A Research on

Notebooks and Tablets

By
Johann Jeuz A. Xie
For
AsianTech Philippines

Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Laptops
a. History
b. Classifications
c. Components
III. Tablets
a. History
b. Features
c. Styles
IV. Discussion
a. Advantages
i. Laptop vs. Desktop
ii. Tablet vs. Laptop
b. Disadvantages
i. Laptop vs. Desktop
ii. Tablets vs. Laptop
V. Closing

Introduction
The technology trend of the 21st century is rapidly develops, from simple machines during the
earlier centuries that use manual power to electric powered devices also known as computers we
have now. Computers can be easily identified, however there are usual misconceptions about it,
like, can is not a laptop also considered a computer? How about a tablet, can it be considered as a
computer to, since by definition, a computer is a device that is programmable, which executes
from a list of instructions and carries it out by means of a logical or arithmetic operation; or
simple put it as a device that computes, need not to be electronic like its ancestor the abacus.
Laptops, also known as notebooks, are portable computers that you can take with you and use in
different environments. It has an L-shape design and the screen can be lowered and closed to
allow for easy transportation of the machine. By etymology, it is portable and mobile enough to
be on the top of ones lap, and it is a microcomputer, meaning small.
Tables on the on the hand, are portable computers that uses a touchscreen as its primary input
device. It is typically smaller than a notebook computer but larger than a smartphone or mobile
phones or PDAs.
By the end of this paper, we would be going through each product, their styles, features,
components, usage and related information of each electronic device that is being used on this
time by a large market, from personal use to corporate usage.

Laptops
History
The idea of a portable, technically complete computer system was first considered as early as the
1970s. While the technology of the laptop would not be possible until the next decade,
researchers at Xerox were experimenting with a type of portable computer, called the Dynabook,
in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Dynabook was intended to be a type of tablet computer,
with a screen that did not fold down as the screens of most modern laptop computers do, and that
could run on nearly depending on battery. Unfortunately, technology in the 1970s was not
advanced enough to support this idea, and the concept of the Dynabook was never developed
into an operational unit. The IBM SCAMP project (Special Computer APL Machine Portable),
was demonstrated in 1973. This prototype was based on the IBM PALM processor (Put All Logic
In Microcode or 128 bit). The IBM 5100, the first commercially available portable computer,
appeared in September 1975, and was based on the SCAMP prototype. The IBM 5100 was a
cutting edge computer designed in 1975. Years before any proper laptops were to emerge, IBM
designed a computer that for those desperate (or strong enough) could be stuck inside a satchel
and moved about. The GRiD Compass is certainly one of the earliest laptop computers - many
believe it to be the first. Developed in 1979 by British industrial designer Bill Moggridge, its
whopping 340kb memory was put to good use by NASA in the 1980s. The Gavilan is what most
laptop historians consider the original laptop. It was the first to be sold as a portable computer

and was revolutionary for its launch in 1983. Packed with the latest 5Mhz Intel 8088 processor
and a floppy disk drive, the Gavilan became an immediate hit.
The Laptop Computer History Timeline
1981: Osborn 1 system created. The Osborn 1 wasn't tiny; it was similar in size to a sewing
machine and required a power outlet to run. Early business adapters were intrigued, but
ultimately it failed due to unwieldy size and an inability to run on battery power.
1982: GRID Compass debuted. The first real laptop, the GRID Compass was truly portable, with
the folding design we know today and the ability to operate on battery alone. The GRID
Compass was expensive and incompatible with IBM, so it was therefore used almost
solely by NASA. Nevertheless, it was pivotal in the history of the laptop computer.
1983: Compaq Portable and Epson HX-20 introduced. The Compaq Portable was the first laptop
compatible with the IBM operating system and MS-DOS, making it easy to switch data
back and forth between laptops and desktop computers. However, the Epson HX-20 had
an edge in that it operated on rechargeable batteries, whereas the Compaq Portable
required a power outlet. These were the first commercially successful laptops.
1983: Kyocera Kyotronic 85 released. One of the most wildly popular early laptops, the Kyocera
Kyotronic 85 was small and inexpensive, running on AA batteries and measuring about
the size of a paper notebook. With some of the first commercial Microsoft programs and
an internal modem, the Kyotronic set the tone for laptops to come, although it lacked the
traditional laptop clamshell case.
1986: IBM launches its first laptop. IBM was the standard for desktop computers, so laptops had
to be IBM compatible to be viable in the marketplace. IBM launched the IBM PC
Convertible in 1986 to moderate success.
1987: Toshiba laptop introduced. Like the IBM portable, the Toshiba T1000 and T1200 included
IBM compatibility and MS-DOS. These laptops were lightweight and small, but still not
commercially successful.
1987: Zenith Data Systems won an important US Air Force contract. ZDS won a bid to produce
200,000 laptops for the US Air Force in 1987. This was a noteworthy development
because ZDS partnered with Japanese manufacturers to produce hardware and reduce
costs.
1988: Compaq SLT/286 introduced VGA graphics. Compaq was the first laptop manufacturer to
produce a machine that could display VGA graphics. It was lightweight and batterypowered with an internal hard drive.
1989: Macintosh Portable was the first Apple laptop. The first Apple laptops were large and
bulky and not particularly successful, but marked Apple's foray into the laptop market.
1991: Apple PowerBook brought Apple into the laptop age. Unlike the Macintosh Portable, the
PowerBook was truly portable. The PowerBook also included a palm rest and a pointing
device, which became the standard for future laptop designs.
1995: Microsoft released Windows 95. Because of its power-management functionality,
Windows 95 became the default operating system for non-Apple laptops. The release of
Windows 95 stabilized several features of laptop design, and brought about the creation
of the style of laptops we know today.

