Laptop computers are an integral part of our lives today. But few people think that first laptops appeared more than 50 years ago and looked completely different from modern ultrabooks. The history of their creation is full of experiments, failures and revolutionary breakthroughs. In this article, we will look at exactly when the first laptop was invented, how it worked, and which models became milestones in the evolution of portable PCs.
The concept of a "computer you can take with you" arose long before the advent of IBM or Apple. Back in the 1960s, engineers dreamed of machines that didn't take up entire rooms. But this dream was realized only after a decade - and then with great reservations. Let's go back to basics and find out how world's first laptop Osborne 1 (1981) weighed 11 kg and cost as much as a car, but at the same time became a breakthrough for the entire industry.
First attempts: laptop prototypes (1970–1980)
Before the official appearance of laptops, there were experimental devices that can be roughly called the “great-grandfathers” of modern laptops. One of the earliest examples was Dynabook - concept proposed Alan Kay in 1968. It was not a real computer, but a vision of the future: a flat screen, a keyboard, and the ability to teach children. The idea was decades ahead of its time.
First working prototype can be considered Xerox NoteTaker (1976), created at the research center Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). The device weighed 22 kg, had a 5-inch screen and cost about $20,000. It was developed for internal use and was not sold for sale. However, NoteTaker laid the foundations for future portable PCs:
- 🔋 I used batteries (although they only lasted for 1 hour)
- 🖥️ Equipped with a graphical interface (a revolution for that time)
- 💾 Had a removable magnetic disk drive
Another important stage was GRiD Compass 1101 (1979), created for NASA. This computer weighed "only" 5 kg and had a folding screen. It was used by astronauts in the program Space Shuttle. The price of the device reached $8,000–$10,000, which made it available only to the military and corporations.
⚠️ Warning: Many of the "early laptops" of the 1970s were more like desktop computers with a carrying handle. Their weight often exceeded 10 kg, and their battery life was measured in minutes.
Osborne 1 (1981): first commercially successful laptop
Officially first serial laptop considered Osborne 1, introduced in April 1981. Its creator Adam Osborne, founded the company Osborne Computer Corporation and set myself the task of making a computer that I could take with me on business trips. The device weighed 10.7 kg, had a 5-inch monochrome screen and cost $1,795.
Specifications Osborne 1 may seem ridiculous by today's standards, but in 1981 it was a breakthrough:
| Parameter | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Processor | Zilog Z80 (4 MHz) |
| RAM | 64 KB |
| Storage | 2 floppy drives for 5.25" floppy disks |
| Screen | 5" monochrome (24 lines × 53 characters) |
| Autonomy | Absent (worked only from the network) |
Despite the modest capabilities, Osborne 1 became a hit, selling 11,000 copies in the first year. Success explained software package, which came as standard (including a text editor and spreadsheet processor). However, after 2 years the company went bankrupt due to mistakes in marketing and the emergence of more advanced competitors.
- Osborne 1
- GRiD Compass 1101
- Xerox NoteTaker
- Dynabook (concept)
- I don't know
Evolution of the 1980s: from Compaq Portable to Macintosh Portable
After Osborne 1 The laptop computer market began to actively develop. In 1983 Compaq released Compaq Portable - first IBM compatible laptop. It weighed 12.5 kg, but had a full-size keyboard and could run all software for IBM PC. This was a key success factor: users finally had a portable computer that did not require relearning.
Other notable models from the 1980s:
- 💼 Kaypro II (1982) - competitor Osborne 1 with metal body and improved keyboard
- 🖥️ Epson HX-20 (1982) - the first laptop with an LCD screen and weighing 1.6 kg (but without a hard drive)
- 🍎 Apple Macintosh Portable (1989) - the first portable Mac, weighed 7.2 kg and cost $6,500
Stands apart Epson HX-20 - he is often called the first a real laptop due to its compactness and autonomy (powered by AA batteries). However, the lack of a hard drive and limited capabilities made it more of an "advanced calculator" for businessmen.
⚠️ Warning: Laptops of the 1980s often required an external monitor to work comfortably. Their built-in screens were too small (3-5 inches) and had low resolution.
1990s: design revolution and the emergence of modern laptops
The real revolution took place in 1991, when Apple released PowerBook 100. This laptop has become a benchmark for the entire industry thanks to:
- 🖱️ Built-in trackball (predecessor of the touchpad)
- 🔄 Ergonomic keyboard layout
- 📏 Compact body (weight 2.3 kg)
PowerBook 100 was developed in collaboration with Sony and became the first laptop that could be used comfortably on your lap (hence the term laptop). Its success forced competitors to reconsider their approaches to design. Same year IBM released ThinkPad 700 - model with red TrackPoint (nipple), which still remains a symbol of the brand.
