Laptop
hideA laptop is a personal computer designed for mobile use small enough to sit on one's lap. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device (a touchpad, also known as a trackpad, and/or a pointing stick), speakers, and often including a battery, into a single small and light unit. The rechargeable battery (if present) is charged from an AC adapter and typically stores enough energy to run the laptop for two to three hours in its initial state, depending on the configuration and power management of the computer.
Laptops are usually shaped like a large notebook with thicknesses between 0.7–1.5 inches (18–38 mm) and dimensions ranging from 10x8 inches (27x22cm, 13" display) to 15x11 inches (39x28cm, 17" display) and up. Modern laptops weigh 3 to 12 pounds (1.4 to 5.4 kg); older laptops were usually heavier. Most laptops are designed in the flip form factor to protect the screen and the keyboard when closed. Modern tablet laptops have a complex joint between the keyboard housing and the display, permitting the display panel to twist and then lay flat on the keyboard housing. They usually have a touchscreen display and some include handwriting recognition or graphics drawing capability.
Laptops were originally considered to be "a small niche market" and were thought suitable mostly for "specialized field applications" such as "the military, the Internal Revenue Service, accountants and sales representatives". But today, there are already more laptops than desktops in businesses, and laptops are becoming obligatory for student use and more popular for general use. In 2008 more laptops than desktops were sold in the US and it has been predicted that the same milestone will be reached in the worldwide market as soon as late 2009.
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News tagged with laptop
Futuristic 48-Core Intel Chip Could Reshape How Computers are Built (w/ Video)
Dec 03, 2009 |
4.3 / 5 (29) |
18
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers from Intel Labs demonstrated an experimental, 48-core Intel processor, or "single-chip cloud computer," that rethinks many of the approaches used in today's designs for laptops, ...
New robot skier takes to the slopes (w/ Video)
Oct 23, 2009 |
3.5 / 5 (6) |
1
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new robot skier has been invented that can be fitted with off-the-shelf skis. This is not the first skiing robot, since Japanese scientists have produced their own (see PhysOrg.com article here), but is bigger and heavie ...
Dell's Latitude Z introduces wireless charging (w/ Video)
Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets
Sep 30, 2009 |
3.7 / 5 (13) |
1
(PhysOrg.com) -- Dell has introduced its new ultra-thin Latitude Z laptop with the world's first wireless laptop battery charger.
Google's operating system escalates Microsoft duel (Update)
Jul 08, 2009 |
4.4 / 5 (9) |
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(AP) -- Google Inc. is hoping to gain greater control over how personal computers work with its plans to develop a free operating system that will attack Microsoft Corp.'s golden goose - its long-dominant ...
New radiation therapy promises relief for overheating laptops
Apr 13, 2009 |
4 / 5 (6) |
3
(PhysOrg.com) -- Our modern age has become accustomed to regular improvements in information technology, says Slava Rotkin, but these advances do not come without a cost.
India's $10 Laptop to be revealed Feb. 3 (Updated)
Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets
Jan 30, 2009 |
4.5 / 5 (15) |
18
(PhysOrg.com) -- On February 3, the Indian government will display a prototype of the Rs 500, a $10 laptop that will hopefully give more young people the opportunity to learn and help increase the country's school enrollment.
Download of the day: FireFound tracks your stolen computer, nukes your personal data
Dec 04, 2009 |
4.8 / 5 (5) |
1
The worst thing about losing your laptop isn't the cost of replacing your gear; it's the loss of personal info and saved passwords. Firefox extension FireFound tracks your lost laptop's location and nukes your personal data ...
Review: Two new 3-D laptops still feel shallow
Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets
Dec 02, 2009 |
4 / 5 (3) |
3
(AP) -- In its search for another technology to excite us, the consumer electronics industry is reaching deep - into the third dimension. The big push for 3-D TV won't happen until next year, but already ...
PCs shed pounds and CD drives, gain touch screens
Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets
Nov 01, 2009 |
4.4 / 5 (7) |
1
(AP) -- Personal computers are changing - and not just because of the recent launch of Windows 7. Visit an electronics store and you might also find laptops are missing a familiar component. You could experiment ...
New technology may cool the laptop, prof says (w/ Video)
Oct 29, 2009 |
3.7 / 5 (6) |
5
Does your laptop sometimes get so hot that it can almost be used to fry eggs? New technology may help cool it and give information technology a unique twist, says Jairo Sinova, a Texas A&M University physics professor.
Acer goes deep with 3-D laptop for gaming, movies
Oct 21, 2009 |
2.8 / 5 (5) |
0
(AP) -- With the launch of Windows 7 this week, PC makers are trying some new things, including laptops with touch screens. Acer Inc. is going further - introducing a laptop with a 3-D screen.
Apple unveils new features for desktop, laptop models
Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets
Oct 21, 2009 |
3 / 5 (4) |
0
Apple on Tuesday updated its consumer desktop and laptop lines, one day after announcing record quarterly computer sales.
Upgrade to Windows 7? It all depends...
Oct 08, 2009 |
1.7 / 5 (17) |
3
With Windows 7 scheduled for release Oct. 22, the question many readers will be asking is, "Should I upgrade?" The answer depends on your circumstances.
Anti-theft software could create security hole
Jul 31, 2009 |
5 / 5 (2) |
1
(AP) -- A piece of anti-theft software built into many laptops at the factory opens a serious security hole, according to research presented Thursday.
Windows 7 on the way: What should you do?
Jul 29, 2009 |
2.7 / 5 (23) |
17
Now that Microsoft has finished Windows 7, computer users may be wondering what to do next.
