The first laptop in the world: year of creation, history and evolution of portable PCs

When we pick up the thin one today ultrabook Weighing less than a kilogram, it's hard to imagine that the first portable computers weighed as much as a small suitcase and cost as much as a car. The history of laptops began not with compact devices, but with bulky machines that barely fit on your lap. But 1981 is officially considered the date of birth of the first commercial laptop - Osborne 1, although its predecessors appeared in the 1970s.

In this article we will figure out which computer can be called the first laptop, how their sizes and capabilities changed, and why some models, for example, IBM 5100 or GRiD Compass, have become iconic. You will also learn what technologies made possible the transition from 10-kilogram “portable” PCs to modern devices a few millimeters thick.

What is considered the first laptop: debate between historians and engineers

The definition of "first laptop" depends on what criteria you use. If we take as a basis portability (the ability to carry the device manually), then the first can be called IBM 5100 (1975) - weighing 25 kg. But this is more of a “portable computer” than a laptop in the modern sense. If we take into account compactness and the ability to work on your knees, then the palm goes to Osborne 1 (1981) or GRiD Compass (1982).

Here are the key contenders for the title of “first laptop”:

• 📺 IBM 5100 Portable Computer (1975) - the first mass-produced portable PC, but it weighed as much as a small refrigerator.
• 💼 Osborne 1 (1981) - the first commercially successful “laptop” with a 5-inch screen and keyboard.
• 🖥️ GRiD Compass 1101 (1982) - the first laptop with a folding screen (climshell), used by NASA.
• 📱 Epson HX-20 (1982) - first real Battery-powered laptop with LCD screen.

Complicating the debate is the fact that in the 1970s and 1980s there was no clear distinction between “laptops” and “portable computers.” Many devices, e.g. Compaq Portable (1983), were marketed as “portable” but were similar in size to a safe. Only by the mid-1980s did models appear that could be called laptops in the modern sense.

1975–1980: The era of the "portable" suitcase computer

Before the advent of real laptops, the market was filled with portable microcomputers - devices that could be carried, but were not convenient to use on the go. Their main feature is built-in monitor (most often a CRT) and a keyboard, which was already an advance compared to terminals connected to mainframes.

The most famous models of this period:

Model	Year	Weight	Features
IBM 5100	1975	25 kg	The first serial portable PC, price - $20,000 (≈ $110,000 in 2026)
Xerox NoteTaker	1978	22 kg	Prototype with a graphical interface, did not go into production
Heathkit H89	1979	12 kg	Popular among hobbyists, assembled from a kit
Kaypro II	1982	13 kg	Competitor to Osborne 1, used the CP/M operating system

These devices were "portable" rather than portable. For example, IBM 5100 had dimensions of 30x45x20 cm and weighed as much as two modern system units. It was bought mainly by the military, scientists and large corporations - it was too expensive and bulky for home use.

⚠️ Attention: Many “portable” computers of the 1970s did not have batteries and required a 220V connection. Their “portability” consisted only in the ability to move between offices, but not in working on the go.

1981–1985: The birth of real laptops - Osborne 1, GRiD Compass and Epson HX-20

The real breakthrough came in the early 1980s, when devices that could be held on the lap appeared (laptop) and use without an external monitor. Three models from this period claim to be the “first laptop”: Osborne 1, GRiD Compass And Epson HX-20.

Osborne 1 (1981) - the first commercially successful laptop. Its creator Adam Osborne, formulated the key principles of a laptop computer:

• 📏 Compactness: weight 10.7 kg, dimensions 33x45x15 cm (like a small case).
• 🔋 Autonomy: could work from the network or a car cigarette lighter (there were no batteries!).
• 💾 Full set: built-in 5-inch screen, keyboard, two floppy drives and a set of programs (text editor, spreadsheets, BASIC).
• 💰 Availability: price $1795 (≈ $6000 in 2026) - cheaper than competitors.

GRiD Compass 1101 (1982) became the first laptop with folding design (climshell) that we are used to seeing today. It was developed for the US Army, and it had unique features for that time:

• 🖥️ Electroluminescent screen (not CRT!) with resolution 320×240.
• 🔋 Built-in nickel-cadmium battery (worked up to 10 hours!).
• 🛡️ Durable magnesium case, resistant to vibrations.
• 🚀 Used in the program Space Shuttle NASA.

