In 1983, Gavilan Computer Corporation introduced what it dubbed "the first mobile computer." The Gavilan was a briefcase-sized machine with a 3-inch disk drive, an 8-line display, and promised 7 hours of battery life. But Gavilan was a bust. It burned $31 million in venture capital and only managed to ship about 1,000 machines before filing for bankruptcy.
I detailed Gavilan's history in a 2024 podcast. You can read the entire transcript here:
https://www.computerchronicles.blog/transcript-gavilans-31-million-ride-to-bankruptcy/
