5 Apr
2011
5 Apr
'11
2:06 p.m.
This depends on how you define 'portable' and
'computer' :-)
More seriously there were portable minicomputers (meaning they had handles nad you could
just about stagger with one) over 40 years ago. Of coruse they needed mains power to
operate
PS - The suitcase computers needed AC power, too. At best, some of them
had conversion kits for 12V car batteries. In my opinion, if you're
tethered to AC power, then it's still not portable* even if it were
pocket-sized.
* Many people in recent years distinguish between portable and mobile.
They say the latter category means battery-powered and/or has wireless
networking. I say that's arbitrary marketing hogwash. But I stand by
the battery aspect as a core requirement for portability.