13 Sep
2012
13 Sep
'12
9:14 p.m.
FWIW,
US Pat 5,268,816 filed Sept 28, 1982 uses the term ?laptop computers?
throughout the specification but not in the claims.? The next usage
(lap-top) was filed July 3, 1986 (4,788,658).
A search of a newspaper archive finds the earliest usage of "laptop
computer" in print in a Jan 1985 Knight Ridder column by Evelyn Richards
??84 computer predictions go awry,? which ended with the following
paragraph.
"They predict among other things a lap-top computer (dubbed Clamshell)
from IBM
?
Google News? earliest hits are ?lap top? in 1986.
IEEE Xplore has its first hit a September 1986 Computer Magazine Ad for an
add on "lOM-byte internal hard disk for Zenith Data Systems' Z-171 laptop
computer.."
The NY Times' first used it in Peter Lewis' column on Nov 5, 1985, as
"THE Tandy Corporation has introduced a new portable computer,
the Model 600.
The designation might lead someone to suspect that the Model
600 is six times better than the Tandy Model 100, which is a
delightful little laptop computer and one of the best bargains
around for reporters, salesmen and others who need to take a
briefcase-sized office along with them when they hit the
road."
Anyone have any earlier published dates?
Tom
13 Sep
13 Sep
9:46 p.m.
Using some other folks' research from another thread on another mailing
list of the same debate (was an interesting read as well).
http://mail.computerhistory.org/pipermail/inforoots/2006-February/001719.ht…
some of the same 1984 articles we've found in googles archive of the
term "laptop". He also I believe is the one who pointed out the MCM/70
system which is amazing.
http://mail.computerhistory.org/pipermail/inforoots/2006-February/001712.ht…
Evan's previous searching results which he likely rigorously searched
through at the library. He found the same January 1984 byte article using
the term. He also found the 1982 reference of the HX-20 (and apparently
also the TI-CC40 as a notebook which is also an interest conclusion that
perhaps the term was end-user and notebook or "notebook sized computer" may
have been first before the probably less flattering "lap-top" or
"lap-held"
computer.
At that time I think Evan (now Evan has a LOT of experience and this might
have been pre-M.A.R.C.H/museum phase so I'm sure lots has been learned) was
leaning towards the HX-20 being the first laptop or advertised device as a
notebook. Later he found references to the Grundy NewBrain system (
http://mail.computerhistory.org/pipermail/inforoots/2006-February/001723.ht…)
which depending on the release date could be before a lot of the other
published systems but I'm not sure if their advertising ever used the term.
Two categories now though. The technicality of what device was first as a
laptop computer or who was the first to coin and use the term (which I
think is fair to set the expectation of what rule applies to the device in
question i.e. does it have to be battery powered?).
14 Sep
14 Sep
3:08 a.m.
has
Evan's previous searching results which he likely rigorously
searched through at the library.
I did. Thank you for acknowledging that.
>> He found the same January 1984 byte article
using the term. He also
found the 1982 reference of the HX-20 (and apparently also
the TI-CC40
as a notebook which is also an interest conclusion that perhaps the
term was end-user and notebook or "notebook sized computer" may have
been first before the probably less flattering "lap-top" or
"lap-held"
computer.
That's true. "Laptop" was definitely not the original term for such
computers. The very early references, i.e. the ones from 81-ish, mostly
just use "mobile" or "portable" in a generic sense, and that's
true
whether the source is the manufacturers or the journalists or the peanut
gallery. :)
Then from 82(-ish) to 83(-ish), there were all kinds of terms being used,
such as notebook, lap-sized, and (this was also very common) "briefcase
computers" .... I own a couple of buyer's guide-type books from that
period and the authors used "briefcase computer" quite frequently. Same
goes for articles by David Ahl, etc. .... from what I found during that
research, the story about Galivan being called a "laptop" is fiction,
until someone products proof. (However I have not yet asked Manny
Fernandez about it. It's on my to-do list.)
>> At that time I think Evan (now Evan has a LOT
of experience and this
might have been pre-M.A.R.C.H/museum phase so I'm sure
lots has been
learned was leaning towards the HX-20 being the first laptop or
advertised device as a notebook. Later he found references to the
Grundy NewBrain system
Thank you, again. Time passes and we all hopefully learn a few things in
life. :) I have since decided based on extensive research that the Husky
Hunter beats 'em all. Husky shipped in 81. (It too was never called a
"laptop" but it certainly meets the * common * description of one.)
>> The technicality of what device was first a
laptop computer or who was
the first to coin and use the term
They are indeed separate things. There's a similar debate about PDAs.
