Osborne 1
A transportable CP/M computer with an integrated display.
The Osborne combines drives, a small screen, and a keyboard that closes over the front of its case. The enclosure was designed to be carried as a unit.
All photographs of this object
Osborne 1
| Maker | Osborne Computer Corporation |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1981 |
| Processor | Zilog Z80 |
| Operating system | CP/M |
| Display | 5 inch monochrome CRT, centred between two 5.25 inch drives |
| Price | $1,795, including bundled software |
| Weight | About 24 lb (11 kg), mains powered |
The first commercially successful portable computer, and the argument was never the hardware. A Z80, 64 KB and a five-inch screen were unremarkable in 1981; what Osborne did was bundle CP/M, WordStar, SuperCalc and two BASICs with the machine, software worth more than the computer, and put the whole thing in a case that closed. The screen is the size it is because the case had to fit under an airline seat.
Record & provenance
The Osborne combines drives, a small screen, and a keyboard that closes over the front of its case. The enclosure was designed to be carried as a unit.
Reference: ATX-OBJ-OSBORNE-1
Source: collection inventory, photographs, and notes accompanying Serious Machines (Amir Husain, 2024).