The laptop is really just a tool to host different virtual instruments.
The "instrument" most easily associated with the past 15-20 years of electronic/pop music making have been Wave Table synthesizers like NI Massive and Serum.
Remember Skrillex? Those screeching sounds and basses are using Wavetable synthesis (from NI Massive in particular).
A big part of the reason it's harder to associate a particular instrument with newer electronic genres is because it's FAR easier (and more common) now to program your own patches (essentially a preset instrument) for your songs.
The DX-80 mentioned in the next section was VERY difficult to create patches for (even for it's time) so when you hear it in a song, it's almost always the included stock patches.
>The 80's was the electric keyboard and synths, kinda.
You'd associate a few types of instruments (and synthesis types) with the 80s but the reigning one was FM Synthesis, in particular the Yamaha DX-80.
Give a listen to some stick DX-80 patches and you'll immediately go "Yep, that's the 80's"
The VR "EXA: The Infinite Instrument"[1] seemed one intriguing window on the future. Development looks stalled.
[1] https://store.steampowered.com/app/606920/EXA_The_Infinite_I...
edit: It was Eye Drops on TechTV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlM2LFPjS5k
However, for the keyboard, mic, headphone, software, etc you're in the ~$500+ range. But, a Silvertone Stratotone in 1960 was ~$55. That's ~$500 today when adjusting for inflation, so right in the ballpark.
One way I have heard to mentally categorize things: What is the stereotypical musical instrument of that generation/genre?
For jazz and the silent generation it was the saxophone, maybe others though.
For rock-n-roll it's the electric guitar, no question.
The 80's was the electric keyboard and synths, kinda.
Today? The laptop.