Evolution of Laptops (Portable Computers) 1975 - 2020

Summary

The 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.