Classifications
The term "laptop" can refer to a number of classes of small portable computers, with types that
can be classified for gaming, business and personal; here is a detailed list:

Full-size Laptop: A laptop large enough to accommodate a "full-size" keyboard (a

keyboard with the minimum QWERTY key layout, which is at least 13.5 keys across that
are on (0.750) inch centers, plus some room on both ends for the case). The
measurement of at least 11 inches across has been suggested as the threshold for this
class. The first laptops were the size of a standard U.S. "A size" notebook sheet of paper
(8.5 11 inches), but later "A4-size" laptops were introduced, which were the width of a
standard ISO 216 A4 sheet of paper (297 mm, or about 11.7 inches), and added a vertical
column of keys to the right and wider screens. It can also be laid sideways when not in
use.
Netbook: A smaller, lighter, more portable laptop. It is also usually cheaper than a fullsize laptop, but has fewer features and less computing power. Smaller keyboards can be
more difficult to operate. There is no sharp line of demarcation between netbooks and
inexpensive small laptops; some 11.6" models are marketed as netbooks. Since netbook
laptops are quite small in size, netbooks typically do not come with an internal optical
drive.
Tablet PC: these have touch screens. There are "convertible tablets" with a full keyboard
where the screen rotates to be used atop the keyboard, and "slate" form-factor machines
which are usually touch-screen only (although a few older models feature very small
keyboards along the sides of the screen.)
Ultra-mobile PC: An ultra-mobile PC (ultra-mobile personal computer or UMPC) is a
small form factor version of a pen computer, a class of laptop whose specifications were
launched by Microsoft and Intel in spring 2006. Sony had already made a first attempt in
this direction in 2004 with its Vaio U series, which was however only sold in Asia.
UMPCs are smaller than subnotebooks, have a TFT display measuring (diagonally) about
12.7 to 17.8 cm, and are operated like tablet PCs using a touchscreen or a stylus. There is
no clear boundary between subnotebooks and ultra-mobile PCs.
Handheld PC: A Handheld PC, or H/PC for short, is a term for a computer built around a
form factor which is smaller than any standard laptop computer. It is sometimes referred
to as a Palmtop. The first handheld device compatible with desktop IBM personal
computers of the time was the Atari Portfolio of 1989. Another early model was the Poqet
PC of 1989 and the Hewlett Packard HP 95LX of 1991. Other DOS compatible hand-held
computers also existed.
Rugged: Engineered to operate in tough conditions (mechanical shocks, extreme
temperatures, wet and dusty environments, etc.)
Ultrabook: A very thin version of a laptop. They are a higher-end subnotebook "inspired"
by Intel.

