History of Laptop in Timeline

A laptop, also known as a notebook, is a portable personal computer, typically featuring a clamshell design. It incorporates a flat-panel screen, alphanumeric keyboard, and pointing device. The internal hardware is generally located beneath the keyboard. Many modern laptops include a built-in webcam and some offer touchscreen capabilities. Laptops often run desktop operating systems, differentiating them from tablets which use mobile operating systems.

1968: Alan Kay imagines a portable information manipulator

In 1968, Alan Kay at Xerox PARC imagined a 'personal, portable information manipulator', which he described in his 1972 paper as the 'Dynabook'.

1972: Alan Kay describes the Dynabook

In his 1972 paper, Alan Kay described the 'Dynabook', imagining a 'personal, portable information manipulator'.

1973: IBM SCAMP Prototype Demonstrated

In 1973, the IBM Special Computer APL Machine Portable (SCAMP) was demonstrated. This prototype was based on the IBM PALM processor.

September 1975: IBM 5100 Released

In September 1975, the IBM 5100, which was the first commercially available portable computer, appeared. It was based on the SCAMP prototype.

July 1980: Epson HX-20 invented

In July 1980, the first "laptop-sized notebook computer" was the Epson HX-20, invented (patented) by Suwa Seikosha's Yukio Yokozawa.

1981: Epson HX-20 introduced at COMDEX

In 1981, Japanese company Seiko Epson introduced the Epson HX-20 at the COMDEX computer show in Las Vegas.

1981: Dulmont Magnum released in Australia

In 1981, the Dulmont Magnum was released in Australia.

July 1982: Epson HX-20 released

In July 1982, the Epson HX-20, the first "laptop-sized notebook computer", was released. It had an LCD screen, a rechargeable battery, and a calculator-size printer, in a 1.6 kg chassis, the size of an A4 notebook.

1982: GRiD Compass 1101 released

In 1982, the GRiD Compass 1101, costing US$8,150, was released and used at NASA and by the military.

1982: Notebook term emerges

In 1982, the term 'notebook' emerged to describe Epson's HX-20 portable, whose dimensions roughly correspond to a letter-sized pad of paper.

1983: Sharp PC-5000 released

In 1983, the Sharp PC-5000 was released.

1983: Touch pad developed for laptops

In 1983, the touch pad was developed and included in the Gavilan SC laptop.

1983: Earliest attestation of laptop found

The earliest attestation of the term 'laptop' found by the Oxford English Dictionary dates to 1983.

1984: Dulmont Magnum marketed internationally

In 1984, the Dulmont Magnum, initially released in Australia in 1981-82, began to be marketed internationally.

1984: Laptop origin traced

The etymologist William Safire traced the origin of 'laptop' to some time before 1984.

1985: Ampere WS-1 and Gavilan SC released

In 1985, the Ampere WS-1 and Gavilan SC were released.

1986: Low Market Share for Portable Computers

In 1986, battery-powered portable computers held only 2% of the worldwide market share.

1987: Handwriting recognition developed for laptops

In 1987, handwriting recognition was developed and included in the Linus Write-Top laptop.

1988: VGA resolution reached

By 1988, laptop displays reached 640x480 (VGA) resolution with the Compaq SLT/286.

1988: Notebooks emerge as separate market

Notebooks emerged as their own separate market from laptops with the release of the NEC UltraLite in 1988.

1989: Leading Laptop Vendors

In 1989, Zenith Data Systems, Toshiba, Compaq, and Grid Systems were the leading vendors in the laptop market, which InfoWorld described as "small but vital".

1989: PCMCIA industry association created

In 1989, the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) was created to promote a standard for memory cards in PCs.

1990: 2.5" hard drives introduced

Around 1990, 2.5" and smaller hard drives were introduced, becoming common in laptops.

1990: Hard disk drive for storage

Between 1990 and 2009, almost all laptops typically had a hard disk drive (HDD) for storage.

1990: Intel i386SL CPU designed

In 1990, CPUs such as the Intel i386SL were designed to use minimum power to increase the battery life of portable computers and were supported by dynamic power management features.

1990: Laptops account for one twentieth of the PC market

In 1990, laptops accounted for one twentieth of the personal computer market.

1990: Macintosh Portable in Space

In 1990, the first commercial laptop used in space was a Macintosh portable on Space Shuttle mission STS-41.

1990: PCMCIA type I cards specification released

In 1990, the specification for PCMCIA type I cards, later renamed PC Cards, was first released.

1990: 2.5-inch hard drive becomes typical

Since around 1990, where a hard drive is present in a laptop, it will typically be a 2.5-inch drive.

1991: Macintosh Portable on Space Shuttle

In 1991, a Macintosh portable was used again aboard Space Shuttle mission STS-43.

1991: Color screens became a common upgrade

In 1991, color screens started becoming a common upgrade in laptops.

