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A look At lAptop

h istory>1968Alan Kay defines the Dynabook, the basis for all pen/tablet computers.

Inventor Doug Engelbart introduces the mouse, e-mail, hypertext, collaborative editing, bitmapped graphics.

>1979Bill Moggridge designs the clamshell notebook computer, the GRiD Compass.

>1980IBM contracts with Microsoft to build an operating system, DOS, for its forthcoming personal computer.

>1982GRiD Compass enters production. Not PC-com-patible, but sleek, rugged, expensive.

Intel introduces 80286 processor; too hot, too much power consumption for laptops.

Hayes Smartmodem 1200 dominates dial-up communications.

>1983Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Model 100. Not PC-compatible, but under four pounds with 20-hour battery life from four AA batteries. Estimated six million units of the Model 100 and its descendents were sold.

Data General DG One: PC-compatible notebook intro-duces 3.5 inch floppies.

Gavilan SC is the first machine marketed as a “laptop.”

>1984Apple introduces the Macintosh.

>1985Toshiba T1100 solidifies acceptance of 3.5 inch floppies.

Microsoft introduces Windows 1.0.

Kaypro 2000 is PC-compatible with removable key-board in sleek clamshell case and pop-up disk drive.

>1986Introduction of IBM PC Convertible: 2 floppy drives with CGA-compatible LCD display, weighing 13 pounds.

>1987Zenith SupersPort laptop sells especially well to the government and military in competitive bidding.

>1988NEC UltraLite: 4.4 pounds, diskless, first subnote-book with DOS in ROM and 2 megabyte RAM drive.

First lithium-ion battery (NEC) requires special FAA ruling for airplane use.

Compaq SLT/286 has internal hard drive with detach-able keyboard; weighs 12 pounds, is battery powered.

>1989Macintosh Portable has a clamshell, active matrix display. GRiD Systems launches first commercial tablet-type portable computer with operating system based on MS-DOS.

>1990Windows 3.0 introduced.

Worldwide laptop sales reach 2.4 million.

Intel introduces 80386SL processor which uses low power; quickly incorporated into many laptops.

>1991Apple PowerBook introduces palm rest keyboard layout, a breakthrough in clamshell design.

First laptop Ethernet port.

Modem speeds reach 14,400 bits/sec.

Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100

t h e l A p t o p r e v o l u t i o n

>1992First IBM ThinkPad: 700C is a tour de force in ba-sic black. Pointing stick and touchpad; first TFT (thin-film transistor) color display.

Windows 3.1 introduced.

Gateway HandBook halves the size of the subnote-book, creates prototype for today’s netbooks.

>1993Intel introduces the Pentium processor.

>1994 Netscape Navigator introduced. Web traffic rises 300,000 percent as sites come online.

>1995Intel announces introduction of Universal Serial Bus, USB 1.0

Windows 95 incorporates advanced power manage-ment for laptops to conserve battery life.

Worldwide laptop sales reach 10 million units.

IBM ThinkPad 701, the “Butterfly.” Innovative keyboard expands keys beyond the body; keyboard folds in when lid closes. New York’s Museum of Mod-ern Art includes it in its design collection.

>1996First hardware with USB, not fully supported by Windows.

Gateway Solo 2100: First Pentium laptop, first “three spindle” machine, with floppy, hard disk, CD-ROM.

USRobotics introduces 56 kilobit modem.

>1997First Toshiba Portege, the 300CT, has Pentium power, color screen, hard disk, good battery life in 3.25 pound package.

>1999WiFi consortium creates standard.

Laptop manufacturers use PCI slot to enable WiFi connectivity.

Apple brands WiFi as AirPort, incorporates a slot into all of its laptops.

>1998Windows 98 supports USB; has automatic device recognition.

Gateway Solo 9100: Heavy, rugged multimedia Pentium notebook with universal bays for CD, hard drive, floppy, batteries.

>2000Windows 2000 gains industrial-strength reputation for robustness and security for corporate users.

Global laptop sales reach 28.5 million units.

>2001Mac OS X debuts.

Windows XP debuts.

>2002Tablet PCs from Compaq, Toshiba, HP, Acer, Fujitsu, NEC, Panasonic, others. Virtually all are convertibles, with keyboards.

Toshiba Portege 2000 is world’s thinnest, lightest laptop to date, less than 3/4 inch at its thickest point. First 1.8 inch (20GB) hard disk.

Fujitsu Lifebook P series is smallest machine with a CD-ROM; uses TransMeta Crusoe chip, another step towards modern netbooks.

>2003Toshiba Portege M100 is first to adopt super-slim DVD drive.

WiFi adapter/access point sales exceed 20 million per year.

>2005

>2006WiFi adapter/access point sales exceed 50 million per year.

Apple switches to Intel processors.

>2008HP unveils the TouchSmart tx2 Notebook, first multi-touch notebook and tablet PC for consumers.

>2007MacBook Air viewed by many as the first netbook.

Worldwide laptop sales reach 126 million units.

>2010HDMI ports become common on laptops.

Worldwide laptop sales projected at 170 million units.

Apple iPad introduced.

Laptop computers outsell desktops for the first time.

Worldwide laptop sales reach 66.3 million units.

Lenovo purchases ThinkPad line from IBM.

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NEC UltraLite

Gateway Solo 9100

Lenovo ThinkPad

Fujitsu Lifebook