Components
Like the usual personal computer or desktop PCs, the laptop has almost the same capabilities, but
it is much smaller than that of desktops, they are namely:

Central processing unit (CPU): Laptop CPUs have advanced power-saving features and
produce less heat than desktop processors, but are not as powerful. There is a wide range
of CPUs designed for laptops available from Intel (Pentium M, Celeron M, Intel Core and
Core 2 Duo), AMD (Athlon, Turion 64, and Sempron), VIA Technologies, Transmeta and
others. On the non-x86 architectures, Motorola and IBM produced the chips for the
former PowerPC-based Apple laptops (iBook and PowerBook). Most laptops have
removable CPUs, although some support by the motherboard may be restricted to the
specific models. Some laptops use a desktop processor instead of the laptop version.
Those laptops have high performance at the cost of being likely to have overheating
problems, and having less battery life. In other laptops the CPU is soldered on the
motherboard and is non-replaceable.
Memory (RAM): SO-DIMM memory modules that are usually found in laptops are about
half the size of desktop DIMMs. They may be accessible from the bottom of the laptop
for ease of upgrading, or placed in locations not intended for user replacement such as
between the keyboard and the motherboard. Currently, most midrange laptops are factory
equipped with 34 GB of DDR2 RAM, while some higher end notebooks feature up to
32 GB of DDR3 memory. Netbooks however, are commonly equipped with only 1 GB of
RAM to keep manufacturing costs low.
Expansion cards: A PC Card (formerly PCMCIA) or ExpressCard bay for expansion
cards is often present on laptops to allow adding and removing functionality, even when
the laptop is powered on. Some subsystems (such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or a cellular
modem) can be implemented as replaceable internal expansion cards, usually accessible
under an access cover on the bottom of the laptop. Two popular standards for such cards
are MiniPCI and its successor, the PCI Express Mini.
Power supply: Laptops are typically powered by an internal rechargeable battery that is
charged using an external power supply, which outputs a DC voltage typically in the
range of 7.2 24 volts. The power supply is usually external, and connected to the laptop
through a AC connector cable. It can charge the battery and power the laptop
simultaneously; when the battery is fully charged, the laptop continues to run on power
supplied by the external power supply. The charger adds about 400 grams (1 lb) to the
overall "transport weight" of the notebook.
Battery: Current laptops utilize lithium ion batteries, with more recent models using the
new lithium polymer technology. These two technologies have largely replaced the older
nickel metal-hydride batteries. Typical battery life for standard laptops is two to five
hours of light-duty use, but may drop to as little as one hour when doing power-intensive
tasks. A battery's performance gradually decreases with time, leading to an eventual
replacement in one to three years, depending on the charging and discharging pattern.
This large-capacity main battery should not be confused with the much smaller battery
nearly all computers use to run the real-time clock and to store the BIOS configuration in
the CMOS memory when the computer is off. Lithium-ion batteries do not have a
memory effect as older batteries may have. The memory effect happens when one does

not use a battery to its fullest extent, then recharges the battery. Innovations in laptops
and batteries have seen new possible matchings which can provide up to a full 24 hours
of continued operation, assuming average power consumption levels. An example of this
is the HP EliteBook 6930p when used with its ultra-capacity battery.
Video display controller: On standard laptops the video controller is usually integrated
into the chipset to conserve power. This tends to limit the use of laptops for gaming and
entertainment, two fields which have constantly escalating hardware demands, and
because the integrated chipset is very difficult to upgrade for a standard user, laptops may
grow obsolete quickly for use in gaming and entertainment. Higher-end laptops and
desktop replacements in particular often come with dedicated graphics processors on the
motherboard or as an internal expansion card. These mobile graphics processors are
comparable in performance to mainstream desktop graphic accelerator boards. [32] A few
notebooks have switchable graphics with both an integrated and discrete card installed.
The user can choose between using integrated graphics when battery life is important and
dedicated graphics when demanding applications call for it. This allows for greater
flexibility and also conserves power when not required.[33]
Display: Most modern laptops feature 13 inches (33 cm) or larger color active matrix
displays based on CCFL or LED lighting with resolutions of 1280800 (16:10) or 1366
768 (16:9) pixels and above. Some models use screens with resolutions common in
desktop PCs (for example, 1440900, 1600900 and 16801050.) Models with LEDbased lighting offer lesser power consumption, and often higher brightness. Netbooks
with a 10 inches (25 cm) or smaller screen typically use a resolution of 1024600, while
netbooks and subnotebooks with a 11.6 inches (29 cm) or 12 inches (30 cm) screen use
standard notebook resolutions. Having a higher resolution display will allow you to fit
more onscreen at a time, thus improving your ability to multitask. A higher resolution in a
fixed size display will make items onscreen appear smaller than they would on a lower
resolution. The difference between available display resolutions will often affect the
user's experience considerably more than the difference between available processors and
available memory, but it is commonly misconceived to be the opposite. 15.6" 1366 768
displays and 17.3" 1600 900 displays make items onscreen rather large, and tend to
have poor image quality due in part to low contrast compared to their higher-resolution
counterparts such as 15.6" 1600900, 15.6" 19201080, and 17.3" 19201080, because
the lower resolution displays are generally more cheaply manufactured. If you as a buyer
have a budget that allows you to get a laptop that one of the higher-resolution displays
and at the same time suits your needs, and if you don't require the larger text provided by
a lower resolution for eyesight-related reasons, then it is commonly recommended that
you avoid buying laptops that come with the lower-resolution 15.6" 1366 768 displays
or 17.3" 1600 900 displays. 1366 768-resolution displays of sizes 14" and under tend
to exhibit the same low-contrast-related poor image quality, but do not make items
onscreen as large. 1600 900 resolution is occasionally available in sizes of 13.3" and
14", improving multitasking capability, but it is rare for such displays to have noticeably
better contrast.
Removable media drives: A DVD/CD reader/writer drive is nearly universal on full-sized
models, and is common on thin-and-light models; it is uncommon on subnotebooks and
unknown on netbooks. CD drives are becoming rare, while Blu-ray is becoming more
common on notebooks.

