Editing Mobile workstation (section)

==Origins==
The forerunners of the mobile workstation were the [[portable computer]]s of the early to mid-1980s, such as the [[Portal (computer)|Portal]] R2E CCMC, the [[Osborne 1]],<ref>[http://www.cedmagic.com/history/osborne-1.html Osborne 1 - The First Portable Computer from 1981], accessed April 2010</ref> [[Kaypro II]], the [[Compaq Portable]]<ref>[http://www.cedmagic.com/history/compaq-portable.html Compaq Portable, the Company's First Product in 1982], accessed April 2010</ref> and the [[Commodore International|Commodore]] [[Commodore SX-64|Executive 64]] (SX-64) computers.<ref>[http://oldcomputers.net/sx64.html Commodore SX-64 portable computer], accessed April 2010</ref> These computers contained the [[Central processing unit|CPU]], [[computer display|display]], [[floppy disk drive]] and [[power supply]] all in a single briefcase-like enclosure.  Similar in performance to the desktop computers of the era, they were easily transported and came with an attached keyboard that doubled as a protective cover when not in use.  They could be used wherever space and an electrical outlet were available, as they had no battery.

The development of the [[laptop]] form factor gave new impetus to portable computer development. Many early laptops were feature-limited in the interest of portability, requiring such mobility-limiting accessories as external floppy drives or clip-on [[trackball]] pointing devices. One of the first laptops that could be used as a standalone computer was the [[Eurocom Corporation|EUROCOM]] 2100 based on Intel's 8088 CPU architecture, it duplicated the functionality of the desktop models without requiring an external [[docking station]].

The development of the modern mobile workstation came with the realization that many laptops were used in a semi-permanent location, often remaining connected to an external power source at all times. This suggested that a market existed for a laptop-style computer that would take advantage of the user's reduced need for portability, allowing for higher-performance components, greater expandability, and higher-quality displays. Mobile workstations are also often used with a [[port replicator]], to full enjoy the desktop comfort.