The Osborne 1 is a classic example of this style of computer.
You lugged it around to the nearest outlet, and yes that’s a tiny CRT screen.
An understandable reaction when what you’re selling is this.
This was in 1989, and in all this time the fundamental design of laptops hasn’t changed.
Anyone looking at this today would still recognize it as a laptop instantly.
Even the 90s aesthetic for laptops survives to this day in the form of theindomitable ThinkPad.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that!
The crab-like body design is just so useful that it’s a solution found again and again by nature.
Until then, I’ll enjoy the classic simplicity of the clamshell just a little longer.
Sydney Louw Butler / How-To Geek / Midjourney
The National Media Museum, Bradford
The Computer Chronicles
The Computer Chronicles
Image credit:HP UK
