The Osborne 1 and the TRS80 Model 4P are very similar, but the TRS80 is clearly superior. The Model 4P is constructed out of more sturdy material and has more of a finished feel.
The difference between what constitutes a portable computer today and what was considered portable some 25 years ago is drastic.
The Apple MacBook Air is over 10 times lighter than either the TRS80 or the Osborne 1 and is easily 1000 of times more powerful.
The real question is where we go from here.
The Osborne, while innovative for its time, feels more like a conceptual prototype. And in retrospect, it did turn out to be a blueprint for the luggable personal computers that followed.
Photo by Mark Kaelin/CNET Networks
