Comments on: Retro Computing Corner: The World’s First Laptop? (c. 1982)

By: Rees

Rees — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:22:56 +0000

Internal rechargeable battery – check
Bult-in screen and keyboard – check
Portability and “lap top” factor – check!

This machine is indeed much more worthy than the Osborne, however, I’m still sticking to my guns. It wouldn’t be recognised by most people these days as a modern “laptop”, so the clamshell form factor is (in my opinion) a must.

It certainly is a very interesting machine. But has it ever been into space?

By: Ali

Ali — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:13:17 +0000

Well, you’re BOTH wrong, ’cause the first laptop computer was the Epson HX-20.

Get it straight.

By: Rees

Rees — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:05:54 +0000

I certainly did research the subject before I wrote this post – and I agree that the Osbourne 1 was the world’s first portable computer, but “laptop” ? It didn’t even have a battery! And I certainly wouldn’t want to use that beast on my lap for any period of time.

So, when writing this I made the assumption that most people consider a laptop to use the “flip” (or “clamshell”) form factor, of which the GRiD was the first. Finding a formal definition of the term isn’t very easy, but I don’t agree that the Osbourne 1 is a “laptop” by anyone’s definition of the word.

I think I’ll write a “Retro Computing Corner” about the Osbourne 1 at some point in the future, however, because it certainly is a very important machine in the history of portable computing (and computing as a whole).

By: John Rangel

John Rangel — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:10:59 +0000

The Osbourne 1 was the very first laptop. Maybe this website should research before posting something. People are going to believe that this is the first laptop, but its not

By: Foooarte tare: cel mai vechi laptop din lume, la Baia Mare! | Pagina lui Dragos Stanca

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:32:44 +0000

[...] Bijuteria vintage se cheama Epson HX20 si e primul PC mobil cu baterii incorporate, anuntat ca va fi produs in 1981 si lansat in 1982. Un model ulterior a zburat, in 1985, in spatiu. Era deja ceva mai evoluat… avea si display;) Il puteti vedea aici. [...]

By: Jamie

Jamie — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:18:57 +0000

Ive got one of the first laptops ever, my grandad use to love computers and got one when they came out. There really heavy, also it has a power supplie which I don’t get if it has to be portiable. Also the screen is only 5-6″, I found it the other day when clearing out the house because he died like last year. But I found it and was like WTF? It still works and is in awsome condidtion!

By: Enigmatres Blog de Tecnologia

Enigmatres Blog de Tecnologia — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:31:44 +0000

[...] aquí, mas información aquí y aquí. Filed under Friki, General, Tecnologia [...]

By: World's 1st Laptop

World's 1st Laptop — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:02:05 +0000

[...] At first when I looked at it I thought it was a calculator or the old version of Nintendo Gameboy (Doesn’t the words in orange looks like a games menu ) Source : Teamteabag [...]

By: colinnwn

colinnwn — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:22:00 +0000

And how ridiculous is it that a folding laptop configuration (or clamshell cell phone) is an enforceable patent and isn’t “patently” obvious. The prior art is a bloody book!

By: SmellyGeekBoy

SmellyGeekBoy — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:06:00 +0000

Depends how you define “laptop” …!

Looks like a knee-crusher to me.