| Computing on the move has been a focus area | | | | in a notebook is its battery as it works on |
| for a lot of Information Technology Companies | | | | battery power for usage while on move. |
| for years. The idea of being able to work | | | | Battery life offered is different for each |
| while on the road is extremely fascinating. A | | | | device as it depends on the configuration and |
| notebook, also known as a laptop, which may | | | | power management features implemented. All |
| also be understood as a mobile computer has | | | | notebook computers come with an in-built LCD |
| been the solution for these portable computer | | | | screen for display output. For Input, |
| related tasks. | | | | notebooks are featured with built-in |
| | | | keyboards for text inputs. As far as pointing |
| History | | | | devices are concerned, notebooks use one of |
| | | | the three-Trackball, Pointing stick, |
| It is a little hard to determine which is the | | | | Touchpad. |
| first notebook or portable computer ever | | | | |
| made. The Osborne 1 is considered by most | | | | Advantages & Disadvantages of Notebook |
| historians to be the first true portable | | | | |
| computer or notebook. This was produced by | | | | The most important advantage of a notebook is |
| Adam Osborne in the year 1981. It featured a | | | | its portability. One can work with ease |
| 5 inch screen, modem port, floppy drives, few | | | | anytime and everywhere. Also, access to |
| bundled software programs and a battery pack. | | | | wireless networking in public places is |
| The total weight of the notebook was about 11 | | | | making notebooks more and more useful. The |
| kgs. Gradually after this Epson, Radio Shack, | | | | counting of disadvantages for a notebook |
| IBM, Apple Computer etc. all came out with a | | | | always starts with its high cost. Not only |
| portable computer. IBM`s IBM PC convertible | | | | the initial cost, its parts are also |
| introduced in 1986 was a true laptop | | | | expensive and are not interchangeable. |
| computer. This computer ushered in the laptop | | | | Notebooks have a lesser storage capacity and |
| area. Since these early models, notebooks | | | | its processor usually works at a lower speed |
| have seen tremendous development. | | | | when on battery power. Notebooks are also |
| | | | prone to theft due to its portability. |
| Features and Functioning | | | | |
| | | | Future Directions |
| Notebooks have the identical major components | | | | |
| as Desktop PCs: microprocessor, RAM, | | | | With falling prices and acceptance of new |
| operating system, input/output ports, hard | | | | technologies, we can expect to see a |
| disk drives, speakers and sound cards, and | | | | significant increase in demand of notebooks. |
| speakers. However, all laptops have power | | | | Vendors are also working on the design of the |
| management features to extend battery life, | | | | notebook to make it stronger so that it can |
| or conserve battery power when battery is | | | | withstand jerks and shocks. New technologies |
| low. A notebook differs from a desktop PC in | | | | are being integrated into the notebooks to |
| terms of power supply, display, and the type | | | | prevent failure and data loss. Mostly used by |
| of input devices it uses. Notebook processors | | | | corporate firms, professionals and |
| usually have multiple sleeps, meaning slow | | | | businessmen, vendors are now targeting |
| down modes which help in increasing battery | | | | students and home users as well because of |
| life and can also run on low voltage. Hard | | | | increasing affordability of these devices. |
| disk in the notebook also functions in the | | | | |
| same way as it does in Desktop. These are | | | | So the emergence of this new usage category |
| slower in speed and have lesser capacity. | | | | is definitely on the cards. This means there |
| | | | is a huge potential for notebooks in the |
| In addition to hard disks, notebooks also | | | | coming future and the price cuts offered with |
| have options for removable disk storage | | | | technological improvements are sure to fuel |
| system such as Floppy Discs, CDs and DVDs. A | | | | growth. |
| notebook also has various input/output ports | | | | |
| that enable you to connect to various | | | | This article is under GNU FDL license and can |
| peripherals. Most notebook computers today | | | | be distributed without any previous |
| feature built-in modems and Ethernet for | | | | authorization from the author. However the |
| external connectivity. Infrared ports for | | | | author's name and all the URLs (links) |
| wireless connectivity are also becoming very | | | | mentioned in the article and biography must |
| popular. One of the most critical components | | | | be kept. |