History of Laptop in Timeline

A laptop computer, often called a laptop or notebook, is a compact, portable PC. Its clamshell design features a screen on the upper lid and a keyboard and pointing device on the lower lid. Internal components are housed beneath the keyboard. Unlike tablets using mobile OS, laptops generally run desktop operating systems. Some modern laptops incorporate webcams and touchscreens.

1968: Conception of a Portable Information Manipulator

In 1968, Alan Kay at Xerox PARC envisioned a "personal, portable information manipulator", foreshadowing the development of the laptop.

1972: Dynabook Concept

Alan Kay's vision of a portable computer, termed the "Dynabook", was detailed in his 1972 paper.

1973: IBM SCAMP Prototype

The IBM Special Computer APL Machine Portable (SCAMP), a prototype portable computer based on the IBM PALM processor, was demonstrated in 1973.

September 1975: First Commercial Portable Computer

September 1975 marked the release of the IBM 5100, the first commercially available portable computer. It was based on the earlier SCAMP prototype.

July 1980: Invention of the Epson HX-20

July 1980 saw the invention of the Epson HX-20, the first "laptop-sized notebook computer", patented by Yukio Yokozawa of Suwa Seikosha.

1981: Dulmont Magnum Release in Australia

The Dulmont Magnum, one of the first laptops with a flip form factor, was released in Australia in 1981.

1981: Epson HX-20 at COMDEX

The Epson HX-20 was introduced at the COMDEX computer show in Las Vegas in 1981.

July 1982: Release of the Epson HX-20

The Epson HX-20 was released in July 1982, featuring an LCD screen, rechargeable battery, and calculator-sized printer.

1982: GRiD Compass 1101 Release

The GRiD Compass 1101, priced at $8,150, was released in 1982 and found use in organizations like NASA and the military.

1982: Emergence of the Term "Notebook"

The term "notebook" emerged in 1982 to describe the Epson HX-20, whose size was similar to a letter-sized notepad.

1983: Introduction of the Touchpad

The Gavilan SC, released in 1983, introduced the touchpad as a new input method for laptops.

1983: First Recorded Use of "Laptop"

The Oxford English Dictionary records the first use of the term "laptop" in 1983.

1983: Release of Sharp PC-5000 and Ampere WS-1

The Sharp PC-5000 and Ampere WS-1, early laptop models, were released between 1983 and 1985.

1984: International Release of Dulmont Magnum

The Dulmont Magnum was released internationally in 1984.

1984: Origin of the Term "Laptop"

The term "laptop" originated sometime before 1984, modeled after "desktop" for desktop computers.

1985: Release of Gavilan SC and Toshiba T1100

The Gavilan SC, notable for its touchpad, and the Toshiba T1100, a significant step towards mainstream laptop adoption, were released between 1983 and 1985.

1986: Battery-Powered Laptops' Market Share

In 1986, battery-powered portable computers held just 2% of the worldwide market. This low adoption rate marks the early stage of laptops' popularity before they became essential for business and personal use.

1987: Introduction of Handwriting Recognition

The Linus Write-Top, released in 1987, brought handwriting recognition to laptops.

1988: VGA Resolution in Laptops

Laptop displays achieved 640x480 (VGA) resolution by 1988 with the Compaq SLT/286.

1988: NEC UltraLite and the Notebook Market

The release of the NEC UltraLite in 1988 marked the emergence of notebooks as a distinct market segment from laptops.

1989: Formation of PCMCIA

The Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) was formed in 1989 to standardize memory cards for PCs.

1990: HDDs Dominate Laptop Storage

Between 1990 and 2009, hard disk drives (HDDs) were the standard storage device for nearly all laptops.

1990: 2.5-inch HDDs Become Standard

From around 1990, the 2.5-inch form factor became the standard for laptop hard drives, although smaller and larger variations existed.

1990: Prevalence of Hard Drives in Laptops

Hard drives became common in laptops around 1990 with the introduction of smaller 2.5-inch drives.

