When people think of early computers, most people think of bulky, room-sized machines that took up entire floors and required command rooms to operate. But few people know that the idea laptop computer arose long before the era of smartphones and ultrabooks. The first laptop is not just a technical miracle of its time, but a symbol of the revolutionary transition from stationary computing systems to devices that you can take with you.

Today when MacBook Air weighs just over a kilogram, and ASUS ZenBook fits in a backpack, it’s hard to imagine that the first “portable” computers weighed more than 10 kg and cost as much as a small car. But they laid the foundation for modern laptops. In this article we will figure out In what year did the first laptop appear?, who was behind its creation, and how this technology developed in the first decades.

1975: IBM 5100 — the first commercial “portable” computer?

Many historians of technology believe IBM 5100 first laptop computer, although it can hardly be called a laptop in the usual sense. This device, released in September 1975, weighed about 25 kg and was the size of a small suitcase. However, it was a breakthrough: it was portable (if difficult) and did not require a connection to a central mainframe to operate.

IBM 5100 ran on a 16-bit processor PALM (Put All Logic in Microcode) clocked at 1.9 MHz, had 16–64 KB of RAM and a built-in 5-inch monochrome display. The device could perform tasks in languages APL And BASIC, making it a versatile tool for engineers and scientists. Price? From $8975 to $19975 depending on the configuration - by today's standards this is more $40 000–$90 000!

  • 📅 Year of manufacture: 1975
  • 💻 Processor: 16-bit PALM (1.9 MHz)
  • 🖥️ Display: 5" monochrome (16 lines × 64 characters)
  • 💰 Price: from $8975 ($45,000 in 2026)
⚠️ Attention: IBM 5100 It wasn’t a laptop in the modern sense—it couldn’t be used on your lap, and it required an external power supply to operate. However, it was the first step towards the idea of ​​mobile computing.

1981: Osborne 1 - the first real “portable” computer

If IBM 5100 was rather “portable”, then Osborne 1, presented in April 1981, can already be called a prototype of a laptop. Its creator Adam Osborne (Adam Osborne), set the goal of making a computer that can be taken on planes and hotels. The weight of the device was 10.7 kg - almost two times less than IBM 5100.

Osborne 1 worked on the processor Zilog Z80 (4 MHz), had 64 KB of RAM, two 5.25-inch disk drives and a built-in 5-inch monochrome display (24 lines × 52 characters). The main innovation is battery, which allowed you to work without a network for about an hour. Price: $1795 ($5500 in 2026). In the first year it was sold 11,000 copies - a record for that time!

📊 Which of the first “portable” computers impresses you more?
  • IBM 5100 (1975)
  • Osborne 1 (1981)
  • GRiD Compass (1982)
  • Epson HX-20 (1982)
Model Year Weight Processor Price (1981)
IBM 5100 1975 25 kg PALM (1.9 MHz) $8975–$19975
Osborne 1 1981 10.7 kg Zilog Z80 (4 MHz) $1795
GRiD Compass 1982 5.4 kg Intel 8086 (8 MHz) $8150

Interesting fact: Osborne 1 came with a set of software costing $1500, including a word processor, spreadsheets and even a game SuperStar Trek. However, two years later the company Osborne Computer went bankrupt due to mistakes in marketing - announcing a new model too early killed sales of the current one.

1982: GRiD Compass - the first laptop in the modern sense

If Osborne 1 was “portable”, then GRiD Compass 1101, released in April 1982, became the first device that can be called laptop without quotes. It was developed by the company GRiD Systems commissioned by NASA for use on the space shuttle. Weight - total 5.4 kg, and the design with a folding design and an LCD display has become the standard for future laptops.

Specifications GRiD Compass impressed:

  • 🖥️ Display: 6 inch EL display (electroluminescent) with resolution 320×240
  • 💾 Storage: 340 KB magnetic bubble drive (no floppy drive!)
  • 🔋 Autonomy: up to 10 hours from battery
  • 💰 Price: $8150 ($25,000 in 2026)

Why was GRiD Compass so expensive?

The price was explained by innovative technologies: an electroluminescent display cost $1000, and a magnetic bubble drive was more reliable than disk drives, but extremely expensive to manufacture. In addition, the device was developed for the military and NASA, where reliability is more important than cost.

Exactly GRiD Compass was the first to use a keyboard in a modern format and a folding design, which was later copied by all laptop manufacturers. It was bought not only by astronauts, but also by the military, as well as businessmen willing to pay for innovation. In 1985 GRiD released an updated model Compass 1109 with a 20 MB hard drive - a luxury for that time!

1982–1985: Experimental era - Epson HX-20, Compaq Portable and others

The mid-1980s saw the rapid development of portable computers. Manufacturers experimented with formats, weights and functionality. Here are the key models of that period:

  • 📱 Epson HX-20 (1982): First pocket computer with liquid crystal display (4 lines × 20 characters), weight 1.6 kg. Powered by 4 AA batteries and had a built-in printer!
  • 💼 Compaq Portable (1983): The first IBM-compatible portable PC. Weight - 12.5 kg, price - $2995. Clone IBM PC, but with the ability to be carried.
  • 🖥️ Kaypro II (1982): Competitor Osborne 1 with a metal case and two disk drives. It weighed 13 kg, but was more reliable than many analogues.
  • 🚀 Dulmont Magnum (1982, Australia): One of the first laptops with a color display (4 colors), but it weighed 14 kg and cost $5500.

