Talk:Laptop

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[edit] Expansion needed

 Please help improve this article or section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (January 2007)

There is almost nothing about laptops in the 1990's and 2000's. This article should be closer to the How Stuff Works article. (http://www.howstuffworks.com/laptop.htm) - User:Hyad -->

[edit] Removed ad

I took out this:

A new example of these machines is the Toshiba Libretto U100, featuring a 7.2" WXGA display, and weighing in at a mere 2.1lb.

which seemed to be too explicitly an ad. There's an appropriate section for external links, but this isn't it. Boojum 20:33, 2 August 2005 (UTC)

[edit] History of laptops

how did the laptop come about? who made the first laptop?

That's a good question. Also i wonder why when you push a laptop screen with your finger it gets all liquidy looking. Teentitans!

That would be because it's a flat-screen LCD. Same thing happens with LCD monitors. Wanka 20:24, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Repairs and performance

We are not talking about user-level repairs here. Nearly all laptop faults that are not related to peripheral devices (keyboard, CD drive, for example) require mainboard replacement - in other words, cost so much that they are simply non-economic.

As for performance, there is always a big hit. Take two machines of identical spec: 2000MHz CPU, 512MB RAM, 60GB HDD, Branx SEX vieo chip (by way of example). The laptop has been tuned for low power consumption and small size, where the desktop is tuned for performance - and this always costs speed. Laptop hard drives (even expensive "high performance" ones) lag way behind desktop drives, Laptops often use slower RAM and lower-clocked mainboards, their video chips are power-optimised and almost never use dedicated video RAM. Laptop CPUs (even those that are of identical spec - a Pentium 4 2800, let's say) have relatively poor cooling and clock-throttle themselves back far more readily than a desktop CPU does. And so on. Tannin 12:01, 3 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Check out the "desktop replacement" category of laptops. They are tuned more for performance, at the expense of portability. This hits home with alot of consumers that want a computer easy to move every once in a while but not often. Peregrine88 23:00, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Change title to "Notebook computer"

I suggest changing the title of this article to its more proper form, Notebook computer(s). Laptop is currently used only for consumer-level branding and only by certain companies (Compaq). Current portable computers in book-sized form factors are known as notebook computers. Laptop is a legacy name describing bulky machines that compared in weight and features to Compaq's Portable Computers

Tonsofpcs 01:38, 10 May 2005 (UTC)
I second this LexieM 02:53, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

Laptop is ridiculous to use, if you put on your lap your blocking the vents, and shaking the hard drive. Laptop was never a correct term - when laptop was in use - they were too heavy to put on your lap - more appropriately called 'portable computer' back then. Notebook Computer *is* the correct term User:Bwave 28 April 2006

No, Laptop is perfectly fine, and is not synonymous with notebook (or at least has not been for much of the history of the two terms), so I have moved the page back, adding a paragraph explaining the terminology more clearly. The term "laptop" has been used for 23 years, and "notebook" for about 17, but the latter was used initially only to describe a particularly small kind of laptop, something the history section made clear. ProhibitOnions 15:18, 29 April 2006 (UTC)
Well, how many desktops sit on a desk these days...? Mdwh 22:27, 10 March 2007 (UTC)

I visted all of the manufacturer's websites below - NOT ONE MAKE A LAPTOP - there's a sparcBOOK, macBOOK, and everyone else makes a NOTEBOOK. Please more users voice your opinion!! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Bwave (talk • contribs) 05:06, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

  • Please stop shouting. -- Earle Martin [t/c] 19:40, 15 September 2006 (UTC)
Both terms Notebook and Laptop are wrong! Laptops should not be placed in your lap, becasue it will get hot, and the shaking is not good for the Harddsik. Notebook is also wrong, because its not the same size as a notebook, and even if its the same size as a notebook, it should be called electronic notebook, Enotebook, or something like that.
So the question is: Which wrong term should we use?