1990: First Commercial Laptop in Space

In 1990, the first commercial laptop, a Macintosh Portable, was used in space during Space Shuttle mission STS-41. This event marked the beginning of laptops' use in space missions.

1990: Intel i386SL and Power Management

The Intel i386SL CPU, released in 1990, was designed for power efficiency in laptops, supported by features like Intel SpeedStep and AMD PowerNow!.

1990: Release of PCMCIA Type I Card Specification

The specification for PCMCIA type I cards, later renamed PC Cards, was released in 1990.

1991: Rise of Color Laptop Screens

Color screens became a common upgrade option for laptops in 1991.

1991: Continued Use of Laptops in Space

In 1991, laptops continued to be used in space missions, with the Macintosh Portable being flown again on Space Shuttle mission STS-43. This demonstrated the ongoing value of laptops in space exploration.

1992: Introduction of the Pointing Stick

The IBM ThinkPad 700, released in 1992, featured the pointing stick as an innovative input method.

1997: Optical Disc Drives in Laptops

Optical disc drives, initially CD-ROM drives, became common in full-size laptops around 1997.

2000: SO-DIMM RAM Becomes Standard

Around 2000, SO-DIMM slots became the standard for RAM in laptops, replacing proprietary memory modules and increasing user upgradability.

2000: Rise of Socketed CPUs in Laptops

Around 2000, most full-sized laptops started featuring socketed, replaceable CPUs, offering upgradability options.

2003: Introduction of 17-inch Laptop Screens

Laptops with 17-inch screens were introduced in 2003.

May 2005: High Cost of Laptops

In May 2005, the average price of a notebook was $1,131, making it significantly more expensive than desktops, which averaged $696. This reflects the high cost barrier to laptop adoption during this period.

2006: Market Share Dominance by ODMs

In 2006, seven major Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) produced 70% of the world's laptops. Quanta Computer held the largest market share at 30%. This indicates that many brands, including major ones, did not design or manufacture their laptops but instead selected from models created by ODMs.

2006: Laptops' Rising Popularity

In 2006, the trend towards greater laptop usage began to accelerate, setting the stage for significant growth in the following years.

2007: Significant Growth in Notebook PC Shipments

In 2007, approximately 109 million notebook PCs were shipped worldwide, representing a 33% increase compared to 2006. This growth highlights the rising popularity and demand for portable computing devices.

August 2008: Decrease in Laptop Prices

By August 2008, the average price of laptops had decreased to $689 at U.S. retail stores, driven by the rise of low-cost netbooks. This price drop made laptops more accessible to a wider audience.

2008: Notebook PCs Surpass Desktops

In the third quarter of 2008, worldwide notebook PC shipments exceeded desktop shipments for the first time, with 38.6 million units versus 38.5 million units. This milestone marked a significant shift in the computing market.

2009: Projected Growth in Notebook Sales

In 2009, it was estimated that 177.7 million notebooks would be sold, continuing the upward trend from previous years.

2009: SSDs Begin Replacing HDDs

Starting around 2009, solid-state drives (SSDs) began replacing HDDs in laptops, offering faster speeds, improved power efficiency, and increased durability.

2010: Decline of Desktop CPUs in Laptops

Around 2010, the practice of using desktop CPUs in laptops decreased significantly, except for some gaming models, as laptop-specific CPUs improved.

2010: Introduction of Integrated Graphics

Intel introduced integrated GPUs into their Core i-series mobile processors in 2010 to conserve power and space, marking a significant shift in laptop design.

January 2011: AMD Joins Integrated Graphics Trend

Following Intel's lead, AMD introduced its APU processors with integrated graphics in January 2011, further popularizing this power-saving feature.

2011: ThinkPads on the International Space Station

By 2011, over 100 ThinkPads were aboard the International Space Station. These laptops, although modified for the space environment, were essentially the same models available to the public.

