| Laptop Technology | | | | Laptop, as one example, offers a 1.4 GHz Intel |
| A laptop, or notebook, computer (the term "notebook" | | | | processor, and 512 MB of RAM, while the Toshiba |
| was originally coined to describe smaller laptop models, | | | | L30-105 Laptop, as another, offers a 1.6 GHz |
| but, as technology has advanced, the two terms have | | | | processor, and 1 GB of RAM. |
| become virtually synonymous) is a lightweight, portable | | | | Input devices, aside from the keyboard - which, rather |
| device, with the capability of running from battery | | | | obviously, should be large enough to make the keys |
| power - usually in the form of NiCd ("Nickel Cadmium"), | | | | legible and to comfortably accommodate your fingers |
| NiMH ("Nickel Metal Hydride"), or, more recently Li-Ion | | | | - are usually provided in the form of a touchpad, or |
| ("Lithium Ion") or Li-Po ("Lithium Polymer") rechargeable | | | | other pointing device, which effectively operates in the |
| batteries. | | | | same way as a traditional, external mouse, is an |
| Compact size means that laptops can physically | | | | integral part of the keyboard. These devices are not |
| accommodate cooling components - used to dissipate | | | | always easy to master, especially if you are a novice, |
| the heat generated by the CPU ("Central Processing") | | | | so a little extra investment in an external mouse |
| unit - of the same size as desktop models, and | | | | (perhaps a small, wireless, optical version) may be |
| counteract this by running at slightly slower processor | | | | wise. |
| speeds, and at a lower voltage. RAM ("Random | | | | Conclusion |
| Access Memory"), therefore, is often configured more | | | | A laptop computer can be a great acquisition, but think |
| ingeniously, residing on, or very to close to the | | | | carefully about how - which may have an impact on |
| processor itself, so that data can be accessed and | | | | your choice of screen form, resolution, colour depth, |
| transferred more quickly. | | | | and overall performance - and where - from a battery, |
| The absence of a large cooling fan typically makes | | | | and connectivity, perspective, before you make your |
| laptop operation much quieter than that of desktop | | | | final choice. |
| alternatives. The Hewlett Packard HP 510 RU962AA | | | | |