Nobody doubts that Apple may have * coined the term * "personal digital
assistant", but there are 15 years' worth of handheld electronic
organizers on the market before that. (And if you guys think I'm stressing
about "laptop" then you ought to see my veins bulge when Apple fanboys
insist the Newton was the "first * real * PDA" ... put them in the same
room as Psion fanboys over in the U.K. who made the same claim about that
company's product from 1984 .... wanna know the truth? PDAs, by whatever
name you like, were around since the late 1970s.)
>> which I think is fair to set the expectation
of what rule applies to
the device in question i.e. does it have to be battery
powered?
You are a wise man (because you seem to agree with me!) :)
13 Sep
13 Sep
9:55 p.m.
New subject: Origins of term "laptop" computer, and absurdity of "first"
On Thu, 13 Sep 2012, Tom Gardner wrote:
Anyone have any earlier published dates?
The Gavilan computer was called a "laptop" when it was introduced at NCC
(National Computer Conference) in Anaheim May 16, 1983.
It appears to be the first machine sold AS A "LAPTOP".
I know neither the exact date (April 1982?), nor the wording for the Grid
Compass, which was earlier, but it was apparently NOT called a "laptop" at
the time, AND is rejected by Evan due to not having batteries at the time.
"FIRST" is a really ridiculous measure.
Do you want the first one PROPOSED?
First one DESIGNED?
First one BUILT?
First one SHOWN?
First one MARKETED?
First one SOLD?
First one actually DELIVERED?
Unless each and every step was concluded before the comparable step of
another machine, any claim to "first" is ludicrous.
Do NOT be deluded into thinking that any of those milestones ocurred at
the same time, nor even that they ocurred in a logical sequence.
For example, the Elcompco model V was designed, built, delivered, sold,
shown, then marketed (WCCF, April 1981). All of the steps, albeit in a
strange order, were completed before the Osborne (WCCF, 1981), although
"everybody knows" that the Osborne 1 was "the first portable
computer"
MANY machines, such as the Dulmont Magnum, and even the Grid Compass, had
enormous gaps between design and delivery, or between introduction
and delivery, during which other machines may have completed ALL of the
steps.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin at xenosoft.com
14 Sep
14 Sep
3:16 a.m.
New subject: Origins of term "laptop" computer, and absurdity of "first"
>> The Gavilan computer was called a
"laptop" when it was introduced at
NCC (National Computer Conference) in
Anaheim May 16, 1983. It appears
to be the first machine sold AS A "LAPTOP".
Documentation of that?
>> I know neither the exact date (April 1982?),
nor the wording for the
Grid Compass, which was earlier, but it was apparently NOT
called a
"laptop" at the time, AND is rejected by Evan due to not having
batteries at the time.
I agree with everyone who says the particular wording isn't important.
>> "FIRST" is a really ridiculous
measure. Do you want the first one
PROPOSED? First one DESIGNED? First one BUILT?
First one SHOWN? First
one MARKETED? First one SOLD? First one actually DELIVERED? Unless
each and every step was concluded before the comparable step of
another machine, any claim to "first" is ludicrous.
True. People ask us that at the MARCH museum on an almost weekly basis,
especially re: Apple II / PET 2001 / TRS-80 Model 1. I give them the same
answer as you did, above. I also tell them, well, NONE of them are "first"
because of tons of prior art (such as the aforementioned MCM/70...)
>> Do NOT be deluded into thinking that any of
those milestones occurred
at the same time, nor even that they occurred in a logical
sequence.
That's also true. History happens in starts and stops.
>> For example, the Elcompco model V was
designed, built, delivered,
sold, shown, then marketed (WCCF, April 1981). All of
the steps,
albeit in a strange order, were completed before the Osborne (WCCF,
1981), although "everybody knows" that the Osborne 1 was "the first
portable computer"
Whoa, I never head of Elcompco. Link?
There were many suitcase-sized computers before Osborne. MCM, GM Research
Microstar / Small One, Micral V, and of course the PARC NoteTaker
(although that was only a prototype) ... Osborne was the first * big
successful smash hit * of its category and generation.
4:59 a.m.
New subject: Origins of term "laptop" computer, and absurdity of "first"
>> The
Gavilan computer was called a "laptop" when it was introduced at
NCC
(National Computer Conference) in Anaheim May 16, 1983. It appears
to be the first machine sold AS A "LAPTOP". Documentation of that?
NONE!
I was there.
It was hotter than hell at NCC (>100F in the tents out back; a few people
DIED from the heat!).
Instead of going to Disneyland on Apple's dime, I was supposed to meet my
ride at the Gavilan booth. They didn't show. I stood around in the
Gavilan booth for hours. I didn't consider their "laptop" designation
to be a very good one. Eventually, I took a bus.
At the same show, one day, I bought lunch for John Draper, and he
explained to me the directory structure of the UCSD P system. Without
having to exercise with him!
