Monday, Oct. 25, 2010
GRiD Compass 1101
The exact definition of a laptop varies, but the first modern clamshell laptop was designed by Bill Moggridge in 1979. It wasn't until 1982 that the GRiD Compass 1101 made it to market, though. Made from magnesium alloy and sporting a 6-in. screen with 320x240 resolution, the 1101 carried a 1982 starting price of $8,150. Because of its high price, the GRiD was mostly used by NASA and the U.S. military rather than the business executives it was originally developed for.