Osborne 1, released in 1981, is considered one of the first portable computers of the world. Needing an external power source, the computer had its own case, which looked like a small suitcase and could fit under the seat of an airplane. Weighing 24.5 pounds or 10.7 kilos, it was released by Osborne Computer Corporation, with a 5 and half inch wide screen and M 2.2 Operating system. While the keyboard rests inside the lid, it was the first microcomputer to use application software. We might have come a long way from the Osborne 1, which has become obsolete today, but it was quite popular, considering the fact that about ten thousand models of the computer was sold in a single month! Priced at US$ 1795, the portable computer was equipped to feature some of the then popular software applications such as compiled BASIC, SuperCalc spreadsheet, WordStar, MailMerge and Microsoft's Mbasic. Its popularity is evident by the fact that by September 1981, Osborne Computer Corporation had a sale of US $1 million sales per month.
Some of the regular features of the Osborne 1 were a CPU of Zilog Z80 running at a speed of 4.0 Mhz, 64K RAM space, a built-in 5" monitor with 53 X 24 text, a parallel / IEEE-488 modem / serial port, a dual 5-1/4 inch, 91K drives for storage, and the CP/M operating system. Some of the other features of the model were a built-in 52x24 black and white video display, a small 52 character display, complete with in-detail manuals written by Adam Osborne, the man who designed the computer.
However, while the computer was extremely successful, in terms of sales, a superior version of the computer named Osborne Executive was introduced in 1981, but could never be released. This was because of the tough competition by IBM PC, which came out with the Compaq Portable in 1983.
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Moreover, the loyal customers of Osborne kept waiting for Osborne Executive and Vixen, which had not even been shipped and never in fact came. The Company declared a bankruptcy in September 1983.
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