By the mid-1990s, laptops became lighter, cheaper, and more powerful. Appeared:
- 💽 CD-ROM- drives (for example, in Toshiba Satellite 1994)
- 🔋 Lithium-ion batteries (extended battery life to 3–4 hours)
- 🌐 Built-in modems for Internet access
Has a connector for an external keyboard/mouse|
Weighs less than 3 kg|
Equipped with a CD-ROM drive|
Has a port for connecting to a telephone line -->
2000s: the era of ultrabooks and netbooks
The new century brought two key trends: miniaturization And mobility. In 2007 Asus released Eee PC - first netbook, weighed less than 1 kg and cost about $300. The device had a 7-inch screen, 4 GB of memory and ran Linux. Its success sparked a boom in cheap portable PCs.
Developed in parallel ultrabooks - thin and light premium laptops. Became a pioneer MacBook Air (2008), presented by Steve Jobs in a paper envelope. Its thickness was only 1.94 cm and its weight was 1.36 kg. For comparison: modern ultrabooks (for example, Dell XPS 13) are not much different in size, but ten times more powerful.
Key innovations of the 2000s:
- 🔄 Appearance SSD- drives (the first models in MacBook Air 2010)
- 📡 Wide distribution Wi-Fi And Bluetooth
- 🎮 The emergence of gaming laptops (e.g. Alienware)
Why did netbooks disappear?
Netbooks fell out of favor after 2012 due to the proliferation of tablets (like iPad) and smartphones. Their weak performance and small screens no longer satisfy users, and prices for full-fledged laptops have dropped to comparable levels.
Modern laptops: from 2-in-1 to gaming monsters
Today laptops are divided into several categories, each of which solves its own problems:
| Type | Examples | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrabooks | MacBook Pro, Dell XPS 13 | Thin body, high screen resolution, long battery life |
| Gaming | ASUS ROG Zephyrus, MSI Raider | Powerful video cards, high-frequency screens, RGB backlighting |
| Transformers (2-in-1) | Microsoft Surface, Lenovo Yoga | Touch screen, detachable keyboard, pen support |
| Budget | Acer Aspire, HP Pavilion | Low price, average performance, plastic body |
Modern laptops are equipped with:
- 🧠 Processors Intel Core i9 or Apple M2 with desktop-like performance
- 🎨 Screens with resolution
4Kand update rate120 Hz+ - 🔋 Batteries that can last up to 20 hours
Fun Fact: The Most Powerful Gaming Laptop of 2023 ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 - equipped with a video card NVIDIA RTX 4090 and processor Intel Core i9-13980HX, which allows you to run games in 4K with ray tracing.
When choosing a modern laptop, pay attention to the type of screen: OLED-matrices provide deeper blacks and lower power consumption, but may suffer from pixel burn-in.
The future of laptops: flexible screens and AI
Manufacturers are already testing laptops with flexible screens, which can be folded in half (for example, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold). Such devices combine the compactness of a tablet and the functionality of a laptop. Another direction - laptops with artificial intelligencecapable of:
- 🤖 Optimize performance in real time
- 🎤 Process voice commands without cloud services
- 🔍 Automatically correct errors in code or texts
In addition, we are developing:
- 🔋 Graphene batteries, which charge in seconds
- 🖥️ Projection keyboards (for example, in the concept Lenovo Yoga Book C930)
- 🌍 Eco-friendly materials (cases made from recycled plastic or aluminum)
⚠️ Warning: Laptops of the future may abandon traditional ports (e.g. USB-A or HDMI) in favor of wireless technologies and universal connectors like USB4/Thunderbolt.
The main trend in the coming years is the merging of laptops with tablets and smartphones. Devices will become thinner, lighter and more versatile, and the boundaries between gadget categories will continue to blur.
FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions about the history of laptops
Which laptop is considered the very first in the world?
First serial laptop is Osborne 1 (1981). However, the first prototypes appeared earlier: Xerox NoteTaker (1976) and GRiD Compass 1101 (1979).
How much did the first laptop cost?
Osborne 1 cost $1,795, which is equivalent to approximately $5,500 in 2023 adjusted for inflation. For comparison, the average salary in the United States in 1981 was about $12,000 per year.
When did touchscreen laptops appear?
The first experiments with touch screens began in the 1990s (e.g. IBM Simon in 1994), but the technology spread massively only in the 2010s thanks to Microsoft Surface (2012) and hybrid devices.
Which company was the first to release a laptop with an SSD?
The first serial laptop with SSD-became a storage device MacBook Air (2010), although solid-state drives have existed before (for example, in military computers).
Why were the first laptops so heavy?
Main reasons: use CRT screens (in early models), lead-acid batteries, and full-size components (such as 5.25-inch disk drives). Miniaturization of technology took decades.