A laptop computer or simply laptop (also notebook or laptop) is a small portable computer, the factors weighing 1-3 kilograms usually, depending on size, materials, and others.
During the term "portable" and "notebook" is often used interchangeably, "laptop" is the older term, introduced in 1983 with the Gavilan SC. "Notebook computer" is a later coinage, which are used to differentiate smaller devices such as was the Compaq LTE series in 1989, thewere, in contrast to previous laptops, the approximate size of an A4 sheet of paper [1] In each term is often misused. from heat and other problems many laptops are inappropriate for use on the lap, and most are not the size of an A4 sheet. Although some older portable computers, like the Zenith laptop models and some Macintosh turbo sport, were sometimes described as "laptops", their size and the weight was too great for this category.
Laptops are usually operated on a single batteryor by an external AC / DC adapter, the battery can also power the computer itself
A laptop Acer touchpadAs PCs, laptops are capable of the same tasks as a desktop PC, even though they are usually less powerful at the same price. They contain components that are similar to their desktop counterparts and the same functions but are miniaturized and optimized for mobile use and efficient power consumption. Laptops usually haveLiquid crystal displays and most of them use different memory modules for memory (eg, SO-DIMM in place of the larger DIMMs). In addition to a built-in keyboard, they can use a touchpad (also known as a trackpad) or a pointing stick for input, though an external keyboard or mouse can be generally applied.
Categories
Terms are sometimes used for subtypes of laptop computers include:
Ultra portable
Laptops with screens typically less than 12 inches diagonally and aWeighs less than 1.7 kg. Their primary audience is usually business travelers need, the small lightweight laptops. Ultraportables are often very expensive and home energy saving CPUs and almost always have integrated graphics.
Thin-and-lights
Laptops usually weighing between 1.8 kg and 2.8 kg with a screen size from 12 to 14 inches diagonally.
Mid-size laptops
These usually have 15 to 15.4 inch screens, measured diagonally and a weight of about 3-3.5kg. They are usuallySacrificing a little 'of computing power for smaller size and longer battery life, even if the length and width are usually determined by the size of the screen.
Computer desktop replacement
Powerful laptop computers will be used primarily in a fixed position and only rarely performed because of their weight and size, the latter offers more space for powerful components and a big screen, usually measuring 15 inches or more. Desktop replacement rather limited battery life, rarely more than3 hours, because the hardware is not optimized for energy efficiency.
History
Before laptop / notebook computers were technically feasible, similar ideas were proposed, Alan Kay Dynabook concept mainly developed at Xerox PARC in the early 1970's.
The first commercially available portable computer was used in the Osborne 1 in 1981, the CP / M operating system. Although it was large and heavy compared to today's laptops, with a small CRT monitor, had aalmost revolutionary impact on business, were able to take them as experts in computer and data for the first time. These and other "luggable" were from what was probably the first portable computer, the Xerox NoteTaker, again developed at Xerox PARC inspired, in 1976, but only ten prototypes were built. The Osborne was about the size of a portable sewing machine, and, most important thing was possible on a commercial aircraft. However, it was not possible to run the OsborneBatteries must be inserted
A long-term success was the Compaq Portable, the first product introduced by Compaq in 1983, when the time was the IBM PC standard platform. Although little more portable machines Osborne, but also the power required to run, ran MS-DOS and was the first true IBM clone (IBM's own portable computer after, who arrived in 1984, was notably less IBM PC-compatible than the Compaq [citationrequired]).
Another significant machine announced in 1981, even if the first lot sold in 1983 was the Epson HX-20. A simple handheld computer, is characterized by a transit full 68-key keyboard, rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, a small (120 x 32 pixels) LCD matrix display with 4 lines of text, 20 characters per line text mode , a 24 column dot matrix printer, a Microsoft BASIC interpreter, and 16 kB of RAM (expandable to 32 MB).
However, probably the first true laptop was the GRIDCompass 1101, designed by Bill Moggridge in 1979-1980 and published in 1982. Encased in a magnesium case, presented the now familiar clamshell design in which the flat display folded against the keyboard. The computer may be powered by batteries and equipped with a 200 × 320 pixels screen plasma and 384 kilobytes of bubble memory. It was not IBM compatible, and its high price (U.S. $ 10,000) is limited to specialized applications. However, it was widely used by U.S. militaryand NASA on the Space Shuttle in 1980. The manufacturer subsequently earned significant returns on the grid, their patent rights as its innovations became commonplace. Grid Systems Corp. was later used by Tandy (Radio Shack) purchased.
Two other laptops noteworthy were the first Sharp PC-5000 and the Gavilan SC was in 1983 but first sold in 1984. The Gavilan was especially the first computer to be marketed as a "portable". It 'was shown with a touchpad similarDevice, installed on a panel above the keyboard. As the Grid Compass, the Gavilan and Sharp were housed in clamshell cases, but were partly IBM-compatible, although primarily running their own software system. Both had LCD displays, and can connect to optional external printers.
