A computer in a suitcase
The Osborne 1 could be closed up like a suitcase, but it needed a wall socket for power. The Toshiba T1100 from 1985 is often described as the first mass-produced laptop.
How the shape settled
In 1991 the Apple PowerBook moved the keyboard back and left room at the front for the palms and a trackball. The IBM ThinkPad brought the red TrackPoint. Touchpads, Wi-Fi and SSDs came later.
When buying
- What matters is the processor, the amount of memory (ideally 16 GB or more) and the SSD.
- Watch out for cheap models with memory soldered onto the board; it cannot be upgraded.
- Laptops with ARM chips last the longest on battery.