Purchasing a laptop is such a daunting task. With all the laptop brands and models out in the market today, it will take you several months to pick which laptop is best for you. The flood of information can make things a lot more complicated. That is why, most often than not, we choose laptops that we thought are perfect, only to discover that it is a total mismatch to our needs and lifestyle. Choosing the perfect laptop brand will really entail plenty of time and effort. If you are looking for the best, try looking into the best laptop brands of this year, as chosen by consumers and critics. Here is a brief list of the best and top selling laptop brands out in the market today:
1. Apple
Apple is undeniably the best and most innovative brands in the world of technology. It has developed the most lightweight notebooks and laptops, the best software programs for graphic design, the most innovative handheld gadgets, and more.
Their three premium product lines include the Macbook, Macbook Pro and Macbook Air. Although quite expensive, they offer a great experience rendered to the user.
2. HP / Compaq
HP is a trusted name and highly distinguished for its wide array of products that caters to different segments of the market.
There is always an HP laptop for you, no matter your social income, taste or preference. They have high end, middle end and low end products for everyone.
3. Dell
For high end gadgets at an affordable price, opt for Dell. Dell is the perfect choice for business and work, as well as for personal uses.
The best laptops from Dell are Mini Net, Inspiron and Studio XPS for personal or home use. The Dell Precision and Latitude series are perfect for business use.
4. Toshiba
Toshiba prides itself for its high quality monitors, outstanding features, stylish designs and unparalleled laptop performance.
Toshiba provides the most reliable laptops and notebooks in the world. Its best laptops include the Toshiba Satellite, Satellite Pro, Tecra, mini Notebook, Portege and Qosimo.
5. Sony
Sony is known for its premium features, assorted designs and multiple functions. Sony is recognized around the glove for its distinctive personality and the high end products it always develops.
The Sonly laptop series are: Sony Vaio W Series, Vaio TT Series, Vaio Z Series, Vaio SR Series, Vaio CS Series, Vaio BZ Series, Vaio NW Series, Vaio FW Series and the Vaio AW Series. Each series cater to various segments of the market. In the laptop domain, there is no doubt that Sony is very much in demand.
6. Asus
Asus is a fairly new Taiwanese company that has exploded in popularity in 2009. Their Asus UL series is one of the best ultra slim laptops released.
Moreover, Asus laptops have astounding battery life of up to 11.5 hours! They sometimes come in HD LED backlit display, tons of RAM and spacious hard disk space. Best of all, Asus laptops are rather affordable!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3644507
What to Look for in the Best Laptop Brands?
Most laptop brands claim that they are the best laptop brand. In order to find out who among these brands, read on, on what factors are considered to constitute top laptop.
Laptops are mobile computers which function like the desktop computers. Currently, a lot of laptop brands in market are competing on the right to be called as the best laptop brand. But before anything else, how do we define what a best laptop is? I believe that in order to be called best, the services and quality the laptop provides should be excellent. Factors to look out for before considering a new laptop:
PerformanceLaptop's performance is dependent on its processor, graphic performance and battery life. Laptop's processor should be able to work faster in order to for laptops to perform better.
It is also a must that the computer's graphics are excellent to deliver real time quality of images. Its batteries should last longer so that more work is done in the laptop. From the many brands available in the market, Apple laptops' performance is the best. It works faster, delivers quality graphics and the longest battery life compared to other brands.
DesignThe design is important in every laptop because it is readily seen by people when you carry them around for work or school. Design is dependent on laptop's color and finish, screen options, viewing angles and sound quality.
Look for a design which you think will reflect you as a person and mostly fitted to your type of lifestyle. When it comes to those available in the market, a lot brands offer a variety of designs to choose from. It is in the consumer's discretion to choose what brand offers best.
InnovationInnovation meant a change or new measure that the brand has employed within its product line. These include the availability of new features within laptops of that certain brand.
Customer satisfactionIt is very important that consumers appreciate the brand and the products it offers. This particular aspect often describes whether the goal of satisfying clients is met or not.
The following aspects that I have enumerated are those which I personally consider in choosing a laptop brand.
