What Is A Laptop?

Date First Published: 21st September 2023

Topic: Computer Systems

Subtopic: Computer Hardware

Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions

Difficulty: Easy

Difficulty Level: 1/10

CONTENTS

Advantages and Disadvantages Of Laptops
Difference Between A Laptop And A Notebook
History

Learn about what a laptop is in this article.

A laptop is a small, portable computer that runs off battery with an integrated LCD screen, webcam, keyboard, and touchpad. It is designed to be suitable for use whilst travelling and in temporary places, like in trains, aeroplanes, and meetings.

Most modern laptops no longer have built-in DVD drives because it makes them lighter and digital methods are more commonly used to store data. But, some laptops also include touchscreen displays which allow users to interact with it by touching it with their fingers or a stylus pen instead of using the touchpad. Peripheral devices, like keyboards, mouses, and monitors can also be connected to a laptop.

Note:

They are called laptops because they are designed to be small enough to fit on the top of one's lap.

Advantages and Disadvantages Of Laptops

The advantages of laptops are:

They are portable devices. This is the key advantage of a laptop. Due to their portability, they can easily be carried around and transported from one place to another without any cabling. This makes them more suitable for completing work whilst travelling.
All the components are integrated, meaning that no separate equipment is needed in order for laptops to work. This helps make laptops more compact.
Since they run on batteries, they consume less power than desktop computers, making them more efficient. Also, they are not affected by a power outage or fluctuation.
They are far more compact than desktop computers. This means that they take up much less room on a table than a desktop computer and can be put away when not in use.

The disadvantages of laptops are:

Since the internal components are integrated, they are harder to upgrade and replace. The components are often soldered onto the motherboard, preventing components from being upgraded later. For example, it is not possible to swap out the CPU, GPU, or RAM with a newer part.
Since laptop computers are taken out and about, they are more likely to get stolen than desktop computers.
They are less powerful than desktop computers and often have a slower graphics processor. Laptops are smaller versions of their desktop equivalents, meaning that they will often run slower and have a more limited internal cooling capacity.
They often cost more than desktop computers with similar capabilities because they are more complex to design and manufacture.
They are more vulnerable to accidental damage. Since laptops are carried around all the time, this has increased the chances of accidental damage, like dropping them, spilling liquids on them, and sitting on them. This can cause the screen to crack or cause the laptop to become unusable.

Difference Between A Laptop And A Notebook

Laptops and notebooks are slightly different things. A notebook is a smaller type of laptop that is manufactured to be smaller and lighter with screen sizes of less than 15 inches. Laptops are larger and heavier than notebook computers. Due to the smaller size, notebook computers are cheaper than laptops.

History

The first computer recognised as a true laptop computer, the Osborne I, was introduced in April 1981 and introduced by Adam Osborne. It had a 5-inch screen and opened on a hinge like normal laptops. It weighed 24.5 pounds, had 64 KB of memory, two 5 1/4" floppy drives, ran the CP/M 2.2 operating system, included a modem, and was the size of a portable sewing machine.

The first known portable computer marketed using the term 'laptop' was the Gavilan SC, which was introduced in 1983. The computer ran on an Intel 8088 microprocessor running at 5 MHz.

The Apple PowerBook, introduced in October 1991 and IBM ThinkPad, introduced in October 1992 helped establish traditional laptop standards, such as the palm rest and trackpoint device.

In October 2007, ASUS released the Eee PC 701, the first known netbook to be available. It had a 7-inch screen, an Intel Celeron-M processor, and a 4 GB SDHC storage disk.