GRid Systems Introduces the Grid Compass, Probably the First "Clamshell" Laptop

1982
Astronaut John O. Creighton posing with onboard GRiD Compass computer, displaying a likeness of Mr. Spock of Star Trek

Astronaut John O. Creighton posing with onboard GRiD Compass computer, displaying a likeness of Mr. Spock of Star Trek, aboard Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS-51-G on 18 June 1985. Taken from NASA website, and as such falls outside copyright.

The GRiD Compass 1100, introduced by Grid Systems Corporation in 1982, was probably the first commercial computer created in a "clamshell" laptop format, and one of the first truly portable machines.

The 1100 included a magnesium clamshell case with a screen that folded flat over the keyboard, a switching power supply, electro-luminescent display, non-volatile bubble memory, and a built-in modem.

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