Jun 252008
Who Invented the Laptop?
Posted by: Sierra in Reviews
Inside, most laptop computers integrate a motherboard, memory chip, the graphics chip, a hard disk, sound chip, optical drive, the processor, CPU heat sink, a cooling fan, network chip, the battery, and an ExpressCard expansion bay for Firewire, external disk drives, SSD drives, wireless modules, TV tuners, additional memory, and card readers, while being encased in a metal-alloy material that houses also the display in the lid, keyboard and touchpad.
Laptop processors, also called mobile processors, are designed specifically for these small, portable computers, and feature lower power consumption compared to those powering desktop computers. Also, mobile hard disk drives are smaller and have a spinning speed of 5400 rpm and up to 7200 rpm in premium models. The graphics chips are usually integrated on the motherboard using part of the system memory, but the high-end models come with dedicated video memory for improved performance. Touchpads replacing computer mice, measure about 20 cm2 and work based on capacitive sensing technology feeling the pressure of your finger and moving the cursor on the screen.
All laptop computer parts are developed in smaller and smaller dimensions as the manufacturing companies tend to design lighter weight models reduced in size.
The history of the laptop sends us back in April 1976, when Xerox PARC developed the first portable computer prototype called Xerox NoteTaker. It never reached mass production but it was the inspiration source for the first commercially available notebook. Xerox NoteTaker was designed by Alan Key, Adele Goldberg, Douglas Fairbairn, and Larry Tesler. It featured a built-in monochrome display monitor, 128K 8-bit memory, 1MHz processing speed, a floppy disk drive, foldable keyboard and a mouse, using the Smalltalk operating system. The weight was of 22 Kg and the production costs were incredibly high, reaching $50,000, at the time of introduction.
One of the most important steps in the history of the laptop is the one taken in 1981 by Osborne Computer Corporation that released the world’s first portable computer on the market at a price of $1795. Osborne 1 was called after its designer’s name, Adam Osborne, who created the 24.5-pound laptop powered by a Zilog Z80 processor featuring 4MHz speeds, 64K RAM memory, a 5-inch display with 53 x 24 text resolution, IEEE-488 port configurable as a Parallel printer port, RS-232 compatible 1200 or 300 baud Serial port for use with external modems or serial printers, modem, dual 5-1/4 inches 91K drives for storage, single sided, single density floppy disk drives, and the CP/M operating system.
The first portable computer could be closed up and was coming with a carrying handle, and optional battery pack. It was capable to display maximum 52 characters per line but the user had the possibility to scroll back and forth using the cursor keys, and read up to 128 characters.
It was also the world’s first computer coming with software bundle, priced at $1500, which included a CP/M utility, SuperCalc spreadsheet, WordStar word processing with MailMerge, Microsoft MBASIC programming language, and Digital Research CBASIC programming language.
(Sources: computerhistory ; About.com ; Ligon GT Magnet Middle School ; howstuffworks)
It’s clear that if you use a computer mostly in an office or at home you should stay on the desktop PC and get a notebook only if you have to use the applications while on the go. I am saying this because, as you already know, laptops are not powerful than desktop PCs when we take into account the processing speeds and graphic capabilities. The portability, light weight and the slim keyboard are the laptop benefits, but if we discuss about the disadvantages of laptops, the first problem we meet is the upgradeability level, which is way lower than in the desktops’ case. This is because you can’t upgrade the entire notebook configuration and if you replace just some parts they won’t be compatible with the ones existent anymore.
Motherboards, keyboards and batteries are proprietary in design and only the original manufacturer can replace them. You can interchange the hard drive and the memory.
Other disadvantages include the high costs of the components, poor ergonomics, easiness to be stolen, and the integration of the keyboard on which you could accidentally spill liquids on, damaging this way the motherboard and the display. To change one of these 2 broken parts would cost you as much as a brand new laptop.
In conclusion, laptops provide more convenience for mobile use but have raised maintenance costs.
