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 Definition of Laptop:
A laptop computer, or simply laptop (also known as notebook
computer, notebook, notepad, and incorrectly labtop, is a small portable
computer having its main components (Processor, screen, keyboard) built
into a single unit capable of battery powered operation, which usually
weighs 2-18 pounds (approximately 1 to 8 kgs), depending on dimensions,
materials, and other variables. (Source: Wikipedia)
t is debatable what the first
notebook or laptop computer was. The first laptops did not look like the
clamshell desings that are known to us today. Outlined below are some
computers that are classified as the first portable computer (laptop).
The First Laptop Computer 1981:
Osborne 1
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The Osborne 1 was accepted as the
first true mobile computer (laptop, notebook) by most historians. Adam
Osborne, an ex-book publisher founded Osborne Computer and formed the
Osborne 1 in 1981. This was a mobile computer (laptop, notebook) weighed
close to 11kgs and a cost of US$1795. The Osborne 1 had a five-inch
screen, incorporating a modem port, two 5 1/4 floppy drives, a big
collection of bundled software applications, and a battery pack. The
computer company was a failure and did not last for very long. |
The Osborne 1 Mobile Computer (Laptop, Notebook)
Features:
Release Date: |
April 1981 |
Cost: |
US $1,795 |
Weight: |
24.5 pounds |
Processor: |
Zilog Z80 @ 4.0 MHz |
Memory: |
64K Memory |
Display: |
Built-in 5" monitor |
Ports: |
53 X 24 text, Parallel / IEEE-488,
modem / serial port |
Storage: |
Dual 5-1/4 inch, 91K drives |
O/S: |
CP/M |
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1981 - Epson HX-20 Mobile Computer
(Laptop, Notebook)
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The Epson HX-20 battery powered
mobile computer (laptop, notebook) was released in 1981. This Mobile
Computer had a 20-character by 4 line LCD display and a integrated
printer. It was an A4-sized computer weighing less than 4lb, with a
full-size keyboard, integrated display and printer. Epson during that
time planned its launch in the UK, priced below 1500. The Epson could
run independently of AC power for 50 hours using its built-in NiCad
battery cells which needed appoximately eight hours fully recharge. The
integrated inked-ribbon matrix printer was capable of printing graphics
and upper- or lower-case characters on to plain paper rolls. |
The space to the right of the screen could have either been
used by either a micro cassette drive for application or information
storage or a plug in ROM cartridge. The Epson came with 32K of ROM which
had Microsoft Basic and the O/S loaded, and 16K of RAM. An optional
expansion unit which clips on the side of the case can hold an extra 16K
of RAM and 32K of ROM.
1983 - Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100 Mobile Computer
(Laptop, Notebook)
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In 1983, Radio Shack released the
TRS-80 Model 100 Mobile Computer (laptop, notebook), a 4 lb. battery
operated computer with a flat and more of a laptop design. The Tandy 100
was a computer made in Japan by Kyocera. All the ROM programs were
written by Microsoft, and even a few of them were written by Bill Gates
himself. These programs included a text editor, a telecommunication
progam, which uses the built-in modem (300 baud), and BASIC. The
operating system uses 3130 bytes of the 8 KB Memory. The CMOS Processor
(80c85) allows to use the Tandy 100 for 20 hours with only 4 AA
batteries (5 days at 4 hours/day or 20 days at 1 hour/day).Its Processor
was also used on the Mars Pathfinder probe's Sojourner rover! |
The Radio shack TRS-80 Model 100 mobile computer
(Laptop, notebook) Features
Processor: |
Intel 80c85 (code and pin compatible with
8085) |
Speed: |
3 MHz |
Memory: |
8 kb, up to 32 KB (29638 bytes free) by incremental 8 kb
Memory pack on PCB |
ROM: |
32 kb (up to 64 kb) |
Text Modes: |
40 x 8 (LCD screen) |
Graphic Modes: |
240 x 64 (Full-Dot matrix) |
Colours: |
Monochrome |
Sound: |
Beeper |
Size: |
30 (w) x 21.5 (D) x 4.5 (H) cm. |
1984 - IBM 5155
In February 1984, IBM announced the IBM 5155 Portable Personal
Computer (laptop, notebook). This Portable PC was IBM's first carry
around computer. It required AC power to be plugged in to work and
weighed 13.6Kgs. IBM would seize manufacturing the 5155 laptop in April
1986.
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1984 -
PHOTO: HP 110
PHOTO:
HP 110 portable computer clamshell laptop design introduced in 1984
became the standard configuration for portable computers.
The
HP 110 portable computer was designed in parallel with the HP IPC (HP
Integral PC) transportable computer at the HP Corvallis, Oregon division
between 1982 and 1984 after the successful introduction in 1980 of the
small desktop HP 85 BASIC programmable PC with a 5-inch CRT graphical
display and built-in thermal printer. |
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1990
- Atari Stacy
Behold the Atari Stacy portable computer. Originally designed to run on
12 "C" batteries, this early laptop came out the same year as the first
Mac Portable.
Originally designed to operate on 12 standard C cell flashlight
batteries, this proved insuffient to operate the Stacy for an extended
period of time. With 4Megs of RAM and a hard drive, 15 minutes of use
was about all the life the batteries could give you. Additionally, the
15 pound / 7 kg Stacy with external power-pack is somewhat inconvenient
to lug around.
Apple was also working on a portable version of their best computer, the
Macintosh. Their Mac Portable was released in 1989, with many
similarities to the Stacy, except that the Macintosh Portable cost
3-times as much. A solution - run the Macintosh emulator Spectre on
your Stacy for a cheaper (and faster!) portable macintosh computer. |
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by: hosam kamal
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