First portable computer?

[KE6JAG]

The oldest referenced transported digital was the Z4 in 1945. They do not say how they moved it, but it was moved. as per wiki

 

[gertk]

.. she seems pleased with her 'portable' DEC PDP-8 computer.

Up until the first corner

 

[orac81]

Continuing my clockwork theme:

Antikythera mechanism - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

(reconstruction)


The Antikythera mechanism, made around 100-300 BC (possibly by Archimedes himself), is the oldest known example of an analog computer. It is 34 cm × 18 cm × 9 cm, and quite portable. It can compute/predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades in advance.
It stands out almost unique in history, there is nothing else like it until the 14th century in Europe.

These clockwork machines are the ancestors of modern computers. for example Babbage was influenced by seeing "the turk" chess automata. That turned out to be a fake, but started a chain of events that lead to real chess playing automata!

 

[RetroAND]

The 5100 family are small systems, but shouldn't be considered microcomputers for their lack of a microprocessor. Therefore, the first portable microcomputer might be the Osborne, indeed.

About general computeing devices, wasn't the abacus invented some milenia BC at China? They are fairly portable, aren't they?

 

[orac81]

or maybe a sundial? In which case Stonehenge! In the words of a famous band:

"..the druids..
No one knows who they were
Or what they were doing
But their legacy remains
Hewn into the living rock of Stonehenge"

 

[Gary C]

All computers are portable, as someone once sang "you've just got to be prepared to put the effort in"...

 

[aramis]

I've heard from a few sources claiming the Osborne computer was the worlds first portable computer.
Is there a consensus on this?
I've always thought it was the HP-65.

-J

Need to define your meaning for "portable computer" - as many of the trainers could easily be run off batteries and were under 10x10x3/4".... and many of the trainers go back to '74... A kim 1, for example, is turing complete, about a pound, and can be hidden in a binder if you're of a mind to. Sure, it's pretty limited... but it's portable and a gp computer. And can run CP/M if you expanded it enough...

 

[exemple]

I think I need to mention the HP 41c series just for the sake of completion. May not the "the first", but it's sure quite portable (shirtpocket portable). It has plenty of functionality in terms of I/O, networking, printing, storage; things that are associated with computers. I guess getting calculators involved in this conversation might be a little bit out of the scope, with the exception of this one of course given its features (and the fact the manual calls it a computer).

 

[krebizfan]

I think I need to mention the HP 41c series just for the sake of completion. May not the "the first", but it's sure quite portable (shirtpocket portable). It has plenty of functionality in terms of I/O, networking, printing, storage; things that are associated with computers. I guess getting calculators involved in this conversation might be a little bit out of the scope, with the exception of this one of course given its features (and the fact the manual calls it a computer).

The HP 41c was mentioned earlier in the thread. HP had to market it as a computer because once someone purchased the necessary add-ons, the complete system cost almost as much as a real computer.

Not sure of the exact year but the TI-59 had a note taking program. Pretty much unusable as configured but the first hint of the viability of what became the PDA.