If you search the web, there are a lot of reviews which gives their opinion regarding best brands of laptops. If you are serious in finding out what best laptop brands are then you should consider looking for experts review.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5150123
Laptops are mobile computers which function like the desktop computers. Currently, a lot of laptop brands in market are competing on the right to be called as the best laptop brand. But before anything else, how do we define what a best laptop is? I believe that in order to be called best, the services and quality the laptop provides should be excellent. Factors to look out for before considering a new laptop:
PerformanceLaptop's performance is dependent on its processor, graphic performance and battery life. Laptop's processor should be able to work faster in order to for laptops to perform better.
It is also a must that the computer's graphics are excellent to deliver real time quality of images. Its batteries should last longer so that more work is done in the laptop. From the many brands available in the market, Apple laptops' performance is the best. It works faster, delivers quality graphics and the longest battery life compared to other brands.
DesignThe design is important in every laptop because it is readily seen by people when you carry them around for work or school. Design is dependent on laptop's color and finish, screen options, viewing angles and sound quality.
Look for a design which you think will reflect you as a person and mostly fitted to your type of lifestyle. When it comes to those available in the market, a lot brands offer a variety of designs to choose from. It is in the consumer's discretion to choose what brand offers best.
InnovationInnovation meant a change or new measure that the brand has employed within its product line. These include the availability of new features within laptops of that certain brand.
Customer satisfactionIt is very important that consumers appreciate the brand and the products it offers. This particular aspect often describes whether the goal of satisfying clients is met or not.
The following aspects that I have enumerated are those which I personally consider in choosing a laptop brand.
If you search the web, there are a lot of reviews which gives their opinion regarding best brands of laptops. If you are serious in finding out what best laptop brands are then you should consider looking for experts review.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5150123
Best Business Laptops For Your Business Needs
The ultimate business laptop is perfect to carry around and be unnoticed, can be used to compile quick business reports and spreadsheets, and pretty much anything that goes with a business meeting should be integrated into one of these computing machines.
It goes without saying that a business laptop should be highly connectible so you never miss an important email or can attend a web conference without physically being there. It should also allow you to access certain features which keep your business up and running, so if your business is an online business, then you will probably be accessing the social media places such as Twitter, Facebook (if you have that kind of page for your business) and many others.
You will be communicating with your business partners, and since it's better to actually see who you're talking to, a nice built in webcam should do the trick just fine.
It is important you know what makes a laptop good for business and what makes a laptop a standard consumer laptop used for everyday online activities.
That being said, let's go through some features a business laptop should have:
Laptop size:The size of the laptop is pretty important. It goes without saying that a small laptop, a 10 inch mini computing machine probably won't be capable of storing much, or actually making huge calculations some software demands. Or perform pretty well when it comes to installed software. A decent size for your business laptop should be one that suits your business. If there's a lot of data to be carried around, a decent sized laptop would probably be used to create presentations and spreadsheets.
These are two things that business laptops should be able to handle. A visual representation of data is always more handy than just numbers, so make sure your portable computer can handle such tasks.
The standard size is the probably one you should go with. A 15.4 inch screen laptop is perfect if you don't know yet what you will be using the laptop for. Also, go with a laptop configuration that is a bit above the average, to make sure it can handle itself with all the types of software it can encounter.
Power - It always boils down to powerProcessing power I one important aspect of any laptop, not just business laptops. Some new models carry quite the powerhouse with them, having quad-cores and whatnot. These can get a bit expensive, but if it helps your business and increase overall productivity, then you should go for it.
Just remember that a big processor on your laptop will mean a big power requirement. High end CPUs tend to empty a battery much quicker than regular ones. It's the price you pay for high performance.
Portability - The laptop goes where the business takes youA business laptop should be very portable so you can take it everywhere with you and don't perceive it as a brick you have to carry around.
If the business requires only a few simple computing tasks, then the best business laptops should be the ones that are small and still carry enough processing power to handle easy tasks. Think of small sized 10 inch screen diagonal laptops which you can fit into your briefcase along with other documents you might be carrying around with you. These are not powerhouses, but they simplify the whole way you do business and can store up on a lot of information.
Connectivity - Business on the goYou want to make sure that your business laptop is highly connectible since you'll be carrying it a lot with you and you need to stay in touch with business partners or possible clients.
Make sure it comes with Wi-Fi connectivity, or search for the ones that can use the mobile phone networks to access the internet. At the office you can probably use the wired connection, or, if your office is equipped with a wireless router, you can still take the laptop with you around the office and keep connected.