Internal storage: Laptop hard disks are physically smaller2.5 inches (64 mm) or 1.8
inches (46 mm) compared to desktop 3.5 inches (89 mm) drives. Some newer laptops
(usually ultraportables) employ more expensive, but faster, lighter and power-efficient
flash memory-based SSDs instead. Currently, 250 to 500 GB sizes are common for laptop
hard disks (64 to 512 GB for SSDs).
Input: A pointing stick, touchpad or both are used to control the position of the cursor on
the screen, and an integrated keyboard is used for typing. An external keyboard and/or
mouse may be connected using USB or PS/2 port, or Bluetooth (if present).
Ports: several USB ports, an external monitor port (VGA, DVI, mini-DisplayPort or
HDMI), audio in/out, and an Ethernet network port are found on most laptops. Less
common are legacy ports such as a PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, serial port or a parallel
port. S-video or composite video ports are more common on consumer-oriented
notebooks.
Cooling: Waste heat from operation is difficult to remove in the compact internal space of
a laptop. Early laptops used heat sinks placed directly on the components to be cooled,
but when these hot components are deep inside the device, a large space-wasting air duct
is needed to exhaust the heat. Modern laptops instead rely on heat pipes to rapidly move
waste heat towards the edges of the device, to allow for a much smaller and compact fan
and heat sink cooling system. Waste heat is usually exhausted away from the device
operator, towards the rear or sides of the device. Multiple air intake paths are used,
because some intakes can be blocked, such as when the device is placed on a soft
conforming surface such as a chair cushion. Some designs with metal cases, like Apple's
aluminum MacBook Pro and MacBook Air also employ the case of the machine as a
"gigantic" heat sink, and rely on it to pump heat out of the device core. Secondary device
temperature monitoring may reduce performance or trigger an emergency shutdown if it
is unable to dissipate heat, such as if the laptop were to be left running and placed inside
a carrying case. Such a condition has the potential to melt plastics or ignite a fire.

Tablets
History
The tablet computer and the associated special operating software is an example of pen
computing technology, and thus the development of tablets has deep historical roots. Electrical
devices with data input and output on a flat information display have existed as early as 1888
with the telautograph. Throughout the 20th century many devices with these characteristics have
been ideated and created whether as blueprints, prototypes, or commercial products, with the
Dynabook concept in 1968 being a spiritual precursor of tablets and laptops. In addition to many
academic and research systems, there were several companies with commercial products in the
1980s. During the 2000s Microsoft attempted to define with the Microsoft Tablet PC the tablet
personal computer product concept as a mobile computer for field work in business, though their
devices failed to achieve widespread usage mainly due to price and usability problems that made
them unsuitable outside of their limited intended purpose.
In April 2010 Apple Inc. released the iPad, a tablet computer with an emphasis on media
consumption. The shift in purpose, together with increased usability, battery life, simplicity,
lower weight and cost, and overall quality with respect to previous tablets, was perceived as
defining a new class of consumer device and shaped the commercial market for tablets in the
following year. As a result, two distinctly different types of tablet computing devices exist as of
2012, the Tablet PC and the Post-PC tablet, whose operating systems are of different origin.
Here is a link of the history of tablets in an image format.

