Wikipedia

Portable computer

Not to be confused withLaptop,a microcomputer of a certain form factor, designed for consumer use.

Aportable computeris acomputerdesigned to be easily moved[1]from one place to another, as opposed to those designed to remain stationary at a single location such asdesktopsandworkstations.These computers usually include adisplayandkeyboardthat are directly connected to themain case,all sharing a singlepower plugtogether, much like later desktop computers calledall-in-ones(AIO) that integrate the system's internal components into the same case as the display.[2]In modern usage, a portable computer usually refers to a very light and compactpersonal computersuch as alaptop,subnotebookorhandheld PC,whiletouchscreen-based handheld ( "palmtop" ) devices such astablets,phabletsandsmartphonesare calledmobile devicesinstead.

TheCompaq Portable,one of the firstIBM PC compatiblesystems
A military-type mobile computer housed in a reinforced case
A portable computer with three LCD screens
A portable computer with one 20.1-inch LCD screen, EATX motherboard
The MIT Suitcase Computer, MIT Digital Systems Laboratory, 1975

The first commercially sold portable computer might be the 20-pound (9.1 kg)MCM/70,released 1974.[citation needed]The next major portables were the 50-pound (23 kg)IBM 5100(1975),Osborne's 24-pound (11 kg)CP/M-basedOsborne 1(1981) andCompaq's 28-pound (13 kg), advertised as 100% IBMPC compatibleCompaq Portable(1983). Theseluggable computersstill required a continuous connection to an external power source;[3]this limitation was later overcome by thelaptop computers.[4][3]Laptops were followed by lighter models such asnetbooks,so that in the 2000smobile devicesand by 2007smartphonesmade the term "portable" rather meaningless. The 2010s introducedwearable computerssuch assmartwatches.[5]

Portable computers, by their nature, are generallymicrocomputers.[6]Larger portable computers were commonly known as 'Lunchbox' or 'Luggable' computers. They are also called 'Portable Workstations' or 'Portable PCs'. In Japan they were often called 'Bentocom'.(ベントコン,Bentokon)from "bento".[citation needed]

Portable computers, more narrowly defined, are distinct fromdesktop replacement computersin that they usually were constructed from full-specification desktop components, and often do not incorporate features associated with laptops or mobile devices. A portable computer in this usage, versus a laptop or othermobile computingdevice,have a standardmotherboardorbackplaneproviding plug-in slots for add-in cards. This allows mission specific cards such as test, A/D, or communication protocol (IEEE-488, 1553) to be installed. Portable computers also provide for more disk storage by using standard disk drives and provide for multiple drives.

Early history

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SCAMP

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In 1973, theIBMLos Gatos Scientific Center developed a portable computer prototype called SCAMP (Special Computer APL Machine Portable) based on theIBM PALM processorwith aPhilipscompact cassette drive, smallCRTand full function keyboard. SCAMP emulated anIBM 1130minicomputer in order to run APL\1130.[7]In 1973,APLwas generally available only on mainframe computers, and most desktop sized microcomputers such as theWang 2200orHP 9800offered onlyBASIC.Because SCAMP was the first to emulate APL\1130 performance on a portable, single user computer,PC Magazinein 1983 designated SCAMP a "revolutionary concept" and "the world's first personal computer".[8][9]The engineering prototype is in theSmithsonian Institution.[10]

Xerox NoteTaker

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Xerox NoteTaker,developed in 1976 atXerox PARC,was a precursor to later portable computers fromOsborne Computer CorporationandCompaq,though it remained a prototype and did not enter production.

IBM 5100

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IBM 5100 (1975)

Successful demonstrations of the 1973 SCAMP prototype led to the first commercialIBM 5100portable microcomputer launched in 1975. The product incorporated anIBM PALM processor,5-inch (130 mm) CRT, full function keyboard and the ability to be programmed in both APL and BASIC for engineers, analysts, statisticians and other business problem-solvers. (IBM provided different models of the 5100 supporting only BASIC, only APL, or both selectable by a physical switch on the front panel.)[11][12]IBMreferred to itsPALMprocessor as amicroprocessor,though they used that term to mean a processor that executesmicrocodeto implement a higher-levelinstruction set,rather than its conventional definition of a complete processor on a singlesiliconintegrated circuit;the PALM processor was a large circuit board populated with over a dozen chips. In the late 1960s, such a machine would have been nearly as large as two desks and would have weighed about half a ton (0.45 t). In comparison, the IBM 5100 weighed about 53 pounds (24 kg and very portable for that time).[13]

