PCMag.Com - In 2011, the term "portable computer" conjures up images of sleek tablets, pocket-sized smartphones, and ultra-light laptops. But 30 years ago, the Osborne 1 made its debut as the world's first portable PC, and weighed nearly 24 pounds.Created by Adam Osborne of Osborne Computer Corporation, the device was unveiled on April 3, 1981 at the West Coast Computer Faire at San Francisco's Brooks Hall. It had a 5-inch display sandwiched in between two floppy disc drives and it cost $1,795. Although 24 pounds sounds like a hefty size for a mobile gadget, Osborne 1 was meant to be portable. It had a rugged plastic case that folded up, complete with a handle, and a battery pack. Roughly the same size as a sewing machine, the device could fit underneath the seat of a commercial airliner.
Osborne 1 was clearly light years away from modern portable computers not just in terms of its size, but also its capabilities. It could only display 52 characters in one line, but the small screen size was part of the reason the computer could be mobile. Read More
