Who invented the first laptop and when: the story from <em>Osborne 1</em> to modern ultrabooks

Laptop computers are an integral part of the lives of billions of people today. But few people realize that 50 years ago the concept of a “computer that you can carry with you” seemed fantastic. First laptop appeared not in the 1990s, as many people think, but much earlier - in the early 1980s. Its creation was a revolution that changed the understanding of computing technology.

In this article we will figure out when was the first laptop created, who was behind its development, and how portable PCs have evolved from bulky “suitcases” to modern ultrabooks several millimeters thick. You'll learn about the key models that shaped history and why some of them failed despite being innovative.

1981: Osborne 1 - the first commercially successful "portable computer"

Officially first serial laptop considered Osborne 1, introduced in April 1981. Its creator is an American engineer Adam Osborne, founder of the company Osborne Computer Corporation. The device weighed 10.7 kg (like an average watermelon) and cost $1,795, but by the standards of the time it was a revolution.

Osborne 1 was not like modern laptops: it was more like a portable terminal with a tiny 5 inch monitor (resolution - total 52×24 symbol!) and a keyboard built into the lid. The package included $1,500 worth of software, including a word processor, a spreadsheet processor, and two games. There was no battery - the device only worked from the network.

• 📦 Dimensions: 33 × 45 × 13 cm (like a small suitcase)
• 💾 Storage: two drives for 5.25-inch floppy disks (91 KB each!)
• ⚡ Processor: Zilog Z80 with a clock frequency of 4 MHz
• 🔋 Autonomy: missing (only network adapter)

Despite the modest characteristics, Osborne 1 sold 11,000 copies in a year. His main trump card is portability (relative) and ready-made software. However, within two years the company went bankrupt due to mistakes in marketing and the emergence of more advanced competitors.

GRiD Compass 1101 (1982) - laptop for NASA and the Pentagon

If Osborne 1 was the first commercial laptop, then GRiD Compass 1101 became the first truly portable computer in the modern sense. It was developed by the company GRiD Systems commissioned by NASA for use on the space shuttle. Device weight - 5 kg, and the design with a folding keyboard and LCD screen became the standard for future generations.

Features GRiD Compass 1101:

• 🌌 Usage: used by astronauts on missions Space Shuttle since 1983
• 🔄 Display: electroluminescent screen with resolution 320×240 (black and white)
• 💽 Storage: built-in 384 KB hard drive (!) or optional 10 MB module
• 🔒 Security: the first laptop with a data encryption system (for the military)

Price GRiD Compass reached $8,000–$10,000, so it was available only to corporations and government agencies. However, its design inspired Apple, IBM and other manufacturers to create mass-produced portable PCs.

Why hasn't GRiD Compass become widespread?

The main reason is the high price and focus on a niche market (military, NASA, large corporations). In addition, in the 1980s, most programs were not optimized for portable devices, and the lack of standardized ports (for example, for printers) made it inconvenient for office use.

USSR and the first Soviet “laptop”: Electronics MK-85 (1986)

Few people know, but in the Soviet Union they also tried to create a portable computer. Was released in 1986 Electronics MK-85 - not quite a laptop in the usual sense, but one of the first portable microcomputers with keyboard and display. His weight was only 750 grams, and the dimensions are 20 × 10 × 3 cm (like a large book).

Specifications MK-85:

Parameter	Meaning
Processor	KM1810VM86 (analogue Intel 8086)
RAM	32 KB (expandable to 64 KB)
Display	LCD screen 16×64 characters
Storage	Cassette or ROM with BASIC
Food	6 AA batteries (autonomy ~10 hours)

Despite the modest capabilities, MK-85 used in Soviet schools to teach programming, as well as for military and scientific purposes. Its main drawback is the lack of a disk drive and limited software. Today Electronics MK-85 - a rarity that is highly valued by collectors of retro equipment.

1980s: an era of experimentation and failure

After Osborne 1 And GRiD Compass The laptop computer market began to actively develop. However, not all models became hits. Many devices of that era were either too expensive, inconvenient, or simply ahead of their time.

Examples of “failed” laptops from the 1980s:

• 💥 IBM 5100 (1975): weighed 25 kg and cost $20,000, but was technically closer to a terminal than a laptop.
• 📉 Epson HX-20 (1982): The first battery-powered laptop, but too weak for serious tasks.
• 🔌 Compaq Portable (1983): weighed 13 kg and resembled a suitcase with a handle, but became the first IBM-compatible portable PC.
• 💾 Tandy Model 100 (1983): popular among journalists, but with a monochrome screen 8×40 characters.

The main problem of that time was the lack of universal standards. Each manufacturer used its own connectors, operating systems and data formats. For example, IBM PC compatible laptops could not work with programs for Apple, and drives were often incompatible even between models of the same brand.