Finally, Epson HX-20 (1982) became the first a real laptop by modern standards: weight 1.6 kg, LCD screen, battery power (up to 50 hours of operation!), built-in printer and cassette recorder for data storage. He was even called "the first laptop"in the full sense of the word.

1986–1995: DOS era and first mass-produced laptops from IBM, Toshiba and Compaq

The mid-1980s was a time commercialization of laptops. Companies began to produce models for business users, and not just for military or enthusiasts. Main milestones of this period:

1986 - IBM PC Convertible:

• 💻 First PC-compatible laptop from IBM (processor Intel 8088, 256 KB RAM).
• 🔋 Battery for 4 hours of operation.
• 💾 Two drives for 3.5-inch floppy disks.
• 💰 Price: $3500 (≈ $9000 in 2026).

1989 - Compaq LTE:

• 📉 Weight only 3.2 kg - a record for that time.
• 🖥️ Monochrome LCD screen with backlight.
• 💾 Built-in 20 MB hard drive.
• 🏆 Became the standard for business laptops for the next 5 years.

1991 - Apple PowerBook 100:

• 🍎 The first Apple laptop with a trackball and an ergonomic keyboard.
• 📏 Weight 2.3 kg, thickness 5 cm.
• 🔋 3 hour battery (replaceable!).
• 💰 Price: $2500 (≈ $5500 in 2026).

During this period, key standards were formed:

• 🔌 Dock stations have appeared for connecting external devices.
• 🖱️ Instead of joysticks, they started using trackballs and touchpads.
• 📀 CD-ROM replaced floppy disks (the first laptop with a CD was Toshiba T3200SXC, 1992).

Why were laptops in the 1980s so expensive?

The main reason is the high cost of components. For example, the LCD screen for the Epson HX-20 cost $200 (≈ $600 in 2026), and the batteries were nickel-cadmium and quickly lost capacity. In addition, the market was small, and manufacturers could not reduce prices due to mass production.

1996–2005: Transition to Windows, emergence of Wi-Fi and ultraportable models

By the mid-1990s, laptops ceased to be exotic and became mass product. The main changes of this period:

1. Windows win

Before 1995, most laptops ran DOS or proprietary operating systems (e.g. GRiD-OS). Changed the situation Windows 95, which finally made laptops convenient for ordinary users. The first mass-produced laptop with Windows 95 was IBM ThinkPad 701C (1995) with processor Intel 486 and a color screen.

2. The advent of Wi-Fi

In 1999 the company Apple released iBook - the first laptop with built-in AirPort (analogous to Wi-Fi). This revolutionized mobile work: no longer needed to look for a power outlet or connect via modem. By 2003, Wi-Fi became standard on all business laptops.

3. Ultraportable laptops

In 1996 Toshiba released Libretto 20 - a laptop weighing 840 grams with a 6.1-inch screen. This was the prototype of modern netbooks And ultrabooks. And in 2000 it appeared Sony VAIO C1 - the first laptop with DVD-ROM and weighing less than 1 kg.

4. Battery revolution

In the 1990s, nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries were replaced by lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries, increasing battery life from 2–3 hours to 5–6 hours. For example, Dell Latitude CP (1997) could work up to 8 hours on a single charge.

Weight less than 2.5 kg

Built-in Wi-Fi

Intel Pentium III processor or higher

Battery for 4+ hours

Operating system Windows XP-->

2006–2026: The era of ultrabooks, 2-in-1s and Apple Silicon

The last 20 years have been history for laptops. miniaturization, productivity And versatility. Main milestones:

2008 - MacBook Air

First ultrabook only 1.9 cm thick at its thinnest part. His presentation became legendary: Steve Jobs took it out of the envelope. Despite the weak processor and lack of CD-ROM, MacBook Air set the trend for thin and light laptops.

2012 - Google Chromebook

Laptops based on Chrome OS have become an alternative to Windows and macOS. Their main advantage is low price and cloud orientation. The first model Samsung Series 5, cost only $450.

2015 - 2-in-1 laptops

Appearance Microsoft Surface Book And Lenovo Yoga marked the era of transformers - devices that can be used both as a laptop and as a tablet. Key Technology - touch screens with pen support.