MIT Suitcase Computer

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The MIT Suitcase Computer, constructed in 1975, was the first known microprocessor-based portable computer. It was based on theMotorola 6800.Constructed in a Samsonite suitcase approximately 20 by 30 by 8 inches (510 mm × 760 mm × 200 mm) and weighing approximately 20 lb (9.1 kg), it had 4K of SRAM, a serial port to accept downloaded software and connect to a modem, a keyboard and a 40-column thermal printer taken from a cash register. Built by student David Emberson in the MIT Digital Systems Laboratory as a thesis project, it never entered production. It is currently in the collection of Dr. Hoo-Min D. Toong.[citation needed]

Micro Star or Small One

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An early portable computer was manufactured in 1979 by GM Research,[14]a small company in Santa Monica, California. The machine which was designed andpatentedby James Murez. It was called the Micro Star and later the name was changed to The Small One. Although Xerox claims to have designed the first such system, the machine by Murez predated anything on the market or that had been documented in any publication at the time – hence the patent was issued. As early as 1979, the U.S. Government was contracting to purchase these machines. Other major customers included Sandia Labs, General Dynamics, BBN (featured on the cover of their annual report in 1980 as the C.A.T. system) and several dozen private individuals and companies around the world. In 1979,Adam Osborneviewed the machine along with several hundred other visitors at the first computer show that was sponsored by the IEEE Westec in Los Angeles. Later that year the machine was also shown at the firstCOMDEXshow.

Portal R2E CCMC

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R2E CCMCPortallaptop in September 1980 at the SICOB show in PARIS

The portable micro computer; the "Portal"of the French company R2EMicralCCMC officially appeared in September 1980 at the Sicob show in Paris. The Portal was a portable microcomputer designed and marketed by the studies and developments department of the French firm R2E Micral in 1980 at the request of the company CCMC specializing in payroll and accounting. The Portal was based on an intel 8085 processor, 8-bit, clocked at 2 MHz. It was equipped with a central 64 KB RAM, a keyboard with 58 Alpha numeric keys and 11 numeric keys (separate blocks), a 32-character screen, a floppy disk: capacity = 140 000 characters, of a thermal printer: speed = 28 characters / sec, an asynchronous channel, a synchronous channel, a 220 V power supply. Designed for an operating temperature of 15–35 °C (59–95 °F), it weighed 12 kilograms (26 lb) and its dimensions were 45 cm × 45 cm × 15 cm (17.7 in × 17.7 in × 5.9 in). It provided total mobility. Its operating system wasProlog.A few hundred were sold between 1980 and 1983.

Osborne 1

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Osborne 1 (1981)

The first mass-produced microprocessor-based portable computer released in 1981 was theOsborne 1,developed by Osborne, which owed much to the NoteTaker's design. The company had early success with the design and went public but later due to small screen sizes and other devices being released found trouble selling the Osborne.[15]The Osborne 1 is about the size and weight of a sewing machine, and was advertised as the only computer that would fit underneath anairline seat.[16]

Kaypro

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Another early portable computer released in 1982 was named theKaypro II,although it was the company's first commercially available product. Some of the press mocked its design—one magazine describedKaypro Corporationas "producing computers packaged in tin cans".[17]Others raved about its value, as the company advertised the Kaypro II as "the$1,595computer that sells for$1,595",[18]some noting that the included software bundle had a retail value over$1,000by itself, and by mid-1983 the company was selling more than 10,000 units a month, briefly making it the fifth-largest computer maker in the world. It managed to correct most of theOsborne 1's deficiencies: the screen was larger and showed more characters at once, the floppy drives stored over twice as much data, the case was more attractive-looking, and it was also much better-built and more reliable.

