Adam Osborne

Date of Birth: March 6, 1939

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: March 18, 2003

Biography

Adam Osborne was a British-American author, software publisher, and entrepreneur, best known for creating the Osborne 1, the first commercially successful portable computer. Born in Thailand to British parents, Osborne spent much of his early life in India before moving to the United Kingdom and later to the United States. He earned a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Birmingham and subsequently a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware. Osborne’s career began in the technology and publishing industries, where he authored several influential books on computing, including “An Introduction to Microcomputers” and “Running Wild.” In 1980, Osborne founded Osborne Computer Corporation and introduced the Osborne 1 in 1981. Despite its initial success, the company filed for bankruptcy in 1983. Osborne later ventured into software publishing with Paperback Software, which he founded in 1984. He faced legal challenges from Lotus Development Corporation, which significantly impacted his company. Adam Osborne passed away on March 18, 2003, in Kodaikanal, India, after suffering from a series of strokes.

5 Interesting Facts about Adam Osborne

1. Adam Osborne’s Osborne 1 was the world’s first portable computer and weighed 24.5 pounds.

2. Osborne Computer Corporation’s quick rise and fall gave birth to the term “Osborne effect,” which describes the negative consequences of pre-announcing a future product.

3. He authored several books on computing and was known for his ability to simplify complex computer concepts for the general public.

4. Osborne was a pioneer in the concept of open-source software and was an outspoken advocate for software affordability.

5. Despite his later business setbacks, Osborne’s contributions to the computer industry are considered foundational in the development of personal computing.