On the first day of the show, booth jerks at both Superbrain/Intertec and
Televideo threatened to sue me if Xenocopy handled their disk formats,
because they couldn't imagine ANY possible use for disk format conversion
other than pirating THEIR software! That night, I added both formats.
They never kept their promise [of free ink].
All in all, a very memorable show!
> For example, the Elcompco model V was designed,
built, delivered,
sold, shown, then marketed (WCCF, April 1981). All of the steps,
albeit in a strange order, were completed before the Osborne (WCCF,
1981), although "everybody knows" that the Osborne 1 was "the first
portable computer" There were many suitcase-sized computers before
Osborne. MCM, GM Research
Microstar / Small One, Micral V, and of course the PARC NoteTaker
(although that was only a prototype) ... Osborne was the first * big
successful smash hit * of its category and generation.
But NOT the first made, shown, sold, nor delivered.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin at xenosoft.com
7:21 a.m.
New subject: Origins of term "laptop" computer, and absurdity of "first"
On 2012 Sep 13, at 9:59 PM, Fred Cisin wrote:
There were many suitcase-sized computers before Osborne. MCM, GM
Research
Microstar / Small One, Micral V, and of course the PARC NoteTaker
(although that was only a prototype) ... Osborne was the first * big
successful smash hit * of its category and generation.
But NOT the first made, shown, sold, nor delivered.
Just to throw another example in, here's a limited-production
luggable (not marketed) from the 1981 time period, based on the
Xerox-820 system board:
http://www3.telus.net/~bhilpert/tmp/ctg/#XLug
I was told these were built before the Osborne was publicly known
(that is to say, it was not influenced by the Osborne).
>> On
Thu, 13 Sep 2012, Evan Koblentz wrote:
15 Sep
15 Sep
12:55 a.m.
New subject: Origins of term "laptop" computer, and absurdity of "first"
>>> The Gavilan computer was called a
"laptop" when it was introduced at
NCC (National Computer Conference) in
Anaheim May 16, 1983.
>> Documentation of that?
> NONE! I was there.
Let me rephrase my question ... when you say "called a 'laptop'" what
exactly do you mean by that? For example, were there Gavilan employees
calling it a laptop? Was there literature or signs using that word? Sales
order forms? Please be specific about how/where you recall it being called
a "laptop". (I don't mean that as a challenge to your honesty, I just
sincerely would like to know.)
>>> Whoa, I never head of Elcompco. Link?
> VERY smalltime, and thoroughly gone long before
WWW. Joe Garner needed
something very portable for data acquisition in elevator
control rooms.
ELevator COMPuter COmpany. He found a good machinist, and designed
brackets, mounts, etc. for putting various motherboards (including
TRS80! and later 5150/5160) and a crude CP/M board of his own into
Halliburton attache cases, with a 5" CRT and optional battery. He was
selling a few, and I convinced him to do a production run and try
public sales, starting at my West Coast Computer Faire booth. He sold a
few during setup! Meanwhile, massive amounts of chrome and black
plexiglass was going up across the aisle. Adam came across the aisle,
admired it, shook my hand, and then went and told his press conference
that his computer was "the very first and only portable computer".
Nice ... I've heard similar first-person stories documenting how many
examples of prior art Osborne saw before making his own version.
> The whole thing is completely unworthy of ANY
historical note, other
than as my further refutation of others' claims of being
"first".
I agree; that computer is one of several tiny players pre-Osborne.
Individually they're footnotes; together they represent an era.
> There is ALWAYS some nobody so small that they got
crushed
"Always" is as dangerous a word as "first". I'll agree to
"often". :)
>>> Osborne was the first * big successful
smash hit * of its category
and generation.
> But NOT the first made, shown, sold, nor
delivered.
LOL, stop arguing, I agree with you.
1:25 a.m.
New subject: Origins of term "laptop" computer, and absurdity of "first"
>>>
The Gavilan computer was called a "laptop" when it was introduced at
NCC
(National Computer Conference) in Anaheim May 16, 1983. Let me rephrase my question ... when you say
"called a 'laptop'" what
exactly do you mean by that? For example, were there Gavilan employees
calling it a laptop?
YES!!
Was there literature or signs using that word?
Signs. I don't remember the details of the literature
"Always" is as dangerous a word as
"first". I'll agree to "often". :)
agreed
>>>
Osborne was the first * big successful smash hit * of its category
and generation.
14 Sep
14 Sep
2:52 a.m.
> US Pat
5,268,816 filed Sept 28, 1982 uses the term ?laptop computers?
throughout the
specification but not in the claims.
4491
days inactive
4493
days old
9 comments
5 participants
participants (5)
-
barythrin＠gmail.com -
cisin＠xenosoft.com -
evan＠snarc.net -
hilpert＠cs.ubc.ca -
tom94022＠comcast.net