George Morrow, who died at 69 this week, came up with the Pivot portable in 1985. It appeared a few years after the Osborne One, whose creator, Adam Osborne, himself died in March.
The first page of the Pivot manual said: “If you’re someone who holds manuals in contempt as a matter of principle, at least familiarize yourself with the contents of the first section. It’s short, and there are lots of pictures.”