Features
Handwriting recognition
Because tablet personal computers normally use a stylus, they quite often implement handwriting
recognition, while other tablet computers with finger driven screens do not. Finger driven
screens however are potentially better suited for inputting "variable width stroke based"
characters, like Chinese/Japanese/Korean writing, due to their built in capability of "pressure
sensing". However at the moment not much of this potential is already used, and as a result even
on tablet computers Chinese users often use a (virtual) keyboard for input.
Touchscreen hardware
Touchscreens are usually one of two forms;
Resistive touchscreens are passive and can respond to any kind of pressure on the screen.
They allow a high level of precision (which may be needed, when the touch screen tries
to emulate a pointer for precision pointing, which in Tablet personal computers is
common) but may require calibration to be accurate. Because of the high resolution of
detection, a stylus or fingernail is often used for resistive screens. Although some
possibility exists for implementing multi-touch on a resistive touch-screen, the

possibilities are quite limited. As modern tablet computers tend to heavily lean on the use
of multi-touch, this technology has faded out on high-end devices where it has been
replaced by capacitive touchscreens.
Capacitive touchscreens tend to be less accurate, but more responsive than resistive
screens. Because they require a conductive material, such as a fingertip, for input, they
are not common among (stylus using) Tablet PCs but are more prominent on the smaller
scale "tablet computer" devices for ease of use, which generally do not use a stylus, and
need multi-touch capabilities.

Other touch technology used in tablets includes:

Palm recognition. It prevents inadvertent palms or other contacts from disrupting the
pen's input.
Multi-touch capabilities, which can recognize multiple simultaneous finger touches,
allowing for enhanced manipulation of on-screen objects.
Some professional-grade Tablet PCs use pressure sensitive films that additionally allow pressure
sensitivity such as those on graphics tablets. Concurrently capacitive touch-screens, which use
fingertip detection can often detect the size of the touched area, and can make some conclusions
to the pressure force used, for a similar result.
Other features include:

Accelerometer: An accelerometer is a device that detects the physical movements of the

tablet. This allows greater flexibility of use since tablets do not necessarily have a fixed
direction of use. The accelerometer can also be used to detect the orientation of the tablet
relative to the horizontal plane, but can also detect movement of the tablet, both of which
can be used as an alternative control interface for a tablet's software.
Ambient light and proximity sensors are additional "senses", that can provide controlling
input for the tablet.
Storage drive: Large tablets use storage drives similar to laptops, while smaller ones tend
to use drives similar to MP3 players or have on-board flash memory. They also often
have ports for removable storage such as Secure Digital cards. Due to the nature of the
use of tablets, solid-state memory is often preferable due to its better resistance to
damage during movement.
Wireless: Because tablets by design are mobile computers, wireless connections are less
restrictive to motion than wired connections. Wi-Fi connectivity has become ubiquitous
among tablets. Bluetooth is commonly used for connecting peripherals and
communicating with local devices in place of a wired USB connection.
3D: Following mobile phone, there are also 3D slate tablet with dual lens at the back of
the tablet and also provided with blue-red glasses.
Docking station: Some newer tablets are offering an optional docking station that has a
full size QWERTY keyboard and USB port, providing both portability and flexibility.

Styles
Slate
Slate computers, which resemble writing slates, are tablet computers without a dedicated
keyboard. For text input, users rely on handwriting recognition via an active digitizer, touching
an on-screen keyboard using fingertips or a stylus, or using an external keyboard that can usually
be attached via a wireless or USB connection. Slate computers typically incorporate small (8.4
14.1 inches/2136 centimetres). LCD screens and have been popular in vertical markets such as
health care, education, hospitality, aviation (pilot documentation and maps), and field work.
Applications for field work often require a tablet computer that has rugged specifications that
ensure long life by resisting heat, humidity, and drop/vibration damage. This added focus on
mobility and/or ruggedness often leads to elimination of moving parts that could hinder these
qualities.

Booklet
Booklet computers are dual-touchscreen tablet computers that fold like a book. Typical booklet
computers are equipped with multi-touch screens and pen writing recognition capabilities. They
are designed to be used as digital day planners, Internet surfing devices, project planners, music
players, and displays for video, live TV, and e-reading.

