The Osborne 1 was the first commercially successful portable microcomputer, released in April 1981 by Osborne Computer Corporation. It weighed 23.5 pounds, cost $1,795, and ran the then-popular CP/M 2.2 operating system. The computer shipped with a large bundle of software that was almost equivalent in value to the machine itself. [more inside]
posted by Joe Beese on Oct 1, 2010 - 33 comments

Pocket music apps are letting composers and artists create music anywhere - and they're developing fast. [more inside]
posted by Stark on Aug 11, 2010 - 51 comments

A movie theater experience absolutely anywhere! Take it on a long commute, on the plane, or even on a camping trip.
posted by gman on Jul 4, 2010 - 84 comments

Researchers at MIT and in Korea have developed a new, efficient desalinization nanotechnology that could theoretically lead to small, portable units powered by solar cells or batteries, yet deliver enough potable fresh water from seawater to supply the needs of a family or small village. As an added bonus, the system would simultaneously remove many contaminants, viruses and bacteria. MIT Press Release. Abstract and Supplementary Information from Nature Nanotechnology. (pdf) [more inside]
posted by zarq on Mar 24, 2010 - 32 comments

Retrobrick sells those old giant clunky cell phones we still called "car phones." To anyone old enough to remember them, it's a little scary to think they are desirable antiques now. Too bad they aren't as sweet as these photoshop fantasies. For a little history, Martin Cooper's account of making the first cell phone call, 33 years ago, on the streets of NYC (to his rival at Bell Labs.)
posted by CunningLinguist on Jun 22, 2006 - 18 comments

Nes Micro To go along with your portable snes, playstation, and Atari 2600 of course. Want to do it yourself? buy the book. Lots more stuff on Ben Heckendorn's home page (how quaint!). (found all this googling for pictures of NES cartages)
posted by delmoi on Apr 19, 2006 - 8 comments

Skype can now be stored on a flashdrive and taken from PC to PC. And this tiny BotTorrent client (82Kb) can also be carried around on a flashdrive.
posted by bobbyelliott on Sep 23, 2005 - 18 comments

Ahhh Yeah - Portible Sony Playstation Wether you are into gaming or not this ranks as cool as the Apple IIc, Sony Sports Walkman, Swatch, Palm VII, you name it! Portible gaming with connectivity...
posted by Brilliantcrank on Jun 8, 2000 - 10 comments

A portable CD player that plays CDRs with mp3s burned on them. I want one of these *now*! It looks like outpost.com is taking preorders for it, and the price isn't that bad.
posted by mathowie on Dec 31, 1999 - 1 comment

The hype machine for Apple's new Consumer Portable appears to be in full swing.
posted by jjg on Jul 15, 1999 - 2 comments