2020— Apple M1

Apple's transition to its own processors Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3) became a revolution: laptops MacBook Pro And MacBook Air received autonomy up to 18 hours and performance comparable to desktop PCs.

2026 - AI and folding screens

Modern trends:

• 🤖 Built-in neural networks (for example, Copilot+ in Windows 11).
• 📱 Folding laptops (eg. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold with OLED screen).
• 🔋 24+ hour batteries (e.g. Dell XPS 13 with processor Intel Core Ultra).
• 🎮 Gaming laptops with level graphics RTX 4090 (For example, ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16).

⚠️ Attention: Modern ultrabooks (for example, MacBook Air M2) are superior in performance to desktop PCs of 10 years ago, and their weight starts from 1 kg. However, the maintainability of such devices is often close to zero - many models have sealed batteries and non-separable housings.

Chronology of laptop development: from 25 kg to 1 kg

To clearly show how laptops have changed, we have collected the key models in the table:

Year	Model	Weight	Processor	Screen	Autonomy	Price (in 2026)
1975	IBM 5100	25 kg	IBM PALM (1.9 MHz)	5" CRT, monochrome	No battery	$110 000
1981	Osborne 1	10.7 kg	Zilog Z80 (4 MHz)	5" CRT, monochrome	From mains/cigarette lighter	$6000
1989	Compaq LTE	3.2 kg	Intel 80286 (12 MHz)	9.5" LCD, monochrome	2–3 hours	$4500
1996	Toshiba Libretto 20	0.84 kg	Intel 486 (75 MHz)	6.1" LCD, color	2 hours	$3000
2008	MacBook Air	1.36 kg	Intel Core 2 Duo (1.6 GHz)	13,3" LED, 1280×800	5 hours	$2500
2023	Dell XPS 13	1.2 kg	Intel Core i7 (13th generation)	13,4" OLED, 3840×2400	12 o'clock	$1800

As can be seen from the table, over 50 years the weight of laptops has decreased by 20 times, autonomy increased from 0 to 24 hours, and screen resolution increased from 240×64 to 3840×2400 (4K). At the same time, prices adjusted for inflation fell 10–20 times.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about your first laptop

🔍 Why is Osborne 1 considered the first laptop if it didn't have a battery?

Osborne 1 called the first laptop because it was the first commercially successful a laptop computer that could be used on your lap (laptop). Although it had no battery, it weighed only 10.7 kg (versus 25 kg for IBM 5100) and had a built-in screen and keyboard. Its main advantage is full readiness for work without connecting external devices.

💻 What laptops were used in the USSR?

Portable computers were mass-produced in the USSR Electronics MS 1504 (1986, weight 5 kg) and Search-2 (1989, IBM PC compatible). Also imported Osborne 1 And Kaypro for military and scientific organizations. However, due to their high price and scarcity, they were rare. Most Soviet users worked on desktop PCs like BK-0010 or Spectrum.

📉 Why were laptops in the 1990s so thick?

Main reasons:

1. 🔋 Batteries: Nickel-metal hydride batteries took up a lot of space.
2. 💾 Storage: Hard drives and floppy drives required space.
3. 🖥️ Screens: CRT monitors were bulky and LCD screens were expensive.
4. 🔌 Ports: COM, LPT, PS/2 and other connectors increased the thickness of the case.

Only by the mid-2000s did engineers learn how to compactly place all components.

💰 How much did the first laptop cost in modern money?

Prices for the first laptops in terms of 2026:

• IBM 5100 (1975) — $20 000 → $110 000.
• Osborne 1 (1981) — $1795 → $6000.
• GRiD Compass (1982) — $8000 → $25 000.
• Apple PowerBook 100 (1991) — $2500 → $5500.

For comparison: flagship MacBook Pro M3 Max in 2026 it costs about $4,000 - cheaper than Osborne 1 in 1981!

🚀 What laptops did the astronauts use?

NASA used several models:

• GRiD Compass (1980s) - the first laptop in space (program Space Shuttle).
• IBM ThinkPad 750C (1990s) - the first laptop on the ISS.
• HP ZBook (2010s) - modern models for controlling robotics.

All space laptops underwent special certification for resistance to radiation and weightlessness.