Convertible
Convertible notebooks have a base body with an attached keyboard. They more closely resemble
modern laptops, and are usually heavier and larger than slates.
Typically, the base of a convertible attaches to the display at a single joint called a swivel hinge
or rotating hinge. The joint allows the screen to rotate through 180 and fold down on top of the
keyboard to provide a flat writing surface. This design, although the most common, creates a
physical point of weakness on the notebook.
Some manufacturers have attempted to overcome these weak points. The Panasonic Toughbook
19, for example, is advertised as a more durable convertible notebook. Panasonic has announced
the Toughpad, a water- and shockproof Android tablet. One model by Acer (the TravelMate
C210) has a sliding design in which the screen slides up from the slate-like position and locks
into place to provide the laptop mode.
Sliding screens were presented at CES 2011. The first product to use it is the Samsung Sliding
PC7 Series, a tablet with Intel Atom hardware and a unique sliding screen that allows the product
to be used as a laptop or slate tablet when the screen is locked in place covering the whole
keyboard. The concept still has to prove its reliability, but is intended to combine the virtues of
tablet PCs with those of notebooks. Also presented was the upcoming Inspiron Duo from Dell,
which rotates the screen horizontally when opened. Convertibles like that with hardware specs of
a netbook are called netvertibles.

Hybrid
Hybrids, a term coined by users of the HP/Compaq TC1000 and TC1100 series, share the
features of the slate and convertible by using a detachable keyboard that operates in a similar
fashion to a convertible when attached. Hybrids are not to be confused with slate models with
detachable keyboards; detachable keyboards for pure slate models do not rotate to allow the
tablet to rest on it like a convertible.

Discussions
Advantages
Laptop vs. Desktop

Portability is usually the first feature mentioned in any comparison of laptops versus
desktop PCs. Physical portability allows that a laptop can be used in many places not
only at home and at the office, but also during commuting and flights, in coffee shops, in
lecture halls and libraries, at clients' location or at a meeting room, etc. The portability
feature offers several distinct advantages:
Productivity: Using a laptop in places where a desktop PC cannot be used, and at times
that would otherwise be wasted. For example, an office worker managing their e-mails
during an hour-long commute by train, or a student doing his/her homework at the
university coffee shop during a break between lectures.
Immediacy: Carrying a laptop means having instant access to various information,
personal and work files. Immediacy allows better collaboration between co-workers or
students, as a laptop can be flipped open to present a problem or a solution anytime,
anywhere.
Up-to-date information: If a person has more than one desktop PC, a problem of
synchronization arises: changes made on one computer are not automatically propagated
to the others. There are ways to resolve this problem, including physical transfer of
updated files (using a USB flash memory stick or CDRs) or using synchronization
software over the Internet. However, using a single laptop at both locations avoids the
problem entirely, as the files exist in a single location and are always up-to-date.
Connectivity: A proliferation of Wi-Fi wireless networks and cellular broadband data
services (HSDPA, EVDO and others) combined with a near-ubiquitous support by
laptops means that a laptop can have easy Internet and local network connectivity while
remaining mobile. Wi-Fi networks and laptop programs are especially widespread at
university campuses.

Other advantages of laptops:

Size: Laptops are smaller than desktop PCs. This is beneficial when space is at a
premium, for example in small apartments and student dorms. When not in use, a laptop
can be closed and put away.
Low power consumption: Laptops are several times more power-efficient than desktops.
A typical laptop uses 2090 W, compared to 100800 W for desktops. This could be
particularly beneficial for businesses (which run hundreds of personal computers,
multiplying the potential savings) and homes where there is a computer running 24/7
(such as a home media server, print server, etc.)
Quiet: Laptops are often quieter than desktops, due both to the components (quieter,
slower 2.5-inch hard drives) and to less heat production leading to use of fewer and
slower cooling fans.

Battery: a charged laptop can continue to be used in case of a power outage and is not
affected by short power interruptions and blackouts. A desktop PC needs a UPS to handle
short interruptions, blackouts and spikes; achieving on-battery time of more than 2030
minutes for a desktop PC requires a large and expensive UPS.
All-in-One: designed to be portable, laptops have everything integrated in to the chassis.
For desktops (excluding all-in-ones) this is divided into the desktop, keyboard, mouse,
display, and optional peripherals such as speakers.

Tablet vs. Laptop

Usage in environments not conducive to a keyboard and mouse such as lying in bed,
standing, or handling with a single hand.
Lighter weight, lower power models can function similarly to dedicated E-book readers
like the Amazon Kindle.
Touch environment makes navigation easier than conventional use of keyboard and
mouse or touch pad in certain contexts such as image manipulation, musical, or mouse
oriented games and for people with certain disabilities.
Digital painting and image editing are more precise and intuitive than painting or
sketching with a mouse.
The ability for easier or faster entry of diagrams, mathematical notations, and symbols.
Allows, with the proper software, universal input, independent from different keyboard
localizations.
Some users find it more direct and pleasant to use a stylus, pen or finger to point and tap
on objects, rather than use a mouse or touchpad, which are not directly connected to the
pointer on screen.
Current tablets typically have longer battery life than laptops or netbooks.

