Laptop Industry Firsts

This page documents "industry firsts" in the laptop computer industry.

First laptop to include a built-in CD-ROM drive

The conventional answer to this would be the Panasonic CF-41, which released in September 1994. Many online sources claim the first was the IBM ThinkPad 755CD, but it released one month later.

If you extend the definition to include mini 3.5-inch CDs, then Panasonic is still first, but with the CF-V21P, which released in October 1993.

First laptop to use a Lithium Ion battery

This award goes to the Toshiba Portege T3400/T3400CT, which released in November 1993. If you include any main battery with Lithium-based chemistry, then I think the NEC UltraLite would be first.