1992: Toshiba's Global Leadership

As of 1992, Toshiba was the leading global vendor in the notebook computer market.

1992: Laptop market grows faster than desktops

By 1992, the laptop market was growing about three times faster than that of desktops.

1992: Pointing stick developed for laptops

In 1992, the pointing stick was developed and included in the IBM ThinkPad 700 laptop.

1993: Market Revenue Leaders

In 1993, global revenue for the laptop market was led by Compaq, followed by Toshiba, Apple, NEC, and IBM. These companies accounted for over 53% of global revenue.

1994: Laptops more profitable than desktops

By 1994, laptops were also more profitable than desktops, and accounted for one sixth of the personal computer market.

1996: Top Notebook Vendors in the US

In 1996, the top three vendors for notebooks in terms of market share in the United States were Toshiba, followed by Compaq, and then IBM.

1997: Optical disc drives became common in laptops

Around 1997, CD-ROM drives became common in full-size laptops, later supplanted by CD-R, then DVD, then Blu-ray drives with writing capability.

1999: Toshiba Leads Worldwide Laptop Sales

In 1999, Toshiba held the top position in worldwide laptop sales with a market share of 18.6%, followed by IBM, Compaq, and Dell.

2000: Replaceable laptop CPUs

Between around 2000 and 2014, most full-size laptops had socketed, replaceable CPUs.

2000: SO-DIMM slots used in laptops

Since around the year 2000, most laptops have used SO-DIMM slots in which RAM is mounted.

2002: Dell Leads US Notebook Market

In the first quarter of 2002, Dell led the notebook market in the United States with 25.2% market share, ahead of Toshiba (13.6%) and Compaq (11.7%), which had been acquired by Hewlett-Packard (HP). Sony and IBM held the fourth and fifth positions, respectively.

2003: 17" screen laptops introduced

In 2003, 17" screen laptops were introduced.

2004: Acer Leads in EMEA

In 2004, Acer became the largest vendor of laptops in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), surpassing HP and IBM.

May 2005: Average Notebook Price

In May 2005, the average notebook sold for $1,131, while desktops sold for an average of $696, highlighting the higher cost of laptops at the time.

2005: Acer Leads in EMEA

In 2005, Acer maintained its position as the largest vendor of laptops in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), surpassing HP and IBM.

2005: Dell Leads Global Notebook Market

In 2005, according to IDC, Dell was the leading global vendor of notebooks with a market share of 17.29%, followed by HP (15.7%), Toshiba (10.96%), Acer (10.15%), and Lenovo (8.23%). Lenovo had acquired IBM that same year.

2006: ODM Dominance in Laptop Manufacturing

In 2006, Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) played a crucial role in laptop production, with seven major ODMs manufacturing 70% of the world's laptops. Quanta Computer held the largest market share at 30%. This meant that identical laptop models were available from both major brands and less-known ODM in-house brands.

August 2008: Decrease in Laptop Prices

Around August 2008, laptop prices decreased substantially due to the introduction of low-cost netbooks, averaging US$689 at U.S. retail stores. This decline made laptops more accessible to a wider range of consumers.

2008: Notebook Shipments Exceed Desktops

In the third quarter of 2008, worldwide notebook PC shipments surpassed those of desktops for the first time, with 38.6 million units compared to 38.5 million units.

2009: Solid-state drives replace hard drives

Between 1990 and 2009, almost all laptops typically had a hard disk drive (HDD) for storage; since then, solid-state drives (SSD) have gradually come to replace hard drives in all but some inexpensive consumer models.

2010: Integrated GPU Introduced by Intel

In 2010, Intel introduced integrated GPUs into the CPU with the Core i-series of mobile processors to conserve power and space in laptops.

2010: HP and Acer Lead Portable Computer Market

In the first quarter of 2010, HP and Acer were the largest vendors of portable computers, including netbooks, shipping approximately 9 million units each, depending on the data source. Dell, Toshiba, Asus, and Lenovo followed with sales of 5 to 6 million units each. Apple, Samsung, and Sony each sold under 2 million units.

2010: Desktop processors in laptops

Since around 2010, the practice of using desktop processors in laptops has been restricted to small-volume gaming models.

January 2011: AMD APU processors Introduced

In January 2011, AMD introduced similar APU processors to Intel's Core i-series for integrated GPUs in laptops.

2011: ThinkPads Aboard the ISS

As of 2011, over 100 ThinkPads were aboard the International Space Station (ISS), marking their significance in space-based computing.

2011: Laptops pass 10 GB RAM barrier

In the early 2010s, high end laptops such as the 2011 Samsung 700G7A have passed the 10 GB RAM barrier, featuring 16 GB of RAM.