Laptop LooksGet a feel for the business laptop you will be using. If it's a business laptop, then it should go nice with a suit. It should be a standard black model and should not carry any colorful distinctive marks to attract attention to it. The laptop you carry around represents the way you do business.
If you would carry a pink laptop around with you, how would that impact your business credibility? This is more of an appearance feature rather than a performance one. Choose the laptop that goes with what you do, not a laptop that's in total contrast with your business ethic.
Laptop graphics capacityWhen choosing the laptop for your business, you won't need to look at its graphics card. High-end graphics cards are great for gaming laptops, but if its business you are doing, it's simply not a necessity since you won't be fooling around playing games all day long.
The best laptop for business will carry a built-in graphics card which will probably be using some of the available system RAM to run properly. Make sure your laptop is stocked up on RAM before making the choice.
In conclusion, the very best business laptop is the highly portable one, which packs quite a bit of processing power and looks great when you take it with you on a business meeting. It should be easy to use and it should also improve the way you work and never act as an obstacle in the way you do business.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5860689
It goes without saying that a business laptop should be highly connectible so you never miss an important email or can attend a web conference without physically being there. It should also allow you to access certain features which keep your business up and running, so if your business is an online business, then you will probably be accessing the social media places such as Twitter, Facebook (if you have that kind of page for your business) and many others.
You will be communicating with your business partners, and since it's better to actually see who you're talking to, a nice built in webcam should do the trick just fine.
It is important you know what makes a laptop good for business and what makes a laptop a standard consumer laptop used for everyday online activities.
That being said, let's go through some features a business laptop should have:
Laptop size:The size of the laptop is pretty important. It goes without saying that a small laptop, a 10 inch mini computing machine probably won't be capable of storing much, or actually making huge calculations some software demands. Or perform pretty well when it comes to installed software. A decent size for your business laptop should be one that suits your business. If there's a lot of data to be carried around, a decent sized laptop would probably be used to create presentations and spreadsheets.
These are two things that business laptops should be able to handle. A visual representation of data is always more handy than just numbers, so make sure your portable computer can handle such tasks.
The standard size is the probably one you should go with. A 15.4 inch screen laptop is perfect if you don't know yet what you will be using the laptop for. Also, go with a laptop configuration that is a bit above the average, to make sure it can handle itself with all the types of software it can encounter.
Power - It always boils down to powerProcessing power I one important aspect of any laptop, not just business laptops. Some new models carry quite the powerhouse with them, having quad-cores and whatnot. These can get a bit expensive, but if it helps your business and increase overall productivity, then you should go for it.
Just remember that a big processor on your laptop will mean a big power requirement. High end CPUs tend to empty a battery much quicker than regular ones. It's the price you pay for high performance.
Portability - The laptop goes where the business takes youA business laptop should be very portable so you can take it everywhere with you and don't perceive it as a brick you have to carry around.
If the business requires only a few simple computing tasks, then the best business laptops should be the ones that are small and still carry enough processing power to handle easy tasks. Think of small sized 10 inch screen diagonal laptops which you can fit into your briefcase along with other documents you might be carrying around with you. These are not powerhouses, but they simplify the whole way you do business and can store up on a lot of information.
Connectivity - Business on the goYou want to make sure that your business laptop is highly connectible since you'll be carrying it a lot with you and you need to stay in touch with business partners or possible clients.
Make sure it comes with Wi-Fi connectivity, or search for the ones that can use the mobile phone networks to access the internet. At the office you can probably use the wired connection, or, if your office is equipped with a wireless router, you can still take the laptop with you around the office and keep connected.
Laptop LooksGet a feel for the business laptop you will be using. If it's a business laptop, then it should go nice with a suit. It should be a standard black model and should not carry any colorful distinctive marks to attract attention to it. The laptop you carry around represents the way you do business.
If you would carry a pink laptop around with you, how would that impact your business credibility? This is more of an appearance feature rather than a performance one. Choose the laptop that goes with what you do, not a laptop that's in total contrast with your business ethic.
Laptop graphics capacityWhen choosing the laptop for your business, you won't need to look at its graphics card. High-end graphics cards are great for gaming laptops, but if its business you are doing, it's simply not a necessity since you won't be fooling around playing games all day long.
