Gavilan SC was the very first computer to be marketed and sold as a “laptop” by the Gavilan Computer Corporation in May 1983. The clamshell design, one of the first lightweights among the then popular laptops, was designed by the founder of the company, Manuel Fernandez. It was released almost at the same time as Sharp PC-5000, and a year after the GRiD Compass was introduced into the market. It was the smallest and the lightest MS-DOS laptop, powered by in-built battery for the very first time. In this sense, it is often regarded as the first laptop of the world. The model was a breakthrough in the history of laptops, as it combined the features of a touch pad mouse and built-in floppy drive.
Some of the essential features of Gavilan SC are a 3.00” floppy drive, Intel 8088 processor at 5 MHz, 32k built in RAM space, a LCD display with 66 x 8 text and 400 x 64 pixels, a full standard keyboard, touch pad mouse, three separate ports for video, serial and modem, an internal 300-baud modem, an internal 3.5 inch floppy,
Gavilan Operating System and the 2.11 version of MS DOS. The model came with an optional pack of four software applications including the Sorcim SuperCalc, SuperWriter, PFS File and Report. The printer could be attached externally to the laptop. Much smaller than the other IBM compatible machines, Gavilan SC ran on its own batteries. It was claimed by the manufacturers that the model could run continuously for a stretch of 9 hours non-stop. The memory could be expanded with the use of plug-ins.
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Priced at US $3995, it was much cheaper than the GRiD Compass and Sharp PC-5000. However the company owing to stiff competition, delays in introducing new models and a slow sale of their lightweight computers, was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1985.
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