The year 1983 also saw the introduction of best-selling early laptop, the Kyocera Kyotronic 85, which owes much to the design of the previous Epson HX-20. Although it was initially aEmployees in Japan, has been rapidly from the Tandy Corporation, Olivetti, and NEC, which saw its potential and marketed respectively as TRS-80 Model 100 line (or Tandy 100), Olivetti M-10 license, NEC PC-8, 201th [2] The machines running standard AA batteries. Tandy building programs, including a BASIC interpreter, a text editor and a terminal program, were supplied by Microsoft and is thought to have been written in part by Bill Gates himself. The computer is not a clamshell, but provideda tiltable 8 × 40-character LCD screen above a keyboard. With the internal modem, it was a highly portable communications terminal. Because of its mobility, good battery life (and ease of replacement), reliability (which has no moving parts) and the low price (no more than U.S. $ 300), the model was very popular, always a favorite among journalists. It weighed less than 2 kg, with dimensions of 30 × 21.5 × 4.5 cm (12 × 8.5 × 1.75 inches). Specific rawwith 8 kilobytes of RAM (expandable to 24 MB) and a 3-MHz. The machine was, in fact, about the size of a notebook, but the term had not yet come to use and was generally described as a computer "portable".
Among the first commercial IBM-compatible laptops were the IBM PC Convertible, introduced in 1986, and two Toshiba models, the T1000 and T1200, introduced in 1987. Although limited floppy-based DOS machines with the operating system stored in read-only memoryToshiba models were small and light enough to carry in a backpack and could be powered by lead batteries. This feature also now standard "resume" for DOS machines introduced: the computer could be broken between sessions without having to reboot every time.
The first laptops successful on a large scale came in large part through a Request For Proposal (RFP) by the U.S. Air Force in 1987. This contract would lead to the purchase of more than 200,000 laptops.Competition for the provision of this contract was fiercely contested and the major PC manufacturers in the period, IBM, Toshiba, Compaq, NEC and Zenith Data Systems (ZDS), rushed to develop on the laptops in an attempt to win this thing. ZDS, which previously had an agreement with the IRS for its Z-171 was obtained, this contract award for the Super Sport series. The Supersport series was originally launched with an Intel 8086, dual floppy drive, a backlit, blue and white STN LCD screen, and a NiCDBattery. Later models featured an Intel 80286 and a 20Mb hard drive. Based on this agreement was the largest supplier ZDS notebooks in 1987 and 1988.
Tottori Sanyo ZDS in the development and production of these partnerships laptop. This report is important because it is the first agreement between a brand and a large Asian OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) has been. At that time, Compaq, IBM, Toshiba, NEC, etc. are developed and produced itsMachines. But after the success of the ZDS to other relationships, like Compaq and Citizen, soon followed. At that time the quality of Japanese design and production, in collaboration with the strength of the dollar against the yen (130 yen = usually around $ 1) drove most brands to suppliers in Japan. Companies such as Sanyo, Tottori Sanyo, Citizen, Casio and all were very involved in this business as OEMs. But by mid-1990, a weakening dollar and growingViability of Taiwanese OEMs such as Acer, Quanta, Compal, Twinhead, and Chicony lead the supply base to quickly to Taiwan from Japan. Additionally, brands which were more nimble and less dependent on internal engineering such as Gateway started, Dell and Micron to rise quickly to positions of leadership. Combinations such as Dell / Compal and Gateway / Quanta became partnership power and greatly contributed to the popularity of Taiwanese OEMs as the center of production of PCabout 1995 on.
Another notable computer was the Cambridge Z88, designed by Clive Sinclair, introduced in 1988. About the size of an A4 sheet and ran on standard batteries, and contained basic spreadsheet, word processing and communication programs. It is anticipated the future miniaturization of the portable computer, and as a ROM-based device with a small display, can - like the TRS-80 Model 100 - also as a precursor to personal digital clockAssistant.
Until the end of 1980, laptops have always been popular among businessmen. The NEC Ultralite, released in mid-1989, was perhaps the first notebook weighs just over two, instead of a floppy disk or hard drive, it contained a 2 megabyte RAM drive, but that reduces its usefulness and its size. The first notebook PCs, hard drives were the Compaq LTE include the series, introduced toward the end of this year. In fact, the size of a notebook, whichbacklit display also features CGA resolution (although the colors do not CGA).
The Macintosh Portable was Apple's first attempt to develop a computer battery computerThe Apple's first machine for use on the road leading from the Macintosh Portable 1989 (although an LCD screen has an option for the transportable Apple IIc in 1984). In fact, a "luggable", the Mac Portable was praised for its clear active matrix display and long battery life, but it was a poor seller because of its mass. InAbsence of a true Apple laptop, are more compatible devices, such as laptop output available for Mac users, but for copyright reasons, you had a set of Mac ROMs, which usually meant that a new or used car Macintosh, and purchase supplies.
The Apple PowerBook series, introduced in October of 1991, introduced changes that have become de facto standards on laptops, such as the positioning of the keyboard, palm rest area, and the inclusion of a built-in pointing device (aTrackball). The following year, IBM released its Thinkpad 700C, with a similar design (though with a distinctive red TrackPoint pointing device).