The best laptop for business will carry a built-in graphics card which will probably be using some of the available system RAM to run properly. Make sure your laptop is stocked up on RAM before making the choice.
In conclusion, the very best business laptop is the highly portable one, which packs quite a bit of processing power and looks great when you take it with you on a business meeting. It should be easy to use and it should also improve the way you work and never act as an obstacle in the way you do business.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5860689
5 Of The Best Laptops For The Home User
If you intend to use your laptop at home, you will generally need a multi-purpose machine. That is, it should be capable of word processing, emailing, DVD burning and gaming. The problem, as always, is choosing the correct laptop to fit your needs. This article will show you which are the best laptops for the average home user.
1. Overview
A laptop with over-the-top specifications would not be needed - just a simple one would probably be ok. We now look at 5 of these laptops I'd recommend.
1. The Gateway T-6828
The Dell Vostro 1310
Gateway is not as well-known for its laptops (compared to laptops), but this model is one of the better models to be launched. Highly recommended.
The Toshiba Satellite U405-S2830 is a good choice for the home user as well. It costs slightly more than the Gateway T-6828, but its feature set and performance specifications certainly justify the premium in price.3. The Dell Vostro 1310
As you might know, Dell is one of the most popular manufacturers of laptops. The Dell Vostro 1310 lives up to the Dell name by delivering great performance at a very decent price. You should definitely check it out (in fact, order it online since Dell has good online deals for its laptops).4. The Fujitsu Lifebook A6120
The Fujitsu Lifebook A6120 is one of the latest offerings from Fujitsu and comes highly recommended for the multi-purpose home user.
5. The HP Pavilion dv6500t
However, it packs in great multimedia and gaming features. Definitely a contender for the home laptop category.
Conclusion
You should now know which are 5 of the best laptops for the home user. Your opinions may vary, but for myself, I'd go with the HP Pavilion dv6500t as my first choice of laptop for the average home user. Until next
Amazing laptop that is selling like hotcakes out there. The HP Pavilion dv6500t is one of the best value laptops you can get (at last check, its street price was only about $850).
Fujitsu has always made premium (and slightly pricey) laptops. However, the laptops are stellar performers and usually beat performance scores of other laptops.
One of the latest laptops to come from Gateway, the Gateway T-C90 is a good machine for the average home user. You can expect to perform most of your basic computing tasks using this laptop.
The home user generally needs a laptop that performs a variety of functions. These range from word processing, Internet surfing, video editing and gaming.
1. Overview
A laptop with over-the-top specifications would not be needed - just a simple one would probably be ok. We now look at 5 of these laptops I'd recommend.
1. The Gateway T-6828
The Dell Vostro 1310
Gateway is not as well-known for its laptops (compared to laptops), but this model is one of the better models to be launched. Highly recommended.
2. The Toshiba Satellite U405-S2830
The Toshiba Satellite U405-S2830 is a good choice for the home user as well. It costs slightly more than the Gateway T-6828, but its feature set and performance specifications certainly justify the premium in price.
As you might know, Dell is one of the most popular manufacturers of laptops. The Dell Vostro 1310 lives up to the Dell name by delivering great performance at a very decent price. You should definitely check it out (in fact, order it online since Dell has good online deals for its laptops).
The Fujitsu Lifebook A6120 is one of the latest offerings from Fujitsu and comes highly recommended for the multi-purpose home user.
5. The HP Pavilion dv6500t
However, it packs in great multimedia and gaming features. Definitely a contender for the home laptop category.
Conclusion
You should now know which are 5 of the best laptops for the home user. Your opinions may vary, but for myself, I'd go with the HP Pavilion dv6500t as my first choice of laptop for the average home user. Until next
time, happy shopping!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1417733 Amazing laptop that is selling like hotcakes out there. The HP Pavilion dv6500t is one of the best value laptops you can get (at last check, its street price was only about $850).
Fujitsu has always made premium (and slightly pricey) laptops. However, the laptops are stellar performers and usually beat performance scores of other laptops.
One of the latest laptops to come from Gateway, the Gateway T-C90 is a good machine for the average home user. You can expect to perform most of your basic computing tasks using this laptop.
