designed to be easily carried and used in various locations. The video traces the evolution of portable computers, starting with the IBM 5100, which despite weighing 55 pounds, was lighter than earlier models and marked the beginning of computers becoming more mobile.

💡IBM 5100

The IBM 5100 was one of the first portable computers, released in 1975. It weighed 55 pounds and could connect to an external monitor. Its significance lies in being a pioneer in making computers portable, although by modern standards it was still quite large and heavy.

💡Xerox Note-Taker

The Xerox Note-Taker was a more advanced and portable computer compared to the IBM 5100. Its notable features included a foldable keyboard and screen, 256KB of RAM, and a 5 MHz Intel CPU, representing significant advancements in computer technology at the time.

💡Osborne 1

The Osborne 1, launched in 1981, was the first commercially successful portable computer. Weighing 25 pounds and priced at $1,800, it came bundled with software, making it an affordable and attractive option for consumers. It is recognized as the first true 'laptop' computer.

💡Grid Compass

The Grid Compass, introduced in the early 1980s, was the first portable computer to resemble modern laptops. It was lightweight and used solid-state memory, making it durable and ideal for use by the U.S. government and NASA, including missions on the space shuttle.

💡TRS-80 Model 100

The TRS-80 Model 100 was a popular portable computer sold by RadioShack. It gained traction among journalists for its ability to type and transmit text via a built-in modem, revolutionizing how journalists worked on the go in the early 1980s.

💡Commodore SX-64

The Commodore SX-64, released in 1984, was the first portable computer with a full-color display. Although not a commercial success, it became popular with software developers and user groups, as it was easily portable and could be quickly set up for demos and software copying.

💡IBM PC Convertible

The IBM PC Convertible, launched in 1986, was the first laptop to use the 3.5-inch floppy disk format, which later became the industry standard. It also featured power management and could run on batteries, making it a more practical and portable device for users.

💡PowerBook

Apple's PowerBook, introduced in 1991, revolutionized laptop design with its sleek dark gray cases and innovative placement of the pointing device. This line of laptops set the standard for modern laptop design and was significant for its ability to run both MS-DOS and Macintosh software.

💡Netbook

The netbook, first popularized by Asus in 2007 with the release of the Asus Eee 701, was a small, lightweight, and affordable laptop designed primarily for internet-based applications. Its introduction marked a shift toward more compact and economical computing solutions for everyday users.

Highlights

IBM 5100 was the first portable computer, weighing 55 pounds and featuring an external monitor.

Xerox Note-taker was more portable with a folding keyboard and 256 kilobytes of RAM, a 5 megahertz Intel CPU.

Osborne one, launched in 1981, was the first commercially successful laptop, costing $1800 and weighing 25 pounds.

Epson's tiny battery-powered portable computer was praised by Businessweek as a revolution in personal computing.

The TRS-80 model 100 was popular with journalists for its built-in modem and word processing capabilities.

Commodore SX 64 was the first portable computer with a full-color display, weighing 20 pounds and costing $995.

IBM PC convertible was the first laptop to use the 3.5-inch floppy disk format, which became an industry standard.

SLT/286 was the first laptop with an internal hard disk drive and VGA compatible LCD screen.

NEC Ultralight was considered the first notebook style laptop, weighing under 5 pounds and priced around $5000.

Apple's PowerBook line, released in 1991, caused a stir with its dark gray cases and unique pointing device positioning.

Olivetti developed the first laptop with a touchpad in 1992, positioned near the base of the screen.

The Concerto was the first convertible laptop with a detachable keyboard, pen, and touchscreen.

Portage 8 in 2002 was the thinnest laptop at only three-quarters of an inch thick and featured a 1.8-inch hard drive.

TC 1100 was a hybrid laptop with a touchscreen, stylus, and tablet mode, but limited by Windows XP's lack of touch support.

Asus 701 in 2007 was the first netbook with a 7-inch screen, an Intel Celeron M processor, and a 4GB hard disk.

Yoga 13 was one of the first modern hybrid laptops, taking advantage of Windows 8's touch interface.

Razer Blade was the first true portable gaming laptop, being only 0.9 inches thin and weighing 6.5 pounds.

Yoga Book hybrid laptop in 2016 used a digitizer panel as the keyboard, allowing drawing, writing, and typing on the same panel.

2018 Yoga Book used e-ink for the keyboard panel, providing a natural drawing surface and customizable input layouts.

Asus is working on Project Precog, a dual-monitor laptop that can be used with an external keyboard or as a gaming or presentation device.