Pioneer of Portable Computer, Adam Osborne Dies

Adam Osborne, the creator of the first "luggable" portable computer, has died at age 64. Osborne invented the Osborne-1, a 23-pound "portable" computer in 1981 along with his start-up company in 1981, Osborne Computer Corporation. Osborne Computer succeeded by dramatically cutting the costs of its computers against its competitors, including Apple Computer. In its initial year of business, Osborne sold $5.8 million of the Osborne-1 computer, and by the end of 1982, his second year in business, Osborne Corporation had sold $68.8 million. However, when Osborne tried to introduce a second generation of the Osborne-1, he released publicity about it months before it was ready for release. As a result, sales of the Osborne-1 collapsed, and Osborne Corporation crashed into bankruptcy. After Osborne Corporation's demise, Compaq Computer Corporation picked up the torch and introduced a portable computer as its first product. Osborne Computer is now a part of Hewlett-Packard. Osborne published a book of his corporate experience titled "Hypergrowth" and started Paperback Software. Despite his business failures, Osborne is recognized as a visionary entrepreneur who inspired many in Silicon Valley.

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