2011: Rise of Switchable Graphics

From 2011 onwards, high-end laptops often featured switchable graphics, allowing them to utilize either the integrated GPU for power efficiency or the dedicated GPU for performance.

2011: Laptops Break 10GB RAM Barrier

In 2011, high-end laptops, such as the Samsung 700G7A, started featuring 16GB of RAM, exceeding the previous 10GB limit.

2011: Decline of Internal Optical Drives

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

2011: Laptops with 120Hz Refresh Rate

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

2012: Introduction of Retina Display

The introduction of the MacBook Pro with Retina display in 2012 marked a surge in the availability of high-pixel-density displays for laptops.

2014: Decline of Socketed CPUs

By 2014, the use of socketed CPUs in laptops decreased as thinner models with soldered CPUs, not meant for user replacement, became more popular.

2014: Multi-Stream Transport Technology

In 2014, laptops started utilizing multi-stream transport technology, enabling users to connect up to three external displays through a single Mini DisplayPort.

2015: Apple's Transition to USB-C

In 2015, Apple's MacBook embraced USB-C as a single port solution for charging and connecting peripherals, a trend later adopted by other manufacturers.

2015: Intel Shifts to Soldered CPUs

In 2015, Intel stopped offering socketed CPUs for laptops, opting for soldered ball grid array packages, further reducing user upgradability.

2016: Widespread Adoption of Smart Batteries

By 2016, most laptops adopted smart batteries with built-in battery management systems (BMS) to monitor voltage, current, and battery health.

2018: Multi-Core CPUs in Laptops

From 2018 onward, mainstream laptop CPUs typically had at least two processor cores, with four cores becoming common and six or eight cores becoming increasingly prevalent.

2020: Rise of OLED Laptop Displays

While LCD technology remained dominant for laptop screens, the use of OLED panels increased significantly since 2020.

2021: 8GB RAM Becomes Common

As of 2021, 8GB of RAM became the standard for most laptops, with lower-end models having 4GB and higher-end models boasting 16GB or more.

2021: Mainstream Laptop Screen Sizes

As of 2021, mainstream consumer laptops typically came with screen sizes of 11, 13, or 15-16 inches. 14-inch models were more common in business laptops.

2021: Optical Disc Drives Become Uncommon

As of 2021, optical disc drives became increasingly uncommon in laptops, particularly in compact or premium models, as digital downloads and streaming gained popularity.

2021: SSDs Achieve Price Parity (Partially)

By 2021, SSDs achieved price parity with HDDs for smaller capacities (under 1 terabyte), further solidifying their dominance in the laptop market.

2021: Rarity of Socketed CPUs

By 2021, laptops with socketed CPUs became rare, with most manufacturers opting for soldered CPUs.

2021: Increase in Soldered RAM

While SO-DIMM slots remained common, 2021 saw a rise in laptops with RAM soldered directly to the motherboard, limiting user upgrades.

2022: Prevalence of HiDPI Displays

By 2022, HiDPI displays, generally considered those with resolutions higher than 1920 pixels wide, became increasingly common in laptops, often converging around 4K (3840 pixels wide) resolutions.

2022: Disappearance of Internal Optical Drives

By 2022, internal optical drives had largely disappeared from laptops, though they remained available as external peripherals.

2022: M.2 SSDs Gain Prominence

By 2022, many laptops no longer accommodated 2.5-inch drives, opting instead for smaller and faster M.2 SSDs.

2022: Niche Use of Desktop CPUs in Laptops

While not unheard of in 2022, using desktop CPUs in laptops for performance gains became restricted to niche gaming models due to heat and battery life constraints.

2023: Affordability of Modern Laptops

As of 2023, a new laptop can be obtained for as low as $299. This significant decrease in price is attributed to advancements in inexpensive and low-power processors, as well as less demanding operating systems.

2024: Laptop and Notebook Terminology

In 2024, the terms "laptop" and "notebook" are used interchangeably in American English. While other English dialects may prefer one term, both now refer to the same type of portable computer.