Stands apart Epson HX-20 - he is often called the first hand-held computer. Despite the modest characteristics (processor Hitachi 6301, 16 KB of RAM), it became a breakthrough for journalists and engineers. It was even used on Antarctic expeditions!

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If you see it at auction Epson HX-20 in working order, don't be surprised by the $1000-$2000 price tag. This is a rare collector's item, especially with the original packaging.

1984: Apple IIc - Apple portability

Company Apple has not remained aloof from the laptop race. B April 1984 she introduced Apple IIc - the first model of the series Apple II, which could be easily carried. The weight of the device was 3.6 kg, and included a bag for transportation.

Technically Apple IIc was not a laptop (it did not have a built-in display or battery), but its compactness and ability to connect to an external monitor made it popular among students and businessmen. Key Features:

  • 💻 Processor: MOS 65C02 (1 MHz)
  • 💾 Storage: built-in 5.25-inch drive
  • 🎮 Feature: Joystick and color graphics support
  • 💰 Price: $1295 ($3700 in 2026)

I wonder what Apple IIc sold until 1988 - longer than any other model Apple II. His successor Apple IIc Plus (1988), already had a built-in 3.5-inch drive, but by that time the market had been captured by IBM-compatible laptops.

Why were the first laptops so expensive?

Today, even a budget laptop costs less than $500, but in the 1980s, laptop computer prices ran into the thousands of dollars. Reasons:

  1. Innovative components. LCD displays, lithium batteries, and compact storage devices were new and expensive to produce.
  2. Low circulations. The first laptops were produced in small quantities, which increased the cost. For example, GRiD Compass collected by hand.
  3. Military and scientific orders. Many models were developed for NASA or the Pentagon, where reliability is more important than price. Yes, GRiD Compass tested in zero gravity conditions.
  4. Lack of standards. Each manufacturer used unique connectors and architectures, making mass production difficult.

For comparison, in 1985 the average salary in the United States was about $15,000 per year. A $5,000–$10,000 laptop was a luxury only available to corporations or wealthy professionals.

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The first laptops weren't just expensive—they were an investment in the future. Companies bought them for top managers, and scientists used them in the field, where desktop PCs were useless.

Evolution after 1985: from Toshiba T1100 to modern laptops

By the mid-1980s, laptops became smaller and more affordable. Important milestones:

  • 📅 1985: Toshiba T1100 - the first mass-produced laptop with a display and battery, weighing 4 kg. Cost $1899.
  • 📅 1989: Apple Macintosh Portable - the first portable Mac (7.2 kg, price $6500). Failure due to weight and price.
  • 📅 1991: Apple PowerBook 100 - Revolutionary design with trackball and ergonomic keyboard.
  • 📅 1995: IBM ThinkPad 700C - the first laptop with a color TFT display.

By the 1990s, laptops were no longer a curiosity. Standards have appeared (for example, PCMCIA for expansion cards), and prices dropped to $2000–$3000. By the 2000s, laptops became mainstream devices, and by the 2010s, they became the main tool for work and study.

⚠️ Attention: If you are looking for the first massive laptop then this Toshiba T1100 (1985). But if we talk about the first commercial laptop computer, then the palm IBM 5100 (1975). And the first laptop in the modern sense - GRiD Compass (1982).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about your first laptop

🔍 Who invented the first laptop?

The concept of a portable computer was developed by several companies. IBM 5100 (1975) was the first commercial "portable" PC, but GRiD Compass (1982) was the first to implement the idea of a laptop with a folding design and a battery. Inventor GRiD Compass considered Bill Moggridge (Bill Moggridge), designer who later founded the company IDEO.

💰 How much did the first laptop cost?

Prices varied greatly:

  • IBM 5100 (1975) - from $8975 ($45,000 in 2026)
  • Osborne 1 (1981) — $1795 ($5500)
  • GRiD Compass (1982) — $8150 ($25 000)
  • Epson HX-20 (1982) — $795 ($2400)

🖥️ What technical characteristics did the first laptop have?

GRiD Compass 1101 (1982) had:

  • Processor: Intel 8086 (8 MHz)
  • RAM: 340 KB (magnetic bubble memory)
  • Display: 6-inch EL display (320×240)
  • Weight: 5.4 kg
  • Autonomy: up to 10 hours

📱 Why were the first laptops so heavy?

Main reasons:

  • Using metal cases to protect electronics.
  • Bulky drives (5.25-inch) and power supplies.
  • Screens based CRT (in IBM 5100) or electroluminescent panels.
  • No miniaturization of components (compared to modern chips).

For example, Osborne 1 weighed 10.7 kg mainly due to two disk drives and a metal case.

🚀 What laptops were used in space?

NASA purchased GRiD Compass for the program Space Shuttle since 1983. These laptops have been used for:

  • Control of experiments in zero gravity.
  • Robotics control.
  • Data storage and communication with the Earth.

In total, more than 100 copies GRiD Compass. Interestingly, they worked even after returning to Earth - they were tested for resistance to radiation and temperature changes.