Laptops are portable personal computers built on chips and designed for easy mobility. A laptop or desktop computer, is basically a compact, mobile personal computer with an open "clamshell" type design and usually having an integrated touch screen computer display on the inside of its lower lid. The clamshell is then opened to access the computer installed on the outside. Laptops can be used in conjunction with a desktop or notebook PC. Laptop computers are often referred to as "docked laptops." With a typical laptop PC, the keyboard and mouse are always connected to the laptop by a physical connection through the USB port, which makes it possible to operate the PC without the presence of the user.
Laptops have become very popular over the past five years because of their mobility and ease of use. Although many users comment that they prefer laptops over notebooks because they are easier to travel with, in reality, the primary reason for the increased popularity of laptops is portability. Laptops can be taken virtually anywhere - including airplanes - without the need for additional equipment such as a computer bag. Some laptops have special compartments designed to store the battery, keyboard, and optical drives (such as CD or DVD drives). Laptops have generally advanced higher-end hardware capabilities than notebook computers, even some of the latest laptop computers have the ability to function as desktop computers when connected to a desktop computer through a USB port.
Laptops can be netbook computers, which are small enough to fit in a pants pocket and have no other external hardware components. Netbooks generally have wireless capability and can be used as both a desktop computer and a portable computer. Netbooks use Windows operating system for their operating system.
Desktop computers differ from netbooks in the way they are designed. A netbook generally has a hard drive or solid state drive (SSD) that is much larger and is contained within the laptop itself. As stated previously, laptops use a different kind of hard drive than desktop computers do. Laptops usually have either one or two slots for the Ethernet cable or USB port. One of the reasons why laptops are cheaper than desktops is because laptops use a lower-end processor and because of this lower processor speed, the laptops generally do not require a high-end hard drive.
Another feature that separates laptops and desktop computers is the presence of a physical keyboard. Some laptop computers, particularly the new ultra-modern models, include a touch pad as well as a full QWERTY keyboard. Many laptop computers are also built with a touch screen in order to provide the user with greater precision while using the keyboard. Touch screens are a great feature for anyone who needs extra input on the screen, but a physical keyboard is often better for someone who uses the keyboard for extended periods of time.
Another important distinction between laptops usually has to do with networking. Laptops can be connected to a wider network than desktops. In some cases, the connection can be direct, where each laptop is connected to the same network via a wired Ethernet cable, and in other cases, there can be wireless networks in which one laptop is connected to a wireless network using a USB modem. These differences greatly depend upon the type of hardware that is present in the laptops.
Laptops under 200$ have always been considered more portable and lightweight compared to desktops. The concept of portability is still very much present today, even in laptops, and notebooks are equipped with powerful processors, larger hard drives and better graphics. However, laptops are no longer just affordable for business users or students. Home and personal users are now getting their own laptops. Buying a laptop today gives you the ability to enjoy the benefits of having your own powerful personal computer at the touch of a button. Laptops have revolutionized how we do several things in our daily lives. We can now surf the internet, watch movies, take photos and share videos, play games, store data, and even connect to the internet. As laptops become more powerful and as peripherals become more affordable, laptops may even replace desktop computers in many professional situations.
I am John Kim and I am a professional content writer.