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Adam Osborne

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Computer Tech

The Resume

    (March 6, 1939-March 18, 2003)
    Born in Bangkok, Thailand
    Founded the Osborne Computer Company, Paperback Software International and the publishing company Osborne & Associates
    Marketed the first portable computer, the Osborne 1 (1981)
    Wrote ‘Hypergrowth: The Rise and Fall of the Osborne Computer Company’ (1985)

Why he might be annoying:

    His portable computer weighed 25 pounds.
    After he boasted about two new advanced computers his company was developing, demand for the Osborne 1 dried up, sending the company into bankruptcy (1983).
    Paperback Software was successfully sued by Lotus for infringing on the copyright of the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet program.

Why he might not be annoying:

    The Osborne 1 was one of the first computers sold bundled with word processing and spreadsheet programs.
    The Osborne 1 sold for just over half the cost of a computer from other companies with comparable features.
    Osborne & Associates was known for its easy-to-read computer manuals.
    An Osborne 1 is on display at the Smithsonian.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 16 Votes: 68.75% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 20 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 30 Votes: 60.0% Annoying