The home user generally needs a laptop that performs a variety of functions. These range from word processing, Internet surfing, video editing and gaming.
How to Buy a Laptop For Your Kids
Do you want to buy a laptop for your kids? Well, the truth is, It can be difficult to choose the correct model. There is a huge variety of laptops out there and any one of them could be the one for your kids. To help you decide, this article runs through some of the basic thoughts and factors to consider before buying a kid's laptop. So read on and find out more ...
1. Why Does Your Kid Need A Laptop?
The very first question to ask yourself is why your kid needs a laptop. Is he or she a college student and about to enter college? Then a good student laptop that is portable would be ideal. Is he or she just a high school student who needs to use a laptop for class projects or research? Or perhaps if your child is a pre-schooler, does he or she even need a laptop? Would a desktop suffice?
Think through these questions to understand why a new laptop is needed. Then you will be able to buy just the right one for your kid. We'll now look at some reasons why your children might need a laptop, then consider the appropriate types of laptops to buy.2. For Schoolwork
If your child needs a laptop for schoolwork at the high school level, it is then a good idea to get them a budget range laptop. Usually, they would not need to access the laptop very frequently - hence all you need is a simple, budget laptop like those from Dell.
For college going students, they have a greater need for a better laptop. At the college level, you'd expect your kid to lug the laptop from class to class and also do presentations. Hence, a higher end, ultraportable model would be better suited for them.
3. For Gaming
Believe it or not, some kids want a laptop so they can play games. Now, in the first place, as a parent, I'd never agree to this. Particularly if they can play games on the desktop machine.
However, if for one reason or another you need to buy a gaming laptop, go for those from Dell or Alienware - they sell very nice gaming laptops.
4. For Multimedia
Some kids love to dabble with digital video. Some of them even post videos of their travels on YouTube or cut a DVD.
If your child is such a multimedia enthusiast, then getting him or her a good laptop with Firewire support becomes quite important.
5. As A Home Computer
If you intent to buy the laptop as a home computer to be used by the kids and your spouse, you'd best go for a desktop replacement model.
These models have widescreens and very decent processing power to allow you to use the laptop as though it were a desktop.
Conclusion
I hope this article has shown you how to buy a laptop for your kids. Regardless of the signs that could signal your laptop is going into critical, degradation mode.
Watch out for these signs and try to prevent them where possible - it could save your laptop before it really crashes on you. Until next time, happy computing!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1417740
Carrying Your Laptop With Style Using Fashion Laptop Bags
Many of the laptops that you purchase in the stores come with bags so you can safely carry these with you as you travel. Some laptops are a bit heavier so you must also be comfortable in carrying, which is why some laptop bags have slings. Although these bags have the genuine logo of the company that manufactured it, the style is pretty bland often coming in just plain black. Going to your next business meeting should never be serious issue and it is always nice to have a black laptop bag to match your similarly styled business laptop. But laptops with flashier designs deserve one of the many fashion bags available in various stores and online outlets. As long as you know the size of your laptop, it never hurts to outfit your laptop with new laptop carriers to give you more of that fashion appeal.
What is the Big Deal with Fashion Laptop Bags?
Many ladies love to get into fashion and the end result is wearing fashionable clothes and accessories. Ladies carrying laptops with them wherever they go was not very common until their prices went down and more models were made to accommodate the ladies' tastes. Even if the laptop does not look very "lady like," placing the plain laptop in a stylish bag certainly adds some appeal. Some people that may see you carrying the bag may not even guess correctly that a laptop is inside.
How to Choose the Right One?
Laptop bags are not as plentiful as ordinary ladies bags but that does not mean that you should go for a ladies bag that you believe is very nice and large enough for your laptop to fit in.These bags are specially made so your device is to perfectly fit inside so that when you carry it, the device stays in place. Many of these bags have a strap inside to prevent accidental slips even if the bag is opened. Before shelling out your money to get that particular bag, make sure that it is described as a laptop bag or at least check if that particular bag has a special sleeve or section specifically for them.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6014951
What is the Big Deal with Fashion Laptop Bags?
Many ladies love to get into fashion and the end result is wearing fashionable clothes and accessories. Ladies carrying laptops with them wherever they go was not very common until their prices went down and more models were made to accommodate the ladies' tastes. Even if the laptop does not look very "lady like," placing the plain laptop in a stylish bag certainly adds some appeal. Some people that may see you carrying the bag may not even guess correctly that a laptop is inside.
