It’s a question that seems simple, but the answer is a bit more complex than you might think. We often picture the first laptop as a clamshell device with a flip-up screen, much like the ones we use today. However, the journey to that familiar design involved several key inventors and milestones. Pinpointing the “first” depends on how you define a laptop computer.
The Early Contender: The Osborne 1
Many people point to the Osborne 1, released in April 1981, as the first true portable computer. It was a revolutionary machine for its time. It featured a bundled software package, a full-sized keyboard, and a tiny 5-inch CRT display. Crucially, it was designed to be transported, though it was the size of a small suitcase and weighed a hefty 24.5 pounds. You couldn’t run it on batteries; it needed to be plugged in. While portable, it was more of a “luggable” than the sleek laptops we imagine.
A Closer Look at the GRiD Compass
If we’re talking about the blueprint for the modern laptop, the GRiD Compass 1101 takes the prize. Designed by Bill Moggridge in 1979, it first became available to customers in 1982. This machine was truly ahead of its time. It featured the iconic clamshell design with a folding screen, a magnesium case, and a bright electroluminescent display. Its main limitation was its price—it cost between $8,000 and $10,000—and it was primarily used by the U.S. government and NASA. It even flew on the Space Shuttle in 1985.
The First True Clamshell Laptop
So, which was the first laptop that looked and functioned like ours? The honor often goes to the Gavilan SC, released in 1983. It was the first computer to be marketed as a “laptop” and featured a flip-up form factor, a built-in touchpad mouse, and the ability to run on batteries. Shortly after, in 1985, the IBM PC Convertible gained widespread popularity, cementing the clamshell design as the standard for portable personal computing.
As you can see, the invention of the laptop wasn’t a single event but a series of innovations. From the luggable Osborne to the groundbreaking GRiD and the consumer-friendly Gavilan, each machine played a vital role in creating the essential tool we rely on today.
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