It was only the first reasonably portable computer that did not have an astronomical price, so it was accessible for many people.
The first reasonably portable computer was the GRiD Compass "briefcase computer" (i.e. that could be carried inside a briefcase; the word laptop was coined later), which was introduced in April 1982.
GRiD Compass was the first portable computer made in the clamshell format now used by any laptop and the first portable computer with a flat display instead of a CRT (it had an electroluminescent display).
GRiD Compass looked like a modern laptop (unlike all the previous portable computers, which were large boxes with handles, usually compared with portable sewing machines), but it did not have an internal battery, it had to be used with an external power inverter where mains power was not available.
It used an Intel 8086 CPU, but it was not compatible with the IBM PC, as it had different peripherals.
Because it was extremely expensive, it was typically used by customers with deep pockets, e.g. the NASA Space Shuttle and special missions of the US military or CIA.
bobsmooth|4 years ago
adrian_b|4 years ago
The first reasonably portable computer was the GRiD Compass "briefcase computer" (i.e. that could be carried inside a briefcase; the word laptop was coined later), which was introduced in April 1982.
GRiD Compass was the first portable computer made in the clamshell format now used by any laptop and the first portable computer with a flat display instead of a CRT (it had an electroluminescent display).
GRiD Compass looked like a modern laptop (unlike all the previous portable computers, which were large boxes with handles, usually compared with portable sewing machines), but it did not have an internal battery, it had to be used with an external power inverter where mains power was not available.
It used an Intel 8086 CPU, but it was not compatible with the IBM PC, as it had different peripherals.
Because it was extremely expensive, it was typically used by customers with deep pockets, e.g. the NASA Space Shuttle and special missions of the US military or CIA.
Lio|4 years ago
TRS-80 Model 100 was released in 1983 predating this.
The original Kyocera design was originally released in japan in 1982.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS-80_Model_100