The Osborne 1 was a revolutionary product introduced by Osborne Computer Corporation, at the West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco in April 1981. This portable computer was designed by Adam Osborne, who aimed to take computing out of the office and bring it into the hands of professionals on the go. The device featured a compact all-in-one design that included a 5-inch screen nestled between dual floppy disk drives. With its weight of around 24.5 pounds, it was considered portable compared to the desktop computers of the time, transforming how people interacted with technology.

In addition to its hardware, the Osborne 1 came with a remarkable software suite, including programs such as WordStar, dBase II, and SuperCalc. This ready-to-use software positioned the computer as an attractive option for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The debut of the Osborne 1 at the West Coast Computer Faire garnered considerable media coverage and excitement among technologists and business professionals alike, showcasing the potential of portable computing in a way that hadn’t been seen before.

With 64KB of RAM and a 5-inch display, the Osborne 1 represented a significant technological leap. As one of the first examples of a portable computer, it paved the way for the laptop and notebook designs that followed. However, its price point of $1,795 posed a barrier for many potential users and the company faced stiff competition that would eventually lead to its decline, but the Osborne 1’s impact on the industry remains notable. It established a new market for portable computing and ignited interest that would influence hardware designs for decades to come.