Earliest Laptop

Actually the Radio Shack Model 100 (and NEC 8201) ran on 4 AA batteries, had an LCD screen and were WIDELY used by reporters and others. As a consutant I snapped one up and used it for years as a note taking machine in meetings. It turned on immediately, was fast, had excellent batery life and made NO NOISE.
They are STILL used today in a lot of places (ships, satellite controllers, off the grid camps etc).