Cost of a Computer the Year You Were Born

Source: Rwallmow / Wikimedia Commons

1986
> Notable computer: Compaq Portable II
> Price tag: $3,499
> Inflation adjusted price: $8,032

The Compaq Portable II, though markedly lighter than its predecessors, is hardly portable by today’s standards. Despite the machine’s relatively small 9-inch monitor, it weighed 26 pounds and did not pack as neatly as modern laptops.

Source: Bill Bertram / Wikimedia Commons

1987
> Notable computer: Commodore Amiga 500
> Price tag: $700
> Inflation adjusted price: $1,550

Like some of its predecessors, including the Commodore 64, the Commodore Amiga is one of the most popular computers in history, selling more than 6 million units. The Amiga was relatively affordable and was also the first commercially available machine capable of animation and graphic design work.

24/7 Wall St.
The Most Famous Band Formed Each Year Since 1957

Source: Rama and Musee Bolo / Wikimedia Commons

1988
> Notable computer: NeXT Cube
> Price tag: $6,500
> Inflation adjusted price: $13,824

Just three years after being forced out of Apple, Steve Jobs introduced the NeXT with his new company, Cube. NeXT was eventually bought by Apple and the Cube’s operating system served as the foundation for Apple’s Mac OS.

Source: Rama / Wikimedia Commons

1989
> Notable computer: Macintosh Portable M5120
> Price tag: $7,300
> Inflation adjusted price: $14,811

Apple’s first portable Macintosh computer, the Portable M5120 had a crisper display and more processing power than most laptops available at the time. While it was designed to be the first portable Apple computer, people were known to already carry Macintosh desktops under their arms or in carrying cases while traveling. At 16 pounds, the laptop weighed almost as much as the desktop that preceded it.

Source: Sandos / Wikimedia Commons

1990
> Notable computer: Poqet PC
> Price tag: $1,995
> Inflation adjusted price: $3,840

At the time of its release, the Poqet PC was the smallest computer on the market. It was powered by just two AA batteries and had innovative power management software that could make the batteries last for several weeks.