Grid Compass

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Macintosh Portable (1989)
Grid Compass (1982)

TheGrid Compassran its own operating system, GRiD-OS. Its specialized software and high price (US$8,000–10,000) meant that it was limited to specialized applications. The main buyer was the U.S. government. NASA used it on the Space Shuttle during the early 1980s, as it was powerful, lightweight, and compact. The military Special Forces also purchased the machine, as it could be used by paratroopers in combat.[19]

Post-IBM PC portables

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Compaq Portable and competitors

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AlthoughColumbia Data Products'MPC 1600,"Multi Personal Computer" came out in the summer of 1982,[20][21]one of the first extensivelyIBM PC compatiblecomputers was theCompaq Portable.Eagle Computerthen came out with their offering.[22]andCorona Data Systems's PPC-400.,[23]the "portable"HyperionComputer System.[24]Both Eagle Computer and Columbia were sued by IBM for copyright infringement of its BIOS. They settled and were forced to halt production. Neither the Columbia nor the Eagle were nearly asIBM PC DOScompatible as Compaq's offerings.

Commodore SX-64

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The first full-color portable computer was theCommodore SX-64in January 1984..

Atari STacy

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Originally announced in 1987, theAtari STacywas released to the public in December 1989 and was one of the first laptop-like portables.[25][26]

Apple Macintosh Portable

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Apple Inc.introduced and released theMacintosh Portablein 1989, though this device came with a battery, which added to its substantial weight. The Portable has features similar to theAtari STacy,include integrated trackball and clamshell case.

IBM PS/2 Portable

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After release ofIBM PC Convertiblein 1986, IBM still produced classic portable computers, include released in 1989PS/2 P70(with upgrade in 1990 toP75), and IBM produce portables for up to release ofPS/2 NoteandPS/55notenotebook lines.

Modern portables

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In today's world of laptops, smart phones, and tablets, portable computers have evolved and are now mostly used for industrial, commercial or military applications.[27][28][29][30]

Timeline

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Year Price CPU CPUclock rate(MHz) Computer name Comment
1954 Vacuum tube:Diode gates,tube amplifiersandelectrical delay lines 1 DYSEAC For the military, movable by truck.
1955 ~US$86,074(equivalent to $978,998 in 2023) Custom vacuum tube CPU 0.01 Monrobot V For the military, movable by truck. Used for surveying and mapmaking.
1957 ~US$70,500(equivalent to $764,808 in 2023) RECOMP II Transistorized:Printed circuit cards ? RECOMPI CP-266 For the military, movable by two men.
1959 ~US$1,600,000(equivalent to $16,723,288 in 2023) MOBIDIC A Custom transistor CPU (inverter logic) 1 MOBIDIC B MOBIDIC Truck-based for the military, five were built and deployed. Sylvania later offered a commercial version as the S 9400.

Clock speed is unknown but ADD instructions are documented as taking 16μs, i.e. ~62k ADD/s.

