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History Of Small Notebook Computers

January 13th, 2009

Technical inventions represent the fundamental structure of our modern world. We seem to be unable to do anything without technology. A clear example of the technical addiction is the use of the PC. The latest developments in the field of computers have brought us the notebook computers. When discussing about laptops, which are also called small notebook computers, we actually mean small PCs for flexible use.

We can virtually retrieve all the basic components in laptops from desktops. Thus, laptops include the display, the keyboard, a pointing device – touchpad or pointing stick, and the battery. The advantage of laptops is that they make one single unit that comprises all the other items, allowing for easy maneuvers and lots of mobility. The batteries are the main distinction and individual feature specific to laptops, but the recharging mode is carried out through an AC/DC adapter that allows extensive functionality.

The thin shape of the devices definitely led to their being called notebook computers. Laptops thickness seldom goes higher than 1.5 inches and their overall size specifics range from 10×8 inches (13 inch display) to 15×11 inches (17 inch display) or up. Furthermore, laptops are built light, weighing between 3 and 12 pounds. The design of most laptops as the flip form factor, is meant to protect the screen of the computer when it is closed.

Personal computers became feasible at the beginning of the 1970s and not long after those years the idea of portable PCs – laptops, appeared. The person who imagined this was Alan Kay of Xerox PARC. In 1972 he put his idea on paper under the name of Dynabook. By 1981, the first laptops were introduced on the market. The Osborne 1 and then, in the same year, the Epson HX-20 were the first portable computers available for public use. Since then laptops have developed and become more and more proficient.

Unfortunately, there are downsides to the use of laptops too. First we need to see the good parts to be able to investigate the flaws. The main and most important advantage of laptops is evidently their portability. In addition, laptops allow work continuation in case of accidental power outages. Laptops are also more economical and do not produce as much heat as desktop computers do. Compatibility and standardization are the main flaws of laptops today. Despite of some accepted world standards for the making of the elements for the peripherals and add-in PC cards in desktop computers, the processor and hard driver manufacturing part does not fall subject to any international regulation yet.

Reading Laptop Computer Reviews are a good aid for finding the Best Notebooks available.