Laptop

Laptop computers are very popular, not only with young people but with everyone who needs a portable solution. The nature of many jobs requires that, but it’s also a good solution for many leisure time activities. The idea of creating a laptop arose in the early 1970s. Since then laptop computers have come a long way in terms of technology and performance. It includes all the basic parts of a personal computer: display, keyboard, pointing device- also called touchpad- and, of course, speakers. A laptop is usually powered by using an AC adapter and also has a rechargeable battery on which users can rely for at least a couple of hours when they are away from an outlet. In theory the battery should last somewhere between three and five hours, depending on the model. In reality, it very much depends on what you use it for, as some procedures and applications may consume a lot of the battery in a rather short period of time. Laptop computers that are plugged in charge their batteries regardless of whether or not the laptop is actually turned on.

There are several kinds of laptop computers. There is, of course, the full size laptop, big enough to have a complete, full size keyboard. These laptops are a bit heavier and they usually have a large display. Most people use them as a replacement for their personal computer. Then, there is the netbook, a smaller and lighter laptop, with the disadvantage is that it usually has fewer features and it is also less capable. The keyboard is usually quite small and one cannot use CDs or DVDs on a laptop this size.

People talking about laptop computers usually use the term laptop or notebook for one and the same thing. The truth is, a notebook is smaller, lighter and thus easier to carry around, but has less RAM than a laptop. A notebook has a CD/DVD drive, it uses less power and consequently the battery, once charged, lasts longer. The cooling system of laptops, however, is similar to that on a PC, while that of a netbook is less powerful.

A laptop, just like any other computer has a motherboard, a central processing unit, memory RAM, the expansion cards, the power supply and the battery. The average model usually comes with 3 or 4 GB of RAM, but the best ones have up to 8 GB of RAM. Those with 1 GB of Ram are less capable and cost less too.

Before you decide what kind of a laptop you need, surf the net and gather as much information about the different brands and their performance. Also, remember to take into consideration the purpose for which you are buying the computer.