The question is: What is a laptop?
A laptop is a portable, lightweight computer with a rechargeable battery pack and built-in keyboard. With a screen size of 11-inches or more, it can be used for personal tasks such as word processing and web browsing. It can also be used to show presentations to others in the same room from its display, or to remotely control other computers on the internet using its built-in camera and microphone.
Laptops that take advantage of new energy saving technologies have become a major focus for manufacturers in recent years, especially with the increasing popularity of netbooks compared to traditional laptops.
Heavily used laptops tend to heat up and drain battery life faster than when they are only sporadically used, so it is not uncommon for users to provide their laptops with a fan to help dissipate heat and external power supplies.
How was the laptop first invented?
First introduced in 1982, these lightweight computers can be used for personal tasks such as word processing and web browsing as well as to present information to others or remotely control other computers on the internet.
The first laptop was invented by Alan Kay in 1968. It became known as a notebook computer because of its flat shape useful for children to access digital media like never before. However, this invention also had other purposes – namely operations documentation and military involvement – in the last few decades of its life span.
Although modern laptops bear resemblance to the computers that are now used by millions of people worldwide, this type of portable computer is actually a relatively new concept. The beginnings of today’s mobile technology started again way back in 1977, when two separate inventions emerged.
Back then, IBM was working on a notebook concept that had an LCD display and a keyboard that could be removed and replaced with a tablet-like device containing only a second screen, stylus and battery system. The prototype weighed over three pounds, which is considered fairly bulky in today’s world of laptops.
The other major invention was that of the GRIDPad, created by engineers at Grid Systems Corporation. This was a full function tablet computer with a five-inch LCD screen and available software that could be used for word processing and simple mathematical equations.
In 1982, the concept of laptops were combined when Apple unveiled their first commercial portable computer on January 22nd. Known as the PowerBook, it weighed in at a hefty 13 pounds and could run on four AA batteries for as long as three hours.
It was not until nearly ten years later that this type of lightweight computer became more popularly used. In 1992, IBM debuted their own laptop called the ThinkPad, weighing under six pounds and with a battery life of around two hours.
Philippe Kahn, the founder of Borland Corporation, introduced his own version of a portable computer in 1993, after travelling to China on business and being inspired by their large desktop touchscreen computers. The following year he released a lightweight notebook that weighed just over half a pound, but was only powered by batteries for an hour or so.
The popularity of these types of computer grew massively over the next ten years, finally overtaking desktop computers in terms of sales volume in 2004. Despite speculation that laptops and netbooks would be made obsolete with the release of tablets such as the iPad in 2010, they have only become more popular ever since.
Today’s range of laptop devices available range from laptops with an 11.6-inch screen right through to those that come with a 17.3-inch display, and can be connected to the Internet using broadband or even wireless antennae. Although old models are still in existence, they are now only used by a small minority of people who prefer them for their unique features and lower price.
Why would I choose a laptop?
Laptops are small and portable computers that are commonly used by people in business, students, people who work from home, and anyone else who needs a computer out of the office or at home. Laptop features often include the ability to show presentations on its own screen without requiring external devices such as projectors, DVD players, or TVs; they may also be able to connect wirelessly to networks and to the internet, stream videos from services like Netflix or Amazon Prime onto their screens, and run most software available for desktop Windows PCs.
By late 1994, laptops were quickly coming into fashion among businesspeople who wanted to be able to do work on the go; by 2000, over a third of all computers purchased in the US were laptops. In 2009, sales of laptops outpaced those of Desktops and by 2013, laptops outsold Desktops 3:1.
Laptops can be purchased with a 13-inch screen or larger; they are generally much more expensive than desktops with similar features; some laptop makers have reduced prices since the introduction of tablets (which also do not require mouse, keyboard or monitor) but others have maintained comparable prices; all laptops include an operating system (such as Windows or MacOS) but some can run Linux instead.
Laptops can be used for personal tasks such as word processing and web browsing, but they are best suited for showing presentations. Laptops can also be used to remotely control other computers on the internet over a network that doesn’t require the use of a wire, or an internet connection.
Laptops are used by business people who need to be able to do work on the go; students and educators use laptops for schoolwork such as writing papers, completing projects or participating in group discussions; anyone working from home will usually opt for a laptop over a desktop computer so they have greater freedom of movement from room to room.
Portable is the way to go!
If you’re looking for a portable personal computer that’s lightweight and offers high-speed wireless capabilities, then the laptop is what you want. For example, with a powerful processor that has multiple cores and gigabytes of RAM, the latest laptop can handle all your personal or business needs such as word processing, web browsing, photo editing or running other applications.
Netbook vs Laptop: Are they the same thing?
No. They are not the same thing at all. Laptops are full-fledged computers that have a keyboard and a screen. Netbooks, on the other hand, are designed to be smaller, lighter and cheaper than laptops, mostly because they do not include a CD/DVD drive and don’t have much in the way of built-in storage.