Later PowerBooks were the first 256-color displays (PowerBook 165c, 1993) and the first true touchpad, first 16-bit audio recording, and the first integrated Ethernet network adapter (PowerBook 500, 1994).
The summer of 1995 was a turning point in the history of the notebook. In August of that year, Microsoft introducedWindows 95 was the first time that Microsoft has put a lot of energy management control in the operating system. Before that date, each brand used custom BIOS, drivers and optimize in some cases, ASICs, battery life of the machines. This move by Microsoft was controversial, the eyes of notebook designers because it greatly reduces their ability to innovate, but its role in simplifying and stabilizing certain aspects of the act of design notebooks. Windows 95 alsobrought the importance of the CD-ROM in mobile computing and initiated the transition to the Intel Pentium processor as the base platform for notebooks. Only the gateway was the first notebook with a Pentium processor and a CD-ROM introduced. Using a removable hard drive and floppy drive was the first three-spindle (optical disks, floppy and hard) notebook. The Gateway Solo was extremely successful in the consumer segment of the market. In about the samePeriod Dell, Toshiba and IBM Thinkpad were reaching great success with Pentium two spindles (hard disks and floppy disk drive) systems directed toward the corporate market.
An old (1997) Micron Technology laptopAs improved in 1990 has increased the usefulness and popularity of laptops. As a result, prices went down. Several developments have been designed for laptops quickly implemented, improving usability and performance. Underwere:
Improved battery technology. The heavy lead-acid batteries were the lighter and more efficient technologies, first nickel cadmium or NiCD, then nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and then lithium ion and lithium-polymer battery replaced. Energy-saving processors. While laptops in 1991 for the 80286 because of the energy needs of the more powerful 80386, the introduction of the Intel 386SL, designed to have been limited to the specific energy requirements of portable computers, has been thePoint, were on the laptop must be included in CPU design. The 386SL integrated a 386SX core with a memory controller and this has been combined to create an I / O chip on the SL chipset. It 'been more integrated than any previous solution although its cost was higher. It 'was strongly influenced by the leading names in the notebook the time taken. Intel followed this with the 486SL chipset which uses the same architecture. However, Intel had to abandon this design approach, as it introduced the Pentium series. SoonVersions of the Mobile Pentium required mounting (also used in LCD manufacturing) and this initially able to provide the number of notebook companies. However, Intel has finally migrate to more standard chip packaging. A limitation of the laptop is always the difficulty of upgrading the processor, which is a common attribute of desktops were. Intel has tried to solve this problem with the introduction of the MMC for mobile computing. The MMC is a standard form, theCPU and external cache memory could sit. There was to update the notebook buyer the potential, its CPUs at a later time, facilitates the production process, some were, and are also used in some cases, U.S. import duties was to rock, like the CPU to the chassis can be added after the United States of America is stuck with MMC for Intel arrived a few generations but ultimately could not maintain the appropriate speed and data integrity of the memory subsystem through the MMC connector. Improved liquid crystal displaysparticularly active matrix TFT (Thin Flim Transistor) LCD technology. Early laptop screens were black and white, blue and white or grayscale, STN (Super Twist Nematic) passive-matrix subject to heavy shadows, ghosting and blurry movement (some portable computer screens were Plasma display sharper black and white, but LCD also has a lot of power these batteries from the electricity supply). STN color backgrounds have been used for some time, even though their picture quality was poor. Until about 1991, two new color LCDTechologies hit the mainstream market in a big way, double-STN and TFT. The dual screens solved many of the STN STN display problems at a very convenient and the TFT provides excellent image quality, although initially at a high price. DSTN continued to offer a significant cost advantage over TFT until the mid-90s before the cost delta dropped to the point that DSTN is no longer used in notebooks. Improvements in production technology should show were larger, sharper, hadhigher resolutions, faster response times and could display color with great accuracy, making them an acceptable substitute for a traditional CRT monitor. Improved technology of the hard drive. First laptop and notebook computers only had floppy drives. The thinner, high-capacity hard drives with higher reliability and shock resistance and lower power consumption became available, the user can store their work on laptops and take it with you. The 3.5 "HDD was created initially asMeet the needs of notebook designers that are smaller, lower consumption of products needed. As the pressure continues to reduce the size notebooks even more, the 2.5 "HDD was introduced. Better connectivity. Internal modems and serial ports, parallel and PS / 2 PC IBM-compatible laptops made it easier to work was far from home, adding network cards and, since 1997, USB, and in 1999, Wi-Fi laptops easily with peripherals as a desktop applicationComputer.
The $ 100 laptop
A first generation prototype of the $ 100 laptop
In 2005, members of the faculty at the MIT Media Lab's Nicholas Negroponte, including the $ 100 laptop from One Laptop Per Child. The goal is to laptop design, production and sales that are so cheap, every child to be cared for in the world access to knowledge and modern forms of education. Laptop computers are sold to governments and issued to children by schools. ThisPrototypes of plants, many of which have already been submitted will be rugged, Linux-based, and so efficient dynamo crank alone can provide enough power to operate (although this crank has since been removed). Ad-hoc wireless mesh networking can be used to allow multiple machines to share a single Internet connection.