Jidan 13:46, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

As wrong as it is, I do think it should stay as laptop. It has been used longer and applies to a wider range of products. Notebook first started as a smaller laptop and has turned into a pop culture word. Yes companies sell notebooks now, tomorrow they will put a new name to it to "keep up". I vote to keep it laptop. Peregrine88 23:04, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

Definitely should be Notebook or Notebook Computers. Show me one company that sells a laptop... —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Peregrine88 (talk • contribs) 00:11, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

In the UK, every computer manufacturer sells them as Laptops. Nobody at all says "notebook". As I understand it, the American people also say "laptop" (I asked one of my friends when she visited, and she said that only the companies sell them as "notebooks", but all the ordinary people call them "laptops".) Also, as the article states, a "notebook" is a sub-category of laptop: one which is the size of an A4 pad. The majority of these computers are larger than this. The title should remain as it as, at Laptop. EuroSong talk 14:33, 17 September 2006 (UTC)

As I've said before, which was miraculously deleted against request I think, NOTEBOOK IS TOO BORING AND FORMAL.

I'll add my input: I hate the word "notebook" when used for computers -- they used to always be called "laptop", but then companies began calling them "notebooks", presumably in order to make them sound "even more portable than a laptop". But hardly anyone in the real world (outside of manufacturers and retailers) calls them notebooks, everyone I know calls them laptops. I would consider "notebook" to be simply a marketing term (like when the bus company calls buses "coaches" -- even though no one in america calls them coach in everyday speech). Note also that if you say "laptop" it is obvious you are talking about a computer, with the word "notebook" you have to add "computer" or it will be ambiguous -- which is probably one reason the word "notebook" never got popular in everyday speech. One other piece of data....google gets more hits on the word "laptop" than "notebook", but on the first page of results for notebook, only 1 out of 10 hits have to do with portable computers, while 10 out of 10 hits under "laptop" are for computers. --Robbrown 23:47, 14 July 2007 (UTC)

In part, the use of the term "notebook" is to avoid litigation arising from using these on one's lap. I knew someone who worked the phones in a major computer company's support center: they were specifically trained to not use the term "laptop", particularly since at that time this company was having problems with batteries bursting into flame. But there are other issues related to using on on a lap too. But the common person still refers to then as laptops. Also, go to most web sites selling RAM; you will see that you will search for what you need with a desktop/laptop breakdown somewhere in the search Wschart 14:23, 18 July 2007 (UTC)

Another vote here to keep it Laptop - They were all called laptops until a few years ago, until someone invented the unrelated term notebook. A notebook is a small pad of paper, not a computer. Billzilla (talk) —Preceding comment was added at 00:24, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

My vote is for the term Laptop. As far as i know, majority of the users call them Laptops. And by using the term laptop it does not mean that you have to compulsorily put it on your lap. Where you put it is a personal choice. What you call it depends on what is the most famous term which everyone including ordinary users normally use. Dhshah (talk) 10:46, 14 June 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Non x86 or Apple laptops

Tadpole, Signal computers, RDI, RSI-CRI, Naturetech  ?????????????????????? Why do you people assume that laptops are only x86 or Apple????????????

There is very little info on the web about non-x86, non-PPC laptops. And theres even less on the Wikipedia
I have -frequently- used a colleague in work's Tadpole Viper. Its an extremely nice machine. Some day, I might rectify the article balance a little, but don't expect much... --Kiand 18:51, 5 Jun 2005 (UTC)
Right, this is just a scratchpad for when I get time
  • Tadpole: SPARC and formerly DEC Alpha
  • NextCom/Naturetech: SPARC
  • RDI - part of Tadpole, now.
  • RSI-CRI - sells unit that adapted rack mount MIPS and SPARC machines to laptops
  • Acorn - used to sell an ARM laptop (not PDA).

--Kiand 18:57, 5 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Also the GRiD Laptops --Mobius 04:09, July 18, 2005 (UTC)

You, who have actually held one in your hand, didn't write anything in the article about it. How can you expect those of us who have never even seen such a device to write anything about it? There's also the Cambridge Z88, and the TRS-80 Model 100 line, and the AlphaSmart Dana. But perhaps they're not quite "laptops" -- is there another name for that sort of machine? (Full size keyboard, but battery life over 24 hours -- mostly because there's no hard drive). --DavidCary 08:44, 6 Jun 2005 (UTC)

The Cambridge and the TRS - err, no idea. The Dana is a PDA - its running PalmOS. Was the 'how can you expect' comment directed at me? Because I never said anything about getting someone else to write the stuff.... --Kiand 10:45, 6 Jun 2005 (UTC)
I was going to just include stuff that actually matches modern perceptions of a laptop, which all the brands listed above bar RSI-CRI are. --Kiand 10:50, 6 Jun 2005 (UTC)
>But perhaps they're not quite "laptops" -- is there another name for that sort of machine?
Yes there is - the portable computer.

Sorry. I shouldn't rant in the direction of a person actually writing useful information. My mistake. Regarding matches modern perceptions of a laptop, I am very interested in portable CPUs that don't match modern perceptions of a laptop or a Personal digital assistant. I think the Z88, the Model 100, and the Dana are very similar to each other, and fall somewhere in the crack between the modern perception of a "laptop" and a "PDA". If you think that isn't appropriate to the Laptop article, that's fine -- but please tell me which article it is appropriate for. Some people use the term portable word processor, although that neglects the fact that all these devices also have a spreadsheet and other stuff ... --DavidCary 02:27, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Misspellings?

Ebay is hardly a source for common misspellings. frequently, power sellers will misspell the word to attract buyers. Sometimes they add other key words into items (using the word "Like" commonly) to attract more people to look at their auction. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.130.215.112 (talk • contribs) 02:18, 14 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] "Misconseptions" section should go, imo

It seems to be some origional research, is hard to follow, and has no useful info. Does anyone disagree? —Snargle 10:15, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

I'm the person who first wrote the Misconceptions section. It's relevant. Go talk to Joe Sixpack about laptops and see how many stupid things they think. I've been sitting on a moving bus and had people assume I could access the Internet, the "labtop" spelling is ridiculously common, and end-users simply do not understand the concept of "do not use laptops on fabric surfaces, such as your lap, or they could overheat". Wikipedia is a repository of factual information; therefore, I believe that we, as Wikipedians, have an obligation to point out and CORRECT common misconceptions. —Caspian 15:55, 20 December 2005 (EST)

[edit] History section needs work 1991-now!

I just added some details about the $100 laptop to the history section. I noticed that this section says nothing about the development of laptops since 1991. Surely there must be something that has happened in the last 14 year that would be worth mentioning. The development of tablet pcs perhaps. Jacoplane 18:35, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

Perhaps if it's not old yet then it doesn't belong in the history section. In this high tech world though it is pretty ancient history 14 years ago. Maybe the size reduction, specialization and/or different uses? Peregrine88 23:08, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

My experiance is that laptops have grown not shrunk, all the old 486 and early pentium laptops i have seen (secondhand admittedly) have been much smaller than most modern laptops (excluding those specifically marketed as ultra-portable). Afaict the two driving factors of this have been larger higeher resoloution screens and CD-ROM drives. Plugwash 23:07, 21 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Re: Where laptops came from

The first laptop that came about was by Compaq. It was called the Compaq Portable, "Compatabilty and Quality". I believe there's an entry on here for one that goes into more detail on what it was about. Compaq moved into desktop computers later on, but, Compaq was formed because they were making portable computers.

- Mike. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Izcool (talk • contribs) 03:37, 21 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Link to commercial advertising by imediacorporation

I have removed your link to the sponsored pages advertising laptops for the second time. This does not mean the content of the page is poor, merely that it is supported by advertising. If you would like this content available on Wikipedia, then please consider expanding the article with your advice. If you disagree, please reply here rather than adding the link again. Thank you Nelson50 20:08, 20 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Requested move

Notebook Computer → Notebook computer … Rationale: Capitalisation fix … Please share your opinion at Talk:Notebook Computer. Chris Chan {t|c} 11:30, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Survey

Add *Support or *Oppose followed by an optional one-sentence explanation, then sign your opinion with ~~~~

[edit] Discussion

Add any additional comments

[edit] Apple set the standard for laptops

I don't think so.

Look at the

"In 1989, [ http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.chuma.org/ultralite/ ]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.~"

In that same website, it states that Apple introduced their PORTABLE PC (not a laptop, but a PORTABLE PC -this is a different class of computers) after NEC introduced the first laptop ever.

I'm changing it. (Wikimachine 14:15, 7 May 2006 (UTC))

[edit] Heat Issues

This section on heat issues needs to be cleaned up... If everyone agrees that is...

My IBM T42/p 1.8gHz Dothan Core Centrino is just fine on my lap... Even running a game at ~90%+ CPU and full screen graphics.