What screen size do I need on a laptop?
Screen size is always a trade-off between functionality and portability; the larger the screen, typically the less portable it becomes. The average size laptop screen today measures about 14 inches diagonally; screens can also be found in sizes of 11-inch or 15-inch diagonal size. These sizes are perfect for desktop replacement or giving presentations to a small audience.
Netbooks, on the other hand, are designed to be smaller and lighter than laptops, usually with screen sizes of 10-11 inches diagonal. Some manufacturers have also opted for a hybrid between laptops and netbooks by offering screens that measure about 12 inches diagonal; these models fall somewhere between regular laptops and netbooks in terms of size.
Essentially, the larger the screen, the more you can do with it; you get a better viewing experience and are less likely to have to squint when trying to read small text details. For this reason, business owners may want a laptop with an even larger 15″ diagonal screen so they can see all their pages clearly.
How much does a laptop cost?
Laptops can range from around $300 to $4000 and up. Obviously, what you get for these prices will vary dramatically. Typically a laptop will fall into one of 3 price ranges, explained below.
Cheap Laptops
The least expensive laptops start at about $300 which will usually get you a low-power CPU, an integrated graphics processor, 1 or 2 gigs of RAM and probably Windows 8 (Windows 7 if you buy really inexpensive models from 2009 or earlier). The exact specs are rarely listed on the manufacturer’s website which means you will have to carefully study the details of each model and compare their features against similar models from other manufacturers.
Mid Range Laptops
The best laptops for multi-tasking cost between $600 – $1350; these are typically more powerful than entry-level models and come with a multi-core processors, 2 – 8 gigs of RAM, integrated graphics, optical drives and full versions operating software, like Windows or MAC OS. These models usually offer the best value for price provided you aren’t looking for anything too spectacular.
High End Laptops
Laptops with more powerful CPUs cost about $1400 – $4000+; these will have an even faster processors and larger hard drives. You will also get much better screen quality and resolution thanks to a dedicated graphics card. This will give your laptop the speed it needs for more demanding tasks such as gaming or video editing.
Things to consider when buying a laptop
Consider your budget, what you’ll use it for, and how often you plan on using it before buying.
You can get a laptop or netbook with an operating system pre-installed or without one.
Touchscreens are more expensive than the non-touchscreen laptops, but have many benefits such as being easier to navigate and faster response times typically.
When looking at laptops, consider screen size and resolution; when looking at netbooks, look at battery life because they don’t have long battery lives like laptops do.
It’s important to take care of your laptop by making sure it stays cool so that overheating doesn’t occur.
If your laptop is overheating then it can cause permanent damage to the hardware.
To keep it cool, you can buy a laptop cooling pad which will keep your laptop from getting too hot or too cold and give it room to breathe.
Laptops Today: Technology is always improving
A laptop is a portable personal computer that can be used as either an alternative to a desktop or in conjunction with one. Laptops are available with different screen sizes and resolutions, but the most popular models have 14-inch displays. A laptop typically has higher processing power than netbooks because they come equipped with quad core CPUs; however, laptops also tend to cost more than netbooks do. Netbook owners should pay attention to battery life when shopping for their next model while those who need something for business purposes may want to invest in a 15″ display size so there’s enough room on the screen for multiple windows at once. The touchscreens found on some laptops require more energy which means you will have shorter battery life if you purchase this feature.
Today’s laptops offer high-speed wireless capabilities as well as powerful processors that can handle all your personal or business needs such as word processing, web browsing, photo editing or running other applications. If you’re looking to buy a new laptop this year but don’t know where to start – there are plenty of resources available online which will help you decide what type is best for your budget and usage habits. Let us know if we can be of any assistance!
The laptop has many benefits such as being easier to navigate and faster response times, but if you’re looking for something with more power or a better battery life – than the netbook is what you want. The best laptops have 14-inch screens which are popular because they offer enough room on the screen for multiple windows at once. If you need help deciding what type of laptop will work best for your needs, let us know! Our team of experts can provide assistance in finding the perfect laptop that suits all your needs without breaking the bank!
When you’re shopping for a laptop or netbook, there are many things you should consider in terms of price, brand, screen size and resolution-and have an idea of how you plan on using the laptop and whether you would like a desktop or a laptop.
If you want something that’s easy to carry around with you wherever you go, then a laptop is the perfect choice.
One thing that’s important to remember when buying a laptop, is that the processor’s performance will greatly depend on how many cores it has. At the moment, quad-core processors are the most affordable and offer fast processing speeds while those with dual-cores tend to be cheaper but perform more slowly. If you have no plans of doing video editing or other heavy tasks than a dual-core should be fine for you.
Laptops are a great way to get access to your favorite programs and files on the go. They offer more power than netbooks, but tend to cost more as well. Having a laptop offers you ease-of-use and convenience. If choosing between a laptop or a desktop we say portable is the way to go!
