portable computer

Thesaurus

Noun

portable computer - a personal computer that can easily be carried by handbriefcase computer - a portable computer housed in a box that resembles a briefcaseflat panel display, FPD - a type of video display that is thin and flat; commonly used in laptop computershand-held computer, hand-held microcomputer - a portable battery-powered computer small enough to be carried in your pocketlaptop, laptop computer - a portable computer small enough to use in your lapnotebook computer, notebook - a small compact portable computermicrocomputer, PC, personal computer - a small digital computer based on a microprocessor and designed to be used by one person at a time

Translations

便携式计算机

portable

(ˈpoːtəbl) adjective able to be carried, or moved easily from place to place. a portable radio. 携带的，手提式，轻便的，便携的 portable computer noun便携式计算机

portable computer

(computer)(Commonly, "laptop") A portable personal computeryou can carry with one hand. Some laptops run so hot that itwould be quite uncomforable to actually use them on your lapfor long. The term "notebook" is often used to describethese, though it also implies a low weight (less than 2kg). A"luggable" is one you could carry in one hand but is soheavy you wouldn't want to. One that can by easily operatedwhile held in one hand is a "palmtop".

The computer considered by most historians to be the firsttrue portable computer was the Osborne 1 but see the linkbelow for other contenders.

History of laptop computers.

portable computer

A lightweight computer that can be easily transported. Portable computing started in 1981, when Adam Osborne introduced his CP/M-based business computer called the Osborne I. It came bundled with a modified version of the WordStar word processor specialized for the machine's pint-sized screen. With two floppy disks for storage, its RAM memory was a whopping 64KB.

The Osborne I was soon followed by many other CP/M machines, including Kaypro, Hyperion and Otrona. One year later, Compaq introduced the first MS-DOS portable. See CPM, laptop and notebook.

The Osborne I

For USD $1795, all 30 pounds of the Osborne I came bundled with WordStar and other software. Ironic that the tiny screen would wind up being the norm on smartphones, although the Osborne's screen resolution is laughable by today's standards. (Equipment courtesy of Alfred J. Young, Danboro, PA.)

The Otrona Attache

This is the cover of the Otrona Attache brochure. At half the weight of the Osborne but three times the price, the Otrona Attache was not for the masses. Although a monitor was often plugged in for desktop work, the Otrona's small screen was very usable.

portable computer

Related to portable computer: laptop

noun

Words related to portable computer

noun a personal computer that can easily be carried by hand

Related Words

briefcase computer
flat panel display
FPD
hand-held computer
hand-held microcomputer
laptop
laptop computer
notebook computer
notebook
microcomputer
PC
personal computer