Laptop
Information supplied by Toshiba of Europe Limited in June 2018 as follows:
The T1100 was a laptop manufactured by Toshiba in 1985 (development started in April 1984), and has subsequently been described as "the world's first mass-market laptop computer".
In the early 1980s Toshiba was struggling to stay in the PC market, and decided the only way to stay competitive was to create an innovative computer that was mobile (light enough to be carried in a backpack) , power efficient (the battery could last up to 8 hours) and for the first time, a portable computer that was fully compatible with standard computers.
This laptop also introduced the now-standard "resume" feature to DOS-based machines: the computer could be paused between sessions without having to be restarted each time.
Epson’s HX-20 portable (1982) preceded it as the world’s first portable computer but the T1100 was the first in the now common clamshell shape and importantly was compatible with standard machines.
The T1100 laptop PC has received certification as a major innovation under the IEEE Milestone Program. The T1100 was recognized for its invaluable contribution to the development of laptop PCs.
See reference to orignal brochure in references.
The T1100 was a laptop manufactured by Toshiba in 1985 (development started in April 1984), and has subsequently been described as "the world's first mass-market laptop computer".
In the early 1980s Toshiba was struggling to stay in the PC market, and decided the only way to stay competitive was to create an innovative computer that was mobile (light enough to be carried in a backpack) , power efficient (the battery could last up to 8 hours) and for the first time, a portable computer that was fully compatible with standard computers.
This laptop also introduced the now-standard "resume" feature to DOS-based machines: the computer could be paused between sessions without having to be restarted each time.
Epson’s HX-20 portable (1982) preceded it as the world’s first portable computer but the T1100 was the first in the now common clamshell shape and importantly was compatible with standard machines.
The T1100 laptop PC has received certification as a major innovation under the IEEE Milestone Program. The T1100 was recognized for its invaluable contribution to the development of laptop PCs.
See reference to orignal brochure in references.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Moulded plastic |
| Brief description | Toshiba, Toshiba T1100 Laptop, 1985 |
| Physical description | 'Clamshell' style laptop computer in moulded cream plastic, the keyboard and screen accessed by opening the laptop using buttons at the side. The screen has the text 'February 1985' printed on it. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | The Gift of Toshiba of Europe Limited |
| Summary | Information supplied by Toshiba of Europe Limited in June 2018 as follows: The T1100 was a laptop manufactured by Toshiba in 1985 (development started in April 1984), and has subsequently been described as "the world's first mass-market laptop computer". In the early 1980s Toshiba was struggling to stay in the PC market, and decided the only way to stay competitive was to create an innovative computer that was mobile (light enough to be carried in a backpack) , power efficient (the battery could last up to 8 hours) and for the first time, a portable computer that was fully compatible with standard computers. This laptop also introduced the now-standard "resume" feature to DOS-based machines: the computer could be paused between sessions without having to be restarted each time. Epson’s HX-20 portable (1982) preceded it as the world’s first portable computer but the T1100 was the first in the now common clamshell shape and importantly was compatible with standard machines. The T1100 laptop PC has received certification as a major innovation under the IEEE Milestone Program. The T1100 was recognized for its invaluable contribution to the development of laptop PCs. See reference to orignal brochure in references. |
| Bibliographic reference | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | FE.211-2018 |
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| Record created | May 30, 2018 |
| Record URL |
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