1990s: Birth of the modern laptop

The real revolution in the world of portable computers occurred in the 1990s. It was then that the devices that we call laptops today appeared: lightweight, with color screens, long battery life and full-fledged operating systems.

Key milestones of the decade:

• 🖥️ 1991 — Apple PowerBook 100: The first laptop with a trackball and ergonomic design (weight: 2.3 kg).
• 🔋 1992 — IBM ThinkPad 700C: the first laptop with color TFT screen and trackpoint.
• 💿 1994 — Compaq Contura Aero: Weighed only 1 kg and lasted up to 10 hours on battery power.
• 🌍 1995 — Toshiba Satellite: One of the first laptops with a built-in modem for Internet access.

This decade also saw the first ultrabooks (For example, Sony VAIO 505 1997 weighing 990 grams) and gaming laptops (For example, Alienware Area-51 1996). By the end of the 1990s, laptops became available to a wide range of users, and their prices dropped to $1000–$1500.

☑️ How to choose a retro laptop for your collection

Check battery health (most batteries from the 1990s are already dead)Make sure you have the original power supply (difficult to replace)Assess the condition of the screen (burnt-out pixels, backlight)Check for drivers for modern operating systems (if you plan to use)

Done: 0 / 4

Modern laptops: from MacBook Air to folding screens

Today's laptops are thinner, more powerful and more versatile than ever. In the 2000s they appeared netbooks (For example, Asus Eee PC 2007), and in the 2010s - ultrabooks with touch screens and 4K support. One of the most iconic laptops of recent years - Apple MacBook Air (2008), which set new standards for thinness (maximum 1.94 cm) and autonomy.

Modern laptop trends:

• 🔄 2-in-1: transformers with detachable keyboard (Microsoft Surface, Lenovo Yoga).
• ⚡ Performance: processors Apple M1/M2 And Intel Core i9 compete with desktop PCs.
• 🎮 Gaming Laptops: ASUS ROG, MSI Titan with video cards of the level RTX 4090.
• 🌐 Cloud Laptops: devices like Google Chromebookoriented to work in the browser.

The future of laptops is associated with folding screens (For example, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold), artificial intelligence (built-in neural networks for data processing) and full autonomy (graphene-based batteries). Perhaps in 5–10 years, classic laptops will give way to hybrid devices with flexible displays and voice control.

💡

Modern laptops are 1000 times more powerful Osborne 1, but at the same time they weigh 10 times less and are cheaper taking into account inflation.

FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions about your first laptop

🔍 Who exactly invented the first laptop?

The author of the concept of the first commercially successful laptop (Osborne 1) is considered Adam Osborne. However, the idea of a portable computer had previously been implemented by other engineers. For example, GRiD Compass developed Bill Moggridge (founder GRiD Systems), and the prototype IBM 5100 created Don Estridge.

💰 How much did the first laptop cost in today's money?

Osborne 1 in 1981 it cost $1,795. Taking into account inflation this is approximately $5500–$6000 in 2026. For comparison, GRiD Compass cost $8,000–$10,000, which is the equivalent today $25 000–$30 000.

🇷🇺 Were there laptops in the USSR, except Electronics MK-85?

Yes, besides MK-85, other portable computers were produced in the USSR, for example:

• Electronics MS 1504 (1989) - compatible with MSX2 standard, weight ~1.5 kg.
• Search-2 (1989) - educational computer with built-in BASIC, weight ~3 kg.
• Neon PC-8000 (1991) - clone Amstrad PC1512 in a portable case.

However, all of them were inferior to their Western counterparts in terms of performance and ergonomics.

🔋 Why didn’t the first laptops have batteries?

Main reasons:

1. Battery technology in the 1980s was primitive (nickel-cadmium batteries had low capacity).
2. High power consumption of processors and monitors (for example, CRT screens required a lot of energy).
3. Priority was given to compatibility with desktop PCs, which also ran from the network.

The first battery-powered laptop was Epson HX-20 (1982), but its autonomy was only 4–5 hours.

💻 Which laptops from the 1990s are considered collectible today?

Among the most popular models:

• Apple PowerBook 100/170 (1991) - Apple's first "modern" laptop.
• IBM ThinkPad 700C (1992) - the legendary corporate laptop.
• Sony VAIO 505 (1997) - the first ultrabook weighing less than 1 kg.
• Toshiba Libretto (1996) - mini-laptop with a 6.1-inch screen.

Prices range from $200 to $2,000 depending on condition and rarity.

The history of laptops is one of technological advancement, with each era introducing something new, from the bulky suitcases of the 1980s to ultra-thin devices powered by artificial intelligence. Today it is difficult to imagine a world without laptop computers, but 40 years ago they were a curiosity, accessible only to a select few.