Comments
30 Comment(s) on “Who Invented the Laptop?”
M-Money said on Mar 19 09 at 3:49 am:
Hey, My names m-money and i love it. me and my friend are science enthusasts and we just love the information it gives as for our project. thank you lapops arena. very much appreciated. xoxox
sup said on Mar 19 09 at 3:56 am:
sup every one, hey m-money what u doing so if we can not talk do this
Mohammed Hisham Manna said on May 03 09 at 9:44 pm:
Its awesome!! I like it..
sasha said on May 13 09 at 10:25 pm:
i love laptos
opra said on May 13 09 at 10:29 pm:
was up peps we all love laptops thankyou for giving
Alek said on May 27 09 at 5:38 pm:
I think you should tell who acually INVENTED IT!!!!!
Slindile said on Oct 20 09 at 9:18 am:
My name is Slindile which mean waiting. and I'm still waiting for the inverter. any way I like laptops and at school I'm doing IT essentials and we use laptops more often so big ups to the inverter who i don't know
el potosino said on Nov 03 09 at 10:19 pm:
i dont like labtops uuuuuh their so expensive and yea i dont really like them hahahahahha lol oh i have a myspace ma email is idk find out who i am hahahahaha soy el jinete
zigphe said on Nov 17 09 at 9:20 pm:
omg i love laptops
Dylan Edwards said on Nov 18 09 at 5:49 am:
l want a laptop for free
diamond wallace said on Dec 02 09 at 5:46 pm:
who invented it and were did it come ex. it was invented in china or somethin????????
Lyss said on Dec 14 09 at 5:00 am:
Hi, Im doing a history project and this has helped me alot,,and i love laptops!!!
nICKI mINAJ said on Jan 06 10 at 6:57 pm:
WELL THE COMPUTER ARE SO MUCH BETTER NOW AND DAYS BECAUSE THOSE COMPUTER SCREENS WWERE 2 LITTLE.OMG CN'T SEE THAT WEEL
blake llewellyn said on Jan 14 10 at 8:13 pm:
hay the new labtop is the bom
jasmine said on Jan 19 10 at 10:36 pm:
i still need to know who invented it
tea said on Mar 04 10 at 2:51 am:
this gave me a lot of info for my report yay
amos yeboah said on Mar 04 10 at 6:24 pm:
i am a student at sunyani polytechnic in ghana and i want a laptop to futher my studies.
amos yeboah said on Mar 04 10 at 6:29 pm:
please i am a young accounting ghanaian student boy of 24 years of age and i will be very glad if you could offer me a laptop to persue my course.
ziad said on Mar 11 10 at 11:38 pm:
he wassup nega
allissa said on Mar 11 10 at 11:42 pm:
ziad shut up
allyisa said on Mar 11 10 at 11:43 pm:
Im a loser and a dick and a girl but i have a dick
safdsf said on Mar 11 10 at 11:49 pm:
sup allyisa
sigh said on Mar 12 10 at 12:43 am:
The inventors (seriously people, spelling?) are up there, for the xerox note taker. the osborne 1 was invented by Adam Osborne, and the Grid compass, another early laptop, was invented by William G Moggridge, David C. Paulsen, Glenn T. Edens, Karl S. Nakamura, and Stephen R. Hobson
rocky said on Mar 23 10 at 10:33 pm:
was up niga whatya doen bitch
j danks said on Apr 19 10 at 9:10 pm:
U guys are all the geekiest kids ive ever heard of get a life!!
Brandon said on Apr 20 10 at 8:21 am:
i have one of the first computers made
Hii Pep said on May 10 10 at 9:12 pm:
Wats up 2 all ma peps and it let me got on myspace tho
Ashley said on May 11 10 at 9:41 pm:
Why the heck does that computer looked like a disformed ALEIN from SPACE!!!!????
James said on May 29 10 at 8:24 pm:
this is so epic
Dabootys said on Jul 13 10 at 12:33 am:
I was a PC lover, Now i'm a MAC freak
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Jul 2, 2008: Laptop Computer Screens