Osborne 1
The Osborne 1, created by Adam Osborne and released in April 1981, was the first portable "all-in-one" microcomputer. It weighed 23.5 pounds (12 kg), cost US$1795 – just over half the cost of a comparable computer from other manufacturers with comparable features – and ran the popular CP/M 2.2 operating system.
Besides being the first portable computer, the Osborne 1 was also the first computer that included software; the bundled WordStar wordprocessor, SuperCalc spreadsheet, dBase II database program, and CBASIC + MBASIC had a retail value of more than $2,000. The machine's hardware features included dual 5¼-inch floppy disk drives, a 4 MHz Z80 CPU, a fold down keyboard which doubled as the computer case's lid, and a five-inch, 52×24-character monochrome monitor.
At its peak, Osborne Computer Corporation shipped 10,000 Osborne 1's per month. The computer was widely imitated as several other computer companies started bundling software, lowering prices, and offering portable computers. Compared to smaller and lighter portable computers manufactured later, the luggage size Osborne 1 may be more accurately classified as a transportable computer. Osborne's most famous imitators were Kaypro (running CP/M), and later Compaq who offered a portable computer compatible with the IBM PC (the Compaq was the first PC clone).