1960 ~US$6,900,000(equivalent to $71,064,567 in 2023) (development)[31] Modularcircuit boards 0.448 FADAC For the military, movable by two men.
1960 ~US$125,600(equivalent to $1,280,616 in 2023) Standard Modular Systemwith complementarydiode-transistor logic 0.087 IBM 1401 Truck-based for military,[32][33]also touring Datamobile[34]for demos.
1960[35] ~US$40,500(equivalent to $412,938 in 2023)[36] Plug-incircuit modules 2[37] PB 250 Portable as the control computer for commercial mobile (byvan) data systems. Can operate entirely from a battery.
1961 ~US$500,000(equivalent to $5,097,996 in 2023) Custom transistor CPU 1 BASICPAC For the military, movable by truck.
1962 ~US$40,000(equivalent to $402,904 in 2023) Circuit modules(micromodular)[38] ? L-2010 For the military.
1967 Integrated circuit ? CDC449 For the military.[39][40][41]
1975 US$8,975 IBM PALM processor 1.9 IBM 5100 Portable Computer[42] 64K =US$17,975.
1975 US$4,000 Motorola 6800 1 MIT Suitcase Computer 4K SRAM, approx. 20 lbs. Built by David Emberson in the MIT Digital Systems Laboratory as a thesis project. Currently in the collection of Dr. Hoo-Min D. Toong.
1976 US$50,000 Z80? 1 Xerox NoteTaker
1977 US$2,495 Z80 ? Versatile 2[43][44]
1978 US$10,225 IBM PALM processor 1.9 IBM 5110[45]
1979 US$375 6502,1K 1 RockwellAIM-65 20-character Alpha numeric display.[43][46][47]
1979 US$3,250 Custom HP 8-bit 0.613 Hewlett-Packard Model 85[48]
1980 ? ? PA512 Made inSerbia.
1980 US$230 SC43177, SC43178 TRS-80 Pocket Computer[49]
1980 Intel 8085 2.0 Portal R2E CCMC
1981 US$1,795 Z80 4.0 Osborne 1
1981 US$795 2× Hitachi 6301 0.614 Epson HX-20[50]
1981 Z80compatible ? Husky (computer)[51]
1982 8088 4.77 Columbia Data Products
1982 Z80A 4 Grundy NewBrain
1982 Z80 2.5 Kaypro
1982 US$8,000[52] 8086 ? Grid Compass 1100 NASAlaptop
1982 Z80 4.0 Osborne Executive
1983 x86 ? Hyperion (computer)
1983 x86 ? Compaq Portable
1983 US$1,099 80C85 2.4 TRS-80 Model 100 40 × 8LCD
1983 Z80A, 8086, 128K ? Seequa Chameleon[43]
1983 Z80A 3.4 Sord IS-11
1983 US$1,595 Z80A 4 Zorba
1984 US$4,225 8088 4.77 IBM 5155[53]
1984 Z80 ? Actrix (computer)
~1984 8088 4.77 Bondwell-8
1984 US$995 Z80 2.45 Epson PX-8 Geneva[54]
1984 6502 1.02 Commodore SX-64 First portable with color display
1984 US$2,895 Harris80C86 4 Data General-One First true IBM PC-compatible (mostly) laptop; CGA (640x200) monochrome LCD
1984 Z80 4.0 Osborne Vixen
1984 80C88 ? ZP-150
1984 US$595 ? ? HP-71B Calculator programmable inBASIC
1984 US$2,995 Harris80C86 5.33 HP 110 80 × 16LCD,300-baud modem
1984 £1,965 8086 4.77 Apricot Portable First portable computer with 25-line LCD. Includedspeech recognition,wireless keyboard, and optional wireless mouse
1985 US$995 Z80 4 Bondwell-2
1985 Harris80C86 5.33 HP 110 Plus 80 × 25LCD,1200-baud modem
1985 US$1,899 Toshiba T110080C88 4.77 Toshiba T1100 80 × 25LCD
1986 8088 4.77 IBM 5140
1986 Intel 80286 8 Compaq Portable II
1986 ? ? LPA512
1987 Z80 ? Cambridge Z88
1988 Intel 8088 ? NEC UltraLite
1988 US$2,299[55] 68HC000 8 Atari STacy
1989 Intel 8088 4.9152 Atari Portfolio
1989 US$2,000 Intel 80C88 7 Poqet PC(Classic)
1989 8086 9.55 Compaq LTE
1989 Motorola 68000 16 Macintosh Portable
1989 Motorola 68000 15 Outbound Laptop
1991 Motorola 68000 8 ST BOOK[56][57]
1991 NEC V20 5.37 HP 95LX
1991 US$2,300 Motorola 68000 16 ApplePowerBook 100
1992 IBM486SLC 25 IBM ThinkPad 700 The first ThinkPad
1992 Z80,64K ? Amstrad NC100
1992 US$4,950 CY601 + CY604 25 SPARCbook1 Unix withSunOS
1993 Intel "Hornet"80186 7.91 HP 100LX
1993 ? ? AlphaSmart
1994 Intel "Hornet"80186 7.91 HP 200LX
1995 Intel 80486DX4 75 IBM ThinkPad Butterfly keyboard IBM ThinkPad 701c and 701Cs, famous for their "Butterfly Keyboard" which slides into place when opening the lid
1996 Intel Pentium 133 PanasonicToughbook CF-25 The first Toughbook, an example of a ruggedized laptop
1997 Intel Pentium 150 IBM ThinkPad 380 An average late-1990s notebook
2001 SA-1110 206 SIMpad
2001 Intel Mobile Pentium III-M 1200 Dell Precision M40 One of the world's first mobile workstation notebooks
2002 Intel Pentium 4 2400 Alienware Area 51-M An early example of a gaming laptop: high performance desktop components in a notebook
2003 Intel Pentium M 1700 IBM ThinkPad R50p Notable for its ultra high resolution 2048x1536 (QXGA) display option

See also

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References

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  2. ^"How to Buy an All-in-One PC".PC Magazine.Retrieved23 July2021.
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