| The laptop notebook computer is a mobile computer | | | | allowing for flow of air. In a laptop the screen and |
| that is small enough to be carted and kept on the lap | | | | keyboard rests on the side of the box. The design of |
| while working. It does not weigh more than 1 to 6 kg. It | | | | the laptop is small and flat wherein all the pieces fit in |
| is much smaller than its elder sibling - the desktop | | | | snugly. Thus the space is compact allowing for |
| computer. A laptop does the same functions as the | | | | conservation of power and less production of heat. |
| desktop one and therefore the parts are the same but | | | | The CPU is the brain of the computer and a fan and |
| of mini size. Instead of a mouse a touchpad does the | | | | heat sink system with plates and channels are required |
| tracking but if required a mouse can be attached. | | | | to cool it. But a laptop runs on a lower voltage resulting |
| Internet tablets are used for the vital interspace link. | | | | in less speed. Instead of pins and socket as in a |
| The laptops have both good and bad points. Due to | | | | desktop, in a laptop balls are used. However it means |
| technical and economic hurdles the unit cannot be | | | | that the processor cannot be removed separately. |
| upgraded easily. Regarding health matters the laptop is | | | | The batteries of laptops that run fast suffer from |
| blamed for low sperm count as it is kept continuously | | | | being frequently run down. The Apple G4 processor |
| on the scrotum that causes the heat to rise to | | | | tries to neutralize this defect. Laptops use mini sized |
| undesirable levels in this region of the body. To avoid it | | | | fans, heat spreaders and heat sinks. Some use liquid |
| the mobile unit can be kept on the desk and does not | | | | coolants to keep down the temperature. The CPU`s of |
| necessarily have to be kept on the lap all the time. | | | | the laptops are placed near the edge of the box |
| Another obvious problem is that laptops can easily be | | | | allowing for hot air to be released without flowing over |
| stolen. Laptops are relatively slow and have less | | | | other components. A laptop also has a hard disk drive |
| sound and graphics capability. Laptops are much more | | | | wherein is stored the operating system, data and |
| costly than desktops but of late the gap is closing. | | | | application files. The mechanism of memory differs |
| However Laptops consume less power. The | | | | from one laptop model to another. Usually smaller |
| performance is more or less the same as the desktop | | | | memory modules are used to economize on space. |
| models and new generation models are becoming | | | | Both run on electricity but a laptop can also function on |
| more efficient and user friendly. How can such a small | | | | batteries. Every invention begins with a dream. In 1970 |
| package hold such varied capabilities? Laptops and | | | | Alan Kay of Xerox had such a vision of a portable |
| desktops run on the same principles but the difference | | | | computer approximately the size of a notebook. He |
| is how the components are fitted and fixed. In a | | | | never went much ahead with the idea but set the balls |
| desktop there are motherboard, video card, hard drive | | | | rolling. In 1979 the first working portable computer was |
| etc. The monitor, keyboard and other incidental items | | | | made by William Moggridge of Grid Systems. Others |
| are connected without wires or with cables but there | | | | like Apple soon jumped in to complete the success |
| is sufficient space for extra cards, cables while | | | | story. |