Disadvantages
Laptop vs. Desktop
Performance
While the performance of mainstream desktops and laptops is comparable, and the cost of
laptops has fallen more rapidly than desktops, laptops remain more expensive than desktop PCs
at the same performance level. The upper limits of performance of laptops remain much lower
than the highest-end desktops (especially "workstation class" machines with two processor
sockets), and "bleeding-edge" features usually appear first in desktops and only then, as the
underlying technology matures, are adapted to laptops.
However, for Internet browsing and typical office applications, where the computer spends the
majority of its time waiting for the next user input, even relatively low-end laptops (such as
Netbooks) can be fast enough for some users. As of mid-2010, at the lowest end, the cheapest

netbooksbetween US$200300remain more expensive than the lowest-end desktop

computers (around US$200) only when those are priced without a screen/monitor. Once an
inexpensive monitor is added, the prices are comparable.
Most higher-end laptops are sufficiently powerful for high-resolution movie playback, some 3D
gaming and video editing and encoding. However, laptop processors can be disadvantaged when
dealing with higher-end database, maths, engineering, financial software, virtualization, etc.
Also, the top-of-the-line mobile graphics processors (GPUs) are significantly behind the top-ofthe-line desktop GPUs to a greater degree than the processors, which limits the utility of laptops
for high-end 3D gaming and scientific visualization applications.
Some manufacturers work around this performance problem by using desktop CPUs for laptops.
Upgradeability
Upgradeability of laptops is very limited compared to desktops, which are thoroughly
standardized. In general, hard drives and memory can be upgraded easily. Optical drives and
internal expansion cards may be upgraded if they follow an industry standard, but all other
internal components, including the motherboard, CPU and graphics, are not always intended to
be upgradeable. Intel, Asus, Compal, Quanta and some other laptop manufacturers have created
the Common Building Block standard for laptop parts to address some of the inefficiencies
caused by the lack of standards.
The reasons for limited upgradeability are both technical and economic. There is no industrywide standard form factor for laptops; each major laptop manufacturer pursues its own
proprietary design and construction, with the result that laptops are difficult to upgrade and have
high repair costs. With few exceptions, laptop components can rarely be swapped between
laptops of competing manufacturers, or even between laptops from the different product-lines of
the same manufacturer.
Some upgrades can be performed by adding external devices, either USB or in expansion card
format such as PC Card. Devices such as sound cards, network adapters, hard and optical drives,
and numerous other peripherals are available, but these upgrades usually impair the laptop's
portability, because they add cables and boxes to the setup and often have to be disconnected and
reconnected when the laptop is on the move.
Ergonomics and health effects
Wrists
Because of their small and flat keyboard and track pad pointing devices, prolonged use of laptops
can cause repetitive strain injury. Usage of separate, external ergonomic keyboards and pointing
devices is recommended to prevent injury when working for long periods of time; they can be
connected to a laptop easily by USB or via a docking station. Some health standards require
ergonomic keyboards at workplaces.
Neck, spinal
The integrated screen often causes users to hunch over for a better view, which can cause neck or
spinal injuries. A larger and higher-quality external screen can be connected to almost any laptop
to alleviate that and to provide additional screen space for more productive work. Another
solution is to use a computer stand.
For anyone not buying a new screen, a simple method to reduce risk of spinal injury is to
position the laptop's screen in a manner that an obtuse angle (more than 90 degrees open) is
formed. It is then possible for the neck to remain straight during use of the device.

