Chapter 4

Report Laptop
A laptop computer is a portable personal computer light and small enough to sit on a person's lap. A laptop
computer can be powered by battery or plugged into the wall. The main utility of a laptop computer is that it
allows a person to travel with their computing resource.
1 .Why People Choose Laptop
December 15, 2008 by class
Laptop is a kind of computer unit which has same function with PC (Personal Computer), but has different
form. At this time, most people choose laptop because of some reasons and benefits. These are several benefits
of using laptop.
The first, laptop is a portable device. It means that we can move laptop and bring it anywhere. This portability
is very helpful to help your work, study, and other activities. We need not complicated cable installation to
activate laptop.
Next, laptop is enabling for us to use special facility in some areas or places. It is hot spot area. We can use free
internet access in some public places by laptop. Some people like to use this facility to do their activity which
deal with internet.
The last, laptop is efficient use of electric energy consumption. This device also has a battery as the source of
electric energy. We can just charge the battery and use laptop without spend much energy. It also means that
we support the government program to save the energy. Thats why laptop becomes very popular.
2. Advantage of laptop
Laptops or note books are mobile computers that weigh around 2 kilos and are quite sturdy. The term laptop
came into use in 1983. And, today in the world of technology schools and colleges use laptops so that
students can learn using multi-media learning modules where lessons are taught innovatively using all the
sensory senses. Using laptops for learning gives students hands on experiences to learn become technology
savvy.

The World Wide Web is a knowledge highway and more and more students are using online libraries to
complete their assignments and do research. A laptop or note book facilitates learning in many ways:

1.The laptop along with references and notes is with you always and the internet libraries and other website
have tools that help students' format assignments and references in MLA or APA formats.

2.With a laptop a student can take notes in class, type up assignments, share notes, and work with groups
on projects.

3.Students can use the internet to speak to and communicate with family and friends without incurring huge
phone bills.

4.Laptops enable students to watch films and video clips as well as download music from the net.

5.Students even use laptops for creating software and designing things to earn a little pocket money. Those
with writing or research skills can consider freelance writing.

6.There are students to launch websites while students along with friends and these ventures become huge
successes creating millionaires.

7.Online libraries and other websites allow students to download whole books online. It save time and
money and students can read books published as far back as the 18th century to new ones.

8.Laptops make students self sufficient and they learn to type, manage their schedules, learn to budget by
using online planners, and become citizens of the world.

9. A laptop with an internet connection encourages learning and keeps students abreast of news. Online
news sites cover not just a state or country but the whole world. Students will know how people live
elsewhere and all about war, political strife, natural disasters, as well as new discoveries and cultures
distinct from their own.

10.Laptops encourage students to be technological whizzes. They keep abreast of all that's new in the
world.

When choosing a laptop factors to consider are: durability, warranties, size and weight, capabilities as in
specifications of ram, speed, and hard disk space. Find out from the school or college authorities what are
the needs for the course and what the school or college recommends for laptops in terms of specifications.
With this in hand visit computer stores online and offline to find a student laptop that will suit the needs
and be affordable. Visit college websites as well as auction sites to check whether there are any laptops
being sold as second hand on auction. Often high end laptops can be bought at auctions for the cost of a
student laptop. So be internet savvy and find a good deal on a laptop
3. Laptop component
Motherboard
o The motherboard--also called a logic board--is the primary circuit board in the laptop. All of the other
components attach to the motherboard, which acts like a traffic controller for the computer, allowing data to
move from one component to another.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
o A computer is essentially a very complicated calculator, and at some level, everything that a laptop does
involves mathematical computations. The CPU is the most important chip inside a laptop, as it handles the
majority of the computations necessary for the computer to work.
o Random Access Memory (RAM)
A processor can perform computations billions of times each second, and because of its speed, it needs
something to keep it constantly fed with instructions. RAM provides the memory storage needed for the
programs that run on the laptop, and it can feed instructions to the processor at high rates of speed.
Hard Drive
o A hard drive looks like a small metal box. If you could look inside, though, you would see metal discs spinning
thousands of times each minute. The discs in a hard drive contains microscopic particles that the read/write
head arranges to form data. While RAM also stores data, there are significant differences between a hard drive
and RAM. The data stored in RAM disappears when the computer is turned off, while data on a hard drive is
persistent. The hard drive in a computer can also store hundreds of times as much data as can fit in the RAM.
However, RAM is far faster at transferring data.
Cooling System
o Because a modern laptop is extremely thin, it needs an elaborate internal system to keep the processor cool. A
typical laptop cooling system begins with a metal block pressed firmly against the processor. The block
transfers heat to a heat pipe, which is a thin copper tube filled with a liquid that changes phase and increases in
pressure when it gets hot. The phase change sends the heat to a series of metal fins which dissipate the heat
with the help of a fan. The cooled liquid returns to the processor block, and the cycle begins again.
Keyboard
o As with a desktop computer, the keyboard of a laptop allows you to input text. Laptop keyboards are often
smaller than desktop keyboards, however. The size difference means that computer manufacturers often must
use creative design techniques to fit a comfortable typing surface into the smaller space.
Pointing Device
o The pointing device in a laptop computer replaces the traditional computer mouse. The most common type of
laptop pointing device is the touch pad, a surface that you drag your finger across in order to move the pointer
on the screen. Occasionally, a laptop will have a tiny joystick that the user moves with her finger, rather than a
touch pad.
CD or DVD Drive
o All but the smallest laptops include CD or DVD drives. These drives read and write data on optical discs, giving
you a way to install software on your computer. Optical drives also provide a way to listen to music and watch
movies.
Screen
o Laptop computers have very thin liquid crystal displays (LCDs), usually ranging in size from 12 to 17 inches
diagonally. The screen of a laptop is responsible for showing the images produced by the computer. Without
one, users would be forced to use external monitors with their laptops.
Networking Adapter
o A networking adapter allows a computer to communicate with other computers and use the Internet. The two
most common types of networking adapters in laptops are Ethernet adapters, which connect the computer to a
cable modem or router with a cable, and wireless adapters, which eliminate the need for a cable by
communicating with radio signals.
Power System
o A laptop would be useless without some form of power, and the power system in a laptop contains two
components: the battery and the AC adapter. The battery allows the laptop to run--usually for 2 or more hours-
-without access to a wall outlet. The AC adapter charges the battery and powers the laptop when a wall outlet is
available.
4.History of Laptop Computers - History
Left - Modern Laptop Today
It is a little hard to determine what was the first portable or laptop computer, the first
portable computers did not look like the book-sized and folding laptops that we are
familiar with today, however, they were both portable and lapable, and lead to the
development of notebook style laptops. I have outlined several potential firsts below
and how each qualifies, many of the off-site links provide good photos of the computers that will let you
see the progression in design.