2011: Switchable Graphics Introduced

Since 2011, switchable graphics is almost always involved in higher-end laptops intended for gaming or professional 3D work, so that when there is no demand for the higher performance dedicated graphics processor, the more power-efficient integrated graphics processor will be used. Nvidia Optimus and AMD Hybrid Graphics are examples of this sort of system of switchable graphics.

2011: Trend shifts against internal optical drives

Starting around 2011, the trend shifted against internal optical drives in laptops.

2011: Laptops with 120 Hz refresh rate

The Dell M17x and Samsung 700G7A, both released in 2011, were among the first laptops to feature a 120 Hz refresh rate.

2012: Introduction of MacBook Pro with Retina display

Since the introduction of the MacBook Pro with Retina display in 2012, there has been an increase in the availability of "HiDPI" displays.

Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display - Intel Core i5 Dual Core 2.3GHz, (13-inches, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) - Silver (Renewed)

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2014: End of socketed laptop CPUs

Between around 2000 and 2014, most full-size laptops had socketed, replaceable CPUs; On thinner models, the CPU was soldered on the motherboard and was not replaceable or upgradable without replacing the motherboard.

2014: External displays connected via Mini DisplayPort

In 2014, it was possible to connect up to three external displays to a laptop via a single Mini DisplayPort, using multi-stream transport technology.

2015: Apple MacBook Transition to USB-C

In 2015, Apple transitioned its MacBook to a single USB-C port for charging and device connections, moving away from multiple I/O ports. This shift required aftermarket adapters. However, Apple later reverted to using multiple ports. This transition was a key development in laptop connectivity.

2015: Intel stops offering socketed laptop CPUs

Since 2015, Intel has not offered new laptop CPU models with pins to be interchangeable, preferring ball grid array chip packages which have to be soldered.

2016: Smart Batteries in Laptops

In 2016, most laptops incorporated smart batteries, rechargeable battery packs with a built-in battery management system (BMS). These smart batteries can measure voltage and current internally to determine the charge level and state of health (SoH) of the battery cells. This innovation allowed for more efficient battery management in laptops.

2018: Mainstream laptop CPUs have at least two processor cores

Mainstream laptop CPUs made after 2018 have at least two processor cores, often four cores, and sometimes more, with 6 and 8 cores becoming more common.

2020: HP and Lenovo Lead Notebook Market

As of the third quarter of 2020, HP and Lenovo were the leading vendors for notebook computers, each holding a share of 23.6%. They were followed by Dell (13.7%), Apple (9.7%), and Acer (7.9%).

2021: Common RAM size in laptops

As of 2021, 8 GB RAM is most common in laptops, with lower-end models occasionally having 4 GB. Higher-end laptops may come with 16 GB of RAM or more.

2021: Memory soldered to the motherboard

As of 2021, an increasing number of laptop models use memory soldered to the motherboard, either alongside SO-DIMM slots or without any slots and soldering all memory to the motherboard.

2021: Mainstream consumer laptop screen sizes

As of 2021, mainstream consumer laptops tend to come with 11", 13", 14", 15" or 16" screens.

2021: Rare models using desktop parts

As of 2021, only a few rare laptop models use desktop parts.

2021: Optical disc drives uncommon in laptops

As of 2021, optical disc drives are uncommon in compact or premium laptops; they remain available in some bulkier models, but the trend towards thinner and lighter machines is gradually eliminating these drives and players.

2021: SSD and HDD prices converge

As of 2021, prices on smaller capacity (under 1 terabyte) solid-state drives (SSDs) have converged with hard disk drives (HDDs); larger capacity drives remain more expensive than comparable-sized HDDs.

2022: HiDPI displays on laptops

As of 2022, HiDPI displays are generally considered to be anything higher than 1920 pixels wide.

2022: Using desktop processors in laptops

As of 2022, it is not unknown to use a desktop processor instead of the laptop version in laptops, but it is restricted to small-volume gaming models.

2022: M.2 cards replace 2.5" drives

As of 2022, many laptops no longer contain space for a 2.5" drive, accepting only M.2 cards; a few of the smallest have storage soldered to the motherboard.

2022: Optical drives largely disappear from laptops

As of 2022, optical drives have largely disappeared from laptops, though they are still readily available as external peripherals.

2023: Laptop Affordability

As of 2023, a new laptop could be obtained for $299, reflecting the continued trend of decreasing prices and increasing affordability in the laptop market.

2024: Interchangeable use of 'laptop' and 'notebook'

As of 2024, in American English, the terms 'laptop' and 'notebook' are used interchangeably, while other dialects of English may prefer one over the other.

2024: Equivalent value of GRiD Compass 1101 in 1982

In 2024, the US$8,150 price of the GRiD Compass 1101 in 1982 is equivalent to $26,550.

2024: Laptop Dominance in PC Sales

In the first quarter of 2024, laptops and detachable tablets accounted for around 64% of personal computers sold, demonstrating the increasing preference for portable computing devices.