is it really a
LAPTOP?
The Confusion
comes from the builders or more like their marketing people. Coining
a new name each time technologies change. Then forgetting to pay
attention to the advertising of the new devices. One particular
commercial I have seen, a wooden dummy asks to see a “LAPTOP” and
the helpful store clerk takes a “NOTEBOOK Computer” from a display
clearly marked “LAPTOPS”. So how will any one really know what it
was intended to be. I personally haven’t seen a “LAPTOP” in several
years, I however use my “NOTEBOOK” on a daily basis.
LAPTOP Computer:
(Circa Early 1980’s) Is a self-contained portable computer with small CRT
Monitor, Pointing device, keyboard built into the lid, when opened
it dropped down to expose the screen and the power source could be
AC or a
cumbersome and heavy battery pack, usually weighing 15 pounds or
more, quite bulky, taking your whole lap to situate but they were at
least portable. I am not sure but I do not think the “LAPTOP” even
made it into the x386 Architecture. If they did, I stand
corrected.
NOTEBOOK Computer:
(Circa late 1980’s) This too is a self-contained portable computer with a LCD
monitor, much lighter weight, most under a few pounds. The
nomenclature: "NOTEBOOK Computer", as the first ones were about the
size of a large 3 ring binder or Notebook, was coined to
differentiate the lighter more compact machine. It too is placed in
your lap to operate.
Over the last few
years the “NOTEBOOK” is being called a “LAPTOP”. This isn’t what was
intended, if this keeps on going the “TABLET”, some are even larger
than a “NOTEBOOK” or are a “NOTEBOOK” with a “swing around screen”
making the lid to be the “TABLET”, (Circa early 2000’s) will be
called a laptop too, as it is usually used in your lap, adding even
more confusion to the description of the “PC” that we all seem to need,
and can't live without, but
didn’t have before the last few decades.
There, now I have
said it. I won’t give up! It's a "NOTEBOOK!"
Typical size of the "LAPTOP Computer"
The "Transitional" Machine
One of the early "NOTEBOOK Computers"
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