Milestones in the history of mobile computing

By | PC World
Published 16:11,

Here are some of the most important portables we've toted around over the past 30 years

  • 1971: Busicom LE-120A 'Handy-LE' calculator
  • 1978: Parker Bros. Merlin computer toy
  • 1981: Osborne 1 portable computer
  • 1982: Grid Compass 1100 clamshell laptop
  • 1983: TRS-80 Model 100 portable PC
  • 1984: Psion Organiser handheld computer
  • 1991: Psion Series 3 minicomputer
  • 1996: Palm Pilot 1000 digital planner
  • 1996: Panasonic Toughbook CF-25 laptop
  • 1999: Apple iBook G3 Wi-Fi enabled laptop
  • 2002: Acer TravelMate TM-100 laptop/tablet hybrid
  • 2002: RIM BlackBerry 5810 handheld email machine/phone
  • 2006: Samsung Q1 Ultra-Mobile PC
  • 2007: Eee PC 4G netbook
  • 2007: Apple iPhone smartphone
  • 2008: Apple iTunes App Store
  • 2010-2011: Apple iPad 1 and 2
  • 2011: Motorola Atrix 4G smartphone
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1971: Busicom LE-120A 'Handy-LE' calculator

Milestone: First pocket-size calculator

Legacy: It might seem strange to kick off a list of portable computing milestones with a calculator, but this little machine from Busicom was one of the first handheld devices that could carry out a computing function. So-called handheld calculators existed before this product, but the Handy-LE was truly the first calculator you could easily hold in your hand or fit in your pocket. The Handy-LE's small size was due to the single-chip calculator circuit, the Mostek MK610, that carried out the device's computing functions.

The success of portable computing this decade is due at least in part to the pioneering work of many companies in decades past.

Apple recently launched the iPad 2 to tremendous fanfare, and the device is being hailed as the latest and greatest portable computing device. Even though more powerful convertible tablet PCs were available years ago, the iPad has flourished thanks to its intuitive touch-based interface and a wealth of easy to install third party applications. Apple sold around 15 million iPads in 2010, and the company looks poised to have a big year with the iPad 2.

Important milestones in portable computing include devices such as single chip calculators, "laptops" that weighed nearly two stone, digital organisers and even a few older Apple inventions. Here's a look at 18 of the most notable mobile computers.

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