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2. Portable computers like laptops and tablets are a regular
part of the modern lifestyle now, but it wasn’t always that
way. It wasn’t too long ago where computing of any kind
was just a pipe dream, let alone the portable devices that
are popular today. It seems as though you could miss ‘the
latest thing’ if you were distracted long enough. And the
compact size of today’s portable computers make that
even more likely.
Way back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the idea of the
laptop computer was taking shape.
3. In the Beginning
In the 1970s, researchers at Xerox were working on a
machine that resembled a portable computer, called
the Dynabook. Laptop technology wouldn’t be
available until the 1980s, but the Dynabook was
intended to be a form of tablet computer with a
screen that remained in an upright position.
The desire was there but the supporting technology
wasn’t, and the Dynabook idea never really
blossomed into an operational unit.
4. The Next Chapter
The first commercial portable computers became
available in 1981. The first one was called the Osborne 1
and it was roughly the size of a portable sewing
machine. The monitor was quite small and it wouldn’t
run on battery power, but it was a revolutionary force in
the business world.
For the first time, business people were able to carry
their computer data along with them. The fact that it
couldn’t run on a battery and its size likely held it back
in the commercial market, and sales never really took
off.
5. The First ‘Real’ Laptop
The first modern-style laptop computer that featured
a flat display screen that folded down onto the
keyboard came out around 1982. It was called the
GRID Compass and it had the same clamshell style
design that’s still used for most of today’s laptops. It
did have battery-power capabilities, but it still
floundered in the commercial market due to a high
price tag and incompatibility with IBM products. In
the end, the primary users of the GRID Compass
were NASA and the US Military.
6. Commercial Success
In 1983, a couple of portable computers were introduced that would see a little
more commercial success. One was the Epson HX-20 and the other was The
Compaq Portable. The Compaq computer still needed AC power to work, but it
was the first portable computer that was compatible with IBM software and the
MS-DOS operating system.
The Epson HX-20 computer was quite simple when it came to programming, but
it could also be run on rechargeable batteries, making it truly portable. By the
end of 1983, a small laptop called the Kyocera Kyotronic 85 had made its way to
North America from Japan. This computer had an internal modem and ran
several programs that were designed by Microsoft. It was small and relatively
inexpensive, making it a favorite among journalists.
7. IBM Compatible Computers
Since IBM was the primary operating platform for the
majority of desktop computers, it was important that laptop
computers also be IBM compatible. This way, users could
transfer data from one computer to the other without
incident. And since none of the earlier portable computers
could fulfill this need effectively, IBM and Toshiba each
produced laptops in 1986 and 87 that were IBM compatible.
These computers were world beaters as far as operation was
concerned, but they did run on batteries, were light enough
to carry around in a backpack and each had a pause feature
that enabled users to continue on with their work from a
previous session without restarting.
8. Apple Enters
Even though Apple had a hand in the home computer
market all through the 80s, it wasn’t until 1989 that the
first portable Apple computer was released. The
Macintosh Portable was the first effort, and even
though it was too bulky to really compete with other
portable computers, Apple was in the market.
In 1991, Apple came out with its PowerBook series,
which included some of the standard features of
modern laptops, like built-in network adapters,
touchpad mouse and the keyboard placement.
9. Windows 95
In 1995, Microsoft introduced the Windows 95
operating system, which completely served to
stabilize and standardize the laptop industry. Other
new features that came out in 1995 included floppy
disk drives, CD-ROM drives and Intel Pentium
processors. All of the major laptop makers quickly
came out with machines that showcased all of the
new features.
10. 1995 and Beyond
Since 1995, portable computers have continued to evolve in
terms of portability, battery life, network connectivity and
graphics. The popular tablet computers like Apple’s iPad are
even further evidence of the progression of portable computing.
Tablets are new, but the concept and idea is anything but new.
The first patent for an electronic tablet that was to be used for
handwriting analysis was granted way back in 1888. Since then,
several attempts have been made to introduce a tablet device
into the marketplace, with varying degrees of success. In all
likelihood, the market for portable computers and related
devices is just getting warmed up.