The First Laptop? Maybe
Designed in 1979 by a Briton, William Moggridge, for Grid Systems Corporation, the Grid Compass was
one fifth the weight of any model equivalent in performance and was used by NASA on the space shuttle
program in the early 1980's. A 340K byte bubble memory lap-top computer with die-cast magnesium case
and folding electroluminescent graphics display screen.
Gavilan Computer As The First Laptop?
Manny Fernandez had the idea for a well-designed laptop for executives who were starting to use
computer. Fernandez, who started Gavilan Computer, promoted his machines as the first "laptop"
computers in May 1983. Many historians consider the Gavilan as the first fully functional laptop computer.
The First Laptop Computer - Osborne 1
The computer considered by most historians to be the first true portable computer was the Osborne 1.
Adam Osborne, an ex-book publisher founded Osborne Computer and produced the Osborne 1 in 1981, a
portable computer that weighed 24 pounds and cost $1795. The Osborne 1 came with a five-inch screen,
modem port, two 5 1/4 floppy drives, a large collection of bundled software programs, and a battery pack.
The short-lived computer company was never successful. (second photo)
More History of Laptop Firsts
Also released in 1981, was the Epson HX-20, a battery powered portable computer, with a 20-character
by 4 line LCD display and a built-in printer.
In January of 1982, Microsoft's Kazuhiko Nishi and Bill Gates begin discussions on designing a portable
computer, based on using a new liquid crystal display or LCDscreen. Kazuhiko Nishi later showed the
prototype to Radio Shack who agree to manufacture the computer.
In 1983, Radio Shack released the TRS-80 Model 100, a 4 lb. battery operated portable computer with a
flat and more of a laptop design.
In February 1984, IBM announced the IBM 5155 Portable Personal Computer.
Three years later in 1986, Radio Shack released the improved and smaller TRS Model 200.
In 1988, Compaq Computer introduces its first laptop PC with VGA graphics - theCompaq SLT/286.
In 1989, NEC UltraLite was released, considered by some to be the first "notebook style" computer. It
was a laptop size computer which weighed under 5 lbs. (second photo)
In September 1989, Apple Computer released the first Macintosh Portable that later evolved into the
Powerbook. (second photo)
In 1989, Zenith Data Systems released the Zenith MinisPort, a 6-pound laptop computer. (more Zenith
laptops)
In October 1989, Compaq Computer released its first notebook PC, the Compaq LTE.
In March 1991, Microsoft released the Microsoft BallPoint Mouse that used both mouse and trackball
technology in a pointing device designed for laptop computers.
In October 1991, Apple Computers released the Macintosh PowerBook 100, 140, and170 - all notebook style
laptops. (more on Powerbooks)
In October 1992, IBM released its ThinkPad 700 laptop computer.
In 1992, Intel and Microsoft release APM or the Advanced Power Management specification for laptop
computers.
In 1993, the first PDAs or Personal Digital Assistants are released. PDAs are pen-based hand-held
computers