How to Choose the Right One?
Laptop bags are not as plentiful as ordinary ladies bags but that does not mean that you should go for a ladies bag that you believe is very nice and large enough for your laptop to fit in.These bags are specially made so your device is to perfectly fit inside so that when you carry it, the device stays in place. Many of these bags have a strap inside to prevent accidental slips even if the bag is opened. Before shelling out your money to get that particular bag, make sure that it is described as a laptop bag or at least check if that particular bag has a special sleeve or section specifically for them.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6014951
Cheap Laptop
A laptop computer or simply laptop (also notebook computer or notebook) is a small mobile personal computer, usually weighing from one to three kilograms, depending on size, materials and other factors.
While the terms "laptop" and "notebook" are often used interchangeably, "laptop" is the older term, introduced in 1983 with the Gavilan SC. "Notebook computer" is a later coinage, which was used to differentiate smaller devices such as those of the Compaq LTE series in 1989, which were, in contrast to previous laptops, the approximate size of an A4 paper sheet.[1] Either term is often used improperly: due to heat and other issues, many laptops are inappropriate for use on one's lap, and most are not the size of an A4 sheet. Although, some older portable computers, such as the Macintosh Portable and certain Zenith TurbosPort models, were sometimes described as "laptops", their size and weight were too great for this category.
Laptops usually run on a single battery or from an external AC/DC adapter which can charge the battery while also supplying power to the computer itself.
An Acer laptop with touchpadAs personal computers, laptops are capable of the same tasks as a desktop PC, although they are typically less powerful for the same price. They contain components that are similar to their desktop counterparts and perform the same functions, but are miniaturized and optimized for mobile use and efficient power consumption. Laptops usually have liquid crystal displays and most of them use different memory modules for their RAM (for instance, SO-DIMM in lieu of the larger DIMMs). In addition to a built-in keyboard, they may utilize a touchpad (also known as a trackpad) or a pointing stick for input, though an external keyboard or mouse can usually be attached.
Categories
Terms sometimes used for subtypes of laptop computers include:
Ultraportables
Laptops with screens typically less than 12 inches diagonally and a weight of less than 1.7kg. Their primary audience is usually business travellers, who need small, light laptops. Ultraportables are often very expensive and house power-saving CPUs and almost always have integrated graphics.
Thin-and-lights
Laptops usually weighing in between 1.8kg and 2.8kg with a screen size of between 12 and 14 inches diagonally.
Medium-sized laptops
These usually have screens of 15 - 15.4 inches diagonally and a weight of around 3-3.5kg. They usually sacrifice a little computing power for smaller dimensions and longer battery life, although the length and width are usually determined by the screen size.
Desktop replacement computers
Powerful laptops meant to be mainly used in a fixed location and infrequently carried out due to their weight and size; the latter provides more space for powerful components and a big screen, usually measuring 15 inches or more. Desktop replacements tend to have limited battery life, rarely exceeding three hours, because the hardware does not optimize power efficiency.
History
Before laptop/notebook computers were technically feasible, similar ideas had been proposed, most notably Alan Kay's Dynabook concept, developed at Xerox PARC in the early 1970s.
The first commercially available portable computer was the Osborne 1 in 1981, which used the CP/M operating system. Although it was large and heavy compared to today's laptops, with a tiny CRT monitor, it had a near-revolutionary impact on business, as professionals were able to take their computer and data with them for the first time. This and other "luggables" were inspired by what was probably the first portable computer, the Xerox NoteTaker, again developed at Xerox PARC, in 1976; however, only ten prototypes were built. The Osborne was about the size of a portable sewing machine, and importantly could be carried on a commercial aircraft. However, it was not possible to run the Osborne on batteries; it had to be plugged in.
A more enduring success was the Compaq Portable, the first product from Compaq, introduced in 1983, by which time the IBM Personal Computer had become the standard platform. Although scarcely more portable than the Osborne machines, and also requiring AC power to run, it ran MS-DOS and was the first true IBM clone (IBM's own later Portable Computer, which arrived in 1984, was notably less IBM PC-compatible than the Compaq[citation needed]).
