computer hardware and software

Defining the Portable Computer Portables, like their desktop counterparts, have evolved a great deal since the days when the word portable could refer to a desktop-sized system with a handle on it. Today, much smaller portable systems can rival the performance of their desktop counterparts in nearly every way. Many portables are now being marketed as "desktop replacements," which are portable systems powerful enough to serve as a primary system. This chapter examines the phenomenon of portable computing, showing how it has evolved and why it is so popular. Portables started out as suitcase-sized systems that differed from desktops mainly in that all the components, including a CRT-style monitor, were installed into a single case. In the early 1980s, a small Houston-based startup company named Compaq was among the first to market portable PCs such as these. Although their size, weight, and appearance are almost laughable when compared to today's laptop or notebook systems,...

Portable computers , once a novelty, are now a part of everyday business life. Portable computers work and act just like larger systems, except they are very compact. This study note will give u a brief description of portable computer types. Types of Portable Computers : Portable computers are classified according to size and function. Today there are three basic types of portable computers: laptops, notebooks, and subnotebooks. Laptop Computers With advancements in battery technology and the advent of functional, large-screen, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), the first truly portable computers, referred to as laptops, were produced in the late 1980s. These units featured integrated AT-compatible computer boards, including I/O (input/output) and video controller functions. Laptops, as mentioned, usually feature a folding LCD display and a built-in keyboard and pointing device. They also use an external power supply and a removable, rechargeable battery. Today's laptops have fairl...