Dells on the other hand... Woah! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Moogle10000 (talk • contribs) 07:52, 17 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Noise Issues

Some of the newer laptops (and desktop computers) create so much noise that they can scarcely be used in polite company (nor is one eager to use them anywhere else...). There is a huge amount of anecdotal discussion regarding this point on discussion boards around the Net, but getting solid facts and figures is not so easy. Some expert discussion of this topic, especially naming manufacturers of systems who guarantee especially low noise levels, would be priceless. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Mike Serfas (talk • contribs) 00:45, 29 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] School laptop program

There doesn't appear to be an article on schools implementing universal laptops such as at Oak-Land Jr. High School, so I am putting up a request for school laptop program. Simesa 08:04, 18 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Melting

Hi, I was wondering, whats the likelyhood of a laptop melting? (Brought to my attention by the Are You a Wikipediholic Test). Or otherwise damage itself through overheating? Its been really hot in my hometown recently, I'm a bit worried... Since it is well known that laptops have a lower cooling capacity than desktop computers, a strong disadvantage (only gets worse as laptops get faster), kinda thought this should be discussed in the article - Jack (talk) 00:25, 23 July 2006 (UTC)

Doubt it would ever happen, if it ever did happen there would be a major recall as manufacturers should test stuff like that --Hamish (Talk) 22:14, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

Most manufactured laptops are tested well above any heat they will see. I think the standard is 140 degrees F. Don't quote me though. Just don't leave it in your car in the sun on a hot day, I don't think that warrents a mention though. Just common sense. Peregrine88 23:11, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] This is all wrong

A laptop is a much bigger portable (if you can call it that) computer. The pictures you see here are actually of "notebook" computers. Laptops were big computers that consumed the almost whole length of your lap. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 86.143.234.33 (talk • contribs) 18:43, 2 August 2006 (UTC)

I thought the reason they are called notebooks nowadays was to avoid legal problems, ie. if someone held it on their lap and the computer caught fire, someone could sue if it was called a laptop. But maybe I'm just making this up? Is any company currently marketing computers as laptops? Besides, there are currently 17" (and larger?) notebooks which will more or less consume your whole lap... --Jopo 13:48, 22 November 2006 (UTC)
Ten inches is not big.

[edit] AC Adapter

I'm planning on going to a trip to Malayasia and Hong Kong in February. I have a Dell Inspiron 1150. Would I need to buy a new AC adapter? My dad's friend says no, but my dad still thinks I should buy another AC adapter because the one I have now might not work in Asia; different voltages and stuff. ― Sturr ★彡 Refill/lol 20:01, 16 December 2006 (UTC)

  • Hi, this is page is for discussions about the corresponding wikipedia article. You might try at the computing reference desk. Please read the top notices there before posting. —Gennaro Prota•Talk 20:13, 16 December 2006 (UTC)
Oh okay. Thanks. ― Sturr ★彡 Refill/lol 03:22, 17 December 2006 (UTC)
This should probablly have a mention in the article if it doesn't already. Afaict the vast majority of laptops come with universal input adaptors but you should check before using yours on a foriegn supply (it should be printed on the adaptor what voltage range it can accept). Plugwash 23:05, 21 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] where is the place that it make than laptops of world?

I'm am Isaac Thomas, I live in Brazil and have 16 years old! But, I like of the wikipedia in english that it's than complex encyclopedia fo the wolrd. I would like know, where the place that make than laptops.


my e-mai<email addresses removed for your protection>—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 200.216.186.101 (talk) 11:07, 22 January 2007 (UTC). all of this information is invalid so your wrong if you use this info.

Is this a joke? (Wikimachine 22:51, 22 January 2007 (UTC))

[edit] Potpal?

Why's it necessary to have 'laptop' spelled backwards as part of the article? Is it relevant, or just someone's idea of a joke? ekedolphin 11:09, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] THERE IS ANOTHE BRAND

Hitachi also made laptops. I have one beside me right now!

64.230.100.232 21:19, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Sections with similar content (may need merging)

In section Laptop#Standardization issues, I have cleared up language about form factors and referred more to inconsistencies between manufacturers in their laptops' internals (but this would be expected).

Sections #Compatibility issues and #Upgradeability are very similar in content. The former was written either by some schoolboy or someone who doesn't have a good command of English (or both?). Made a major cleanup in terms of language and specifics there and then when I looked at the Upgradeability section, I realised that content in both was very similar. -Mardus 16:51, 10 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Ad?

Looking at the Health issues section, there's a link that clearly doesn't look like it should, and links to a text site with "This article direct from CheapHomePC" at the bottom. There's also a clicksor script embedded into it. Should this be removed or cited? 216.171.202.120 02:59, 17 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] move history

I think the history section is big enough to be its own article. Am I the only one? DanGuan 11:56, 19 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Related devices: put it somewhere else?