Another significant machine announced in 1981, although first sold widely in 1983, was the Epson HX-20. A simple handheld computer, it featured a full-transit 68-key keyboard, rechargable nickel-cadmium batteries, a small (120 x 32-pixel) dot-matrix LCD display with 4 lines of text, 20 characters per line text mode, a 24 column dot matrix printer, a Microsoft BASIC interpreter, and 16 kB of RAM (expandable to 32 kB).
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/264053
While the terms "laptop" and "notebook" are often used interchangeably, "laptop" is the older term, introduced in 1983 with the Gavilan SC. "Notebook computer" is a later coinage, which was used to differentiate smaller devices such as those of the Compaq LTE series in 1989, which were, in contrast to previous laptops, the approximate size of an A4 paper sheet.[1] Either term is often used improperly: due to heat and other issues, many laptops are inappropriate for use on one's lap, and most are not the size of an A4 sheet. Although, some older portable computers, such as the Macintosh Portable and certain Zenith TurbosPort models, were sometimes described as "laptops", their size and weight were too great for this category.
Laptops usually run on a single battery or from an external AC/DC adapter which can charge the battery while also supplying power to the computer itself.
An Acer laptop with touchpadAs personal computers, laptops are capable of the same tasks as a desktop PC, although they are typically less powerful for the same price. They contain components that are similar to their desktop counterparts and perform the same functions, but are miniaturized and optimized for mobile use and efficient power consumption. Laptops usually have liquid crystal displays and most of them use different memory modules for their RAM (for instance, SO-DIMM in lieu of the larger DIMMs). In addition to a built-in keyboard, they may utilize a touchpad (also known as a trackpad) or a pointing stick for input, though an external keyboard or mouse can usually be attached.
Categories
Terms sometimes used for subtypes of laptop computers include:
Ultraportables
Laptops with screens typically less than 12 inches diagonally and a weight of less than 1.7kg. Their primary audience is usually business travellers, who need small, light laptops. Ultraportables are often very expensive and house power-saving CPUs and almost always have integrated graphics.
Thin-and-lights
Laptops usually weighing in between 1.8kg and 2.8kg with a screen size of between 12 and 14 inches diagonally.
Medium-sized laptops
These usually have screens of 15 - 15.4 inches diagonally and a weight of around 3-3.5kg. They usually sacrifice a little computing power for smaller dimensions and longer battery life, although the length and width are usually determined by the screen size.
Desktop replacement computers
Powerful laptops meant to be mainly used in a fixed location and infrequently carried out due to their weight and size; the latter provides more space for powerful components and a big screen, usually measuring 15 inches or more. Desktop replacements tend to have limited battery life, rarely exceeding three hours, because the hardware does not optimize power efficiency.
History
Before laptop/notebook computers were technically feasible, similar ideas had been proposed, most notably Alan Kay's Dynabook concept, developed at Xerox PARC in the early 1970s.
The first commercially available portable computer was the Osborne 1 in 1981, which used the CP/M operating system. Although it was large and heavy compared to today's laptops, with a tiny CRT monitor, it had a near-revolutionary impact on business, as professionals were able to take their computer and data with them for the first time. This and other "luggables" were inspired by what was probably the first portable computer, the Xerox NoteTaker, again developed at Xerox PARC, in 1976; however, only ten prototypes were built. The Osborne was about the size of a portable sewing machine, and importantly could be carried on a commercial aircraft. However, it was not possible to run the Osborne on batteries; it had to be plugged in.
A more enduring success was the Compaq Portable, the first product from Compaq, introduced in 1983, by which time the IBM Personal Computer had become the standard platform. Although scarcely more portable than the Osborne machines, and also requiring AC power to run, it ran MS-DOS and was the first true IBM clone (IBM's own later Portable Computer, which arrived in 1984, was notably less IBM PC-compatible than the Compaq[citation needed]).
Another significant machine announced in 1981, although first sold widely in 1983, was the Epson HX-20. A simple handheld computer, it featured a full-transit 68-key keyboard, rechargable nickel-cadmium batteries, a small (120 x 32-pixel) dot-matrix LCD display with 4 lines of text, 20 characters per line text mode, a 24 column dot matrix printer, a Microsoft BASIC interpreter, and 16 kB of RAM (expandable to 32 kB).
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