Possible effect on fertility

A study by State University of New York researchers found that heat generated from laptops can
increase the temperature of the lap of male users when balancing the computer on their lap,
potentially putting sperm count at risk. The study, which included roughly two dozen men
between the ages of 21 and 35, found that the sitting position required to balance a laptop can
increase scrotum temperature by as much as 2.1 C (3.78 F). However, further research is
needed to determine whether this directly affects male sterility.
A 2010 study of 29 males published in Fertility and Sterility found that men who kept their
laptops on their laps experienced scrotal hyperthermia (overheating) in which their scrotal
temperatures increased by up to 2 C. The resulting heat increase, which could not be offset by a
laptop cushion, may increase male infertility.
A common practical solution to this problem is to place the laptop on a table or desk, or to use a
book or pillow between the body and the laptop. Another solution is to obtain a cooling unit for
the laptop. These are usually USB powered and consist of a hard thin plastic case housing one,
two or three cooling fans with the entire assembly designed to sit under the laptop in question
which results in the laptop remaining cool to the touch, and greatly reduces laptop heat build-up.
Thighs
Heat generated from using a laptop on the lap can also cause skin discoloration on the thighs
known as "toasted skin syndrome."
Durability
Equipment wear
Because of their portability, laptops are subject to more wear and physical damage than desktops.
Components such as screen hinges, latches, power jacks and power cords deteriorate gradually
from ordinary use. A liquid spill onto the keyboard, a rather minor mishap with a desktop system,
can damage the internals of a laptop and result in a costly repair. One study found that a laptop is
three times more likely to break during the first year of use than a desktop.
Parts replacement
Original external components are expensive, and usually proprietary and non-interchangeable;
other parts are inexpensivea power jack can cost a few dollarsbut their replacement may
require extensive disassembly and reassembly of the laptop by a technician. Other inexpensive
but fragile parts often cannot be purchased separate from larger more expensive components.
The repair costs of a failed motherboard or LCD panel often exceed the value of a used laptop.
Heat and cooling
Laptops rely on extremely compact cooling systems involving a fan and heat sink that can fail
from blockage caused by accumulated airborne dust and debris. Most laptops do not have any
sort of removable dust collection filter over the air intake for these cooling systems, resulting in a
system that gradually causes it to conduct more heat and noise as the years pass. Eventually the
laptop starts to overheat even at idle load levels. This dust is usually stuck inside where casual
cleaning and vacuuming cannot remove it. Compressed air can dislodge the dust and debris but
may not always remove it; after the device is turned on, the loose debris is reapplied to the
cooling system by the fans. Instead, a complete disassembly is needed to clean the laptop. Many
laptops are difficult to disassemble by the average user and contain components sensitive to
electrostatic discharge (ESD).

Battery life
Battery life is limited because the capacity drops with time, eventually requiring replacement
after as little as a year. A new battery typically stores enough energy to run the laptop for three to
five hours, depending on usage, configuration, and power management settings. Yet, as it ages,
the battery's energy storage will dissipate progressively until it lasts only a few minutes. The
battery is often easily replaceable and a higher capacity model may be obtained for longer life.
Replacement batteries can be expensive.
Security and privacy
Because they are valuable, common, and portable, laptops are prized targets for theft. The cost of
stolen business or personal data, and of the resulting problems (identity theft, credit card fraud,
breach of privacy), can be many times the value of the stolen laptop itself. Consequently,
physical protection of laptops and the safeguarding of data contained on them are both of great
importance. Most laptops have a Kensington security slot, which can be used to tether them to a
desk or other immovable object with a security cable and lock. In addition, modern operating
systems and third-party software offer disk encryption functionality, which renders the data on
the laptop's hard drive unreadable without a key or a pass phrase. Some laptops also now have
additional security elements added by the consumer, including eye recognition software and
fingerprint scanning components.
In Robbins v. Lower Merion School District (Eastern District of Pennsylvania 2010), schoolissued laptops loaded with special software afforded two high schools with the capability to take
secret webcam shots of their students at home, via their students' laptops.

Tablet vs. Laptop

Higher price convertible tablet computers can cost significantly more than non-tablet
portable PC,s although this premium has been predicted to fall.
Slower input speed handwriting or typing on a virtual keyboard can be significantly
slower than typing speed on a conventional keyboard which can be as high as 50150
WPM; however, Slideit, Swype and other technologies are offered in an effort to narrow
the gap. Some devices also support external keyboards (e.g.: Most tablets can accept
Bluetooth keyboards, and USB keyboards through Dock Connector-to-USB adapter.)
Less user-friendly ergonomics a tablet computer, or a folded slate PC, does not provide
room for a wrist rest, and the user's arm must move constantly while writing.
More knowledge of the programs is needed because, for example, information on icons
is not obtained by pointing at them. (The Compaq Concerto from 1992 did not have this
weakness.)
Weaker video capabilities Most tablet computers are equipped with embedded graphics
processors instead of distinct graphics cards. In July 2010, one of tablet PCs with a
discrete graphics card was the HP TouchSmart tm2t, which has the ATI Mobility Radeon
HD5450 as an optional extra.
Business-oriented tablet personal computers have been slower sellers from 2001 to date.

Higher screen risk Tablet computers are handled more than conventional laptops, yet
many are built on similar frames; in addition, