by Amy VanderLaan
Creation of the Laptop
It's difficult to define the first model of laptop computer. This is partially due to different definitions for what a laptop actually is. Some simply define a laptop as a small portable personal computer able to fit into one's lap, while others specify it needs to have a screen and a touchpad. Some even consider the Osborne 1 to be the first laptop computer, despite it not having a clamshell design.
When you think of the word “laptop” you likely picture a personal computer comprising of two parts hinged together. The Graphical Retrieval Information Display (GRiD) Compass is credited as being the first laptop to feature this clamshell design. Released in 1982, this laptop cost $8,150 USD making it too expensive for a typical consumer at the time. However, this cost wasn’t too much for NASA or the US military, and it was used by both.
Though our collection doesn't include a GRiD Compass, it does include a variety of laptop computers from the '80s and '90s, including the two featured in this display.
HP Portable Plus (HP 110 Plus)
The HP Portable Plus, also called the HP-110 Plus, was a laptop made by Hewlett-Packard in 1985. It was an improved version of the HP Portable (HP-110). It was battery powered and a full charge lasted about 20 hours. It's introductory price was $2295 US, which was $700 less than its predecessor.
This brochure from 1985 titled The Portable Plus for Professionals in Motion highlights some of the laptop's features.
The HP Portable Plus computer featured in this display was used in a portable computing project at the University of Waterloo titled Project ARIES. The barcode sticker in the top right corner reads "PA000063", PA for Project ARIES.
Project Aries
Project ARIES was started in 1984 at the University of Waterloo in order to examine the following questions regarding the availability of portable computing in an education setting:
- How are machine-readable materials such as applications software, data, and assignments distributed to students?
- How to students obtain access to different types of output devices such as laser printers?
- How do students and teachers communicate with each other, and obtain access to mainframe computers which may house large data bases, the library catalogue, or extensive teaching software?
Portable computers were distributed to students and faculty at the university starting in September 1985. CS 240 was chosen as the pilot course and 30 students were randomly chosen to be loaned an HP Portable Plus to take home. Eventually, 310 HP Portable Plus computers, 40 IBM Pc convertibles, 55 Toshiba T1000s, and 60 NEC Multi-speeds were distributed. The University of Waterloo had a network allowing students to plug their portable computer into a Transaction Port and transfer software and data to their computer, print files, send and receive mail, and store work on file-servers.
A Project ARIES research report from September 1987 is available online if you'd like to read more about the project: Project ARIES A Network for Convenient Computing in Education
HP Portable Plus screen and keyboard
Top of HP Portable Plus
Right side of HP Portable Plus
Back of HP Portable Plus
Left side of HP Portable Plus
Bottom of HP Portable Plus
"Project ARIES Logon Screen." Cowan, D.D. Project ARIES Progress Report, June 30 1988, p. 6.
Compaq Contura 3/25c
The Compaq Contura 3/25c is a laptop that was made by Compaq Computer Corporation in 1992. It was part of their Contura line of note-book sized laptops and is a colour version of the Compaq Contura 3/25 (hence the "c" after 3/25c). It has a 9" passive matrix colour display. Though I was unable to find an original published US or CAD price for the Contura 3/25c, it's price was listed at around $2000 - $2500 US in advertisements/articles from the year it was released.
This German Compaq Contura 3/25 commercial from 1993 emphasizes its durability.
The most interesting feature about this laptop is arguably its attachable trackball. Captive-touch trackpads on laptops didn't appear until release of the Apple PowerBook 500 in 1994 and until then, laptops often included trackballs that were built in or plugged in.
Compaq Contura 3/25c screen and keyboard
Top of Compaq Contura 3/25c
Right side of Compaq Contura 3/25c
Back of Compaq Contura 3/25c
Left side of Compaq Contura 3/25c
Bottom of Compaq Contura 3/25c
Our Display
Our display features both the HP Portable Plus (left) and Compaq Contura 3/25c (right).
Middle shelf of the Converging Design: Portable Productivity display
HP Portable Plus Specs
| CPU | CMOS 80C86 @ 5.33 MHz |
|---|---|
| Operating System | MS-DOS 2.11 |
| Memory | 512 KB |
| Display | 25 x 80 Liquid Crystal Display |
| Keyboard | 75 keys, 8 function keys, mechanical |
| Weight | 4.5 kg |
This item was donated by Angus Rogerson.
View it in our catalogue: 2024.31.9
Compaq Contura 3/25c Specs
| CPU | 386SL @ 25 MHz |
|---|---|
| Operating System | MS-DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1 |
| Memory | 4 MB RAM |
| Display | 9" passive matrix colour display |
| Keyboard | 79 keys |
| Storage | 80 or 120 MB hard drive, 3.5" floppy drive |
| Weight | 3.6 kg |
This item was donated by Jack Cole.
View it in our catalogue: 2021.3.3
About the Author
Amy studies Computational Mathematics at the University of Waterloo and is the Computer Museum’s Fall 2024 co-op student. In her free time, she enjoys painting, collaging, and other forms of visual art making.