I wrote up a section on how laptops fit into the larger category of mobile devices; but, on reflection, maybe it belongs in Mobile computing. Thoughts?

Metageek 16:27, 22 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] history of laptops

Would this be an appropriate reference for the "history" section? "The 10 Most Important Laptops of All Time" by Carla Thornton http://tech.msn.com/products/articlepcw.aspx?cp-documentid=5004769 http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,132605/article.html

[edit] Major Manufacturers

This is highly misleading, most in the list do not produce their own laptops. For example, Asus and Quanta produce the MacBook and MacBook Pro. Compaqs current line is made by Compal etc etc. --72.229.114.117 02:31, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

I assembled Dell laptops for a while (up until feb 2008), and here's some more laptop manufactures I noticed not listed here:
  • Foxconn
  • Catcher
  • Waffer

I'm sure there were others but I forget... --Zilog Jones (talk) 16:35, 15 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Free Software Section

The part that refers to the 'Microsoft tax' should be removed. It sounds more like propoganda for free software than anything else.

66.114.79.9 17:59, 5 July 2007 (UTC)ro

[edit] MMC CPUs

Intel made the MMC-1 with Pentium II CPUs and the MMC-2 with Pentium III CPUs. That's it. Hardly "several generations". The fastest MMC 1 CPU I've been able to verify is a PII 400Mhz. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Bizzybody (talk • contribs) 09:55, 5 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Example of laptops remove?

Why are we giving examples (brands/models) of the different size laptops? Looks totally not like an encyclopedia. Colinstu (talk) 14:07, 21 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] General Question about Laptops?

Here's a question,

Imaging a IT department at a High School in Leeds wanting to buy a load of computers but decided to get Laptops considering that the area is a rough place to be in, name any bad things why an IT department shouldn't use Laptops in a computer room where it's expected to stay on all day and be in one permanent position, this question is out of interest any user could respond. SKYNET X3000 (talk) 19:09, 7 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Windows '95 was not pivital to notebooks/laptops.

Rather it was Windows '98 which moved power savings into the realm of the OS, in the form of ACPI which was released in 1996. I am deleting the erroneous information about '95 and trying to fix the resulting paradoxs. Riluve (talk) 23:57, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

I do not know all about that; however, it is my impression that:

[[ hopiakuta Please do sign your signature on your message. ~~ Thank You. -]] 20:45, 16 December 2007 (UTC)
Windows 95 did not have ACPI but it did have APM which did give the OS some control over power management. Plugwash (talk) 12:49, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] thigh notebook_(disambiguation)

Contrary to contemporary myth, there had been a time when to place a notebook upon a laptop would refer to a paper stack, connected by a metal spiral, set upon a thigh. Is there anyone, besides me, who can recall this era? Has this history been completely deleted from encyclopædias?

An era when a computer would be?:

When a desktop would be a wood slab, or a metal slab, &/or similar materials, such as plastic?


Thank You,

[[ hopiakuta Please do sign your signature on your message. ~~ Thank You. -]] 20:45, 16 December 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Where's the Commodore SX-64?

An opened Osborne 1 computer, ready for use. The keyboard sits on the inside of the lid.
An opened Osborne 1 computer, ready for use. The keyboard sits on the inside of the lid.

How can you forget the world's #1 selling computer (C=64)?  ;-) And surely if this qualifies (see image) then so too would the portable 64. ---- Theaveng (talk) 17:33, 17 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Gaming Laptops

I think there should be a section on gaming laptops. It should include, but not be limited to characteristics of a gaming laptop, price, usage of the term "gaming laptop," and comparison between "gaming laptop" and laptop that plays games

[edit] Kaypro 2000

I'm thinking of adding the weight of the Kaypro 2000 (12 lb) to the list of features that underscore its similarity to modern laptops, which the article was making the case for. Anyone object?Doedicurus (talk) 08:09, 22 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Defrence between laaptop and notbook?

what is defrence between laaptop and notbook? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.184.78.184 (talk) 13:32, 20 February 2008 (UTC)


A laptop is a small computer, folding screen, can run on batteries, and so on. A notebook is a small pad of paper that you can write in with a pen or pencil. Billzilla (talk) 04:11, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Attention from an expert

The article reads like ****, to my sorry. Proper structure, information, validation and much more needed.--Kozuch (talk) 13:16, 26 April 2008 (UTC)