The Boombox Was a Shoulder Workout
An early-1980s photo shows a man carrying a large boombox the traditional way, perched on one shoulder like personal audio equipment had briefly become gym equipment.
This Computer Was Technically Portable
The Osborne 1 arrived in 1981 as a portable personal computer, but at roughly 24.5 pounds, users quickly found that “luggable” was probably the more accurate description.
Apple Put a Desktop in a Bag
A 1984 Macintosh ad demonstrated portability by placing the entire computer in a large carrying case, monitor and all, which makes a modern laptop sleeve look almost insulting.
The Compaq Portable Was 28 Pounds
The Compaq Portable offered PC users mobility in the 1980s, provided they were comfortable hauling roughly 28 pounds of computer wherever they went.
Video Cameras Took Up an Entire Shoulder
A full-size 1980s video camera practically covered the operator’s shoulder, back when recording on the go still meant hauling around a serious piece of machinery.
Even “Portable” Recording Gear Had Handles for a Reason
The 1950s Maihak Reportofon packed reel-to-reel recording equipment into a case weighing about 7.5 kilograms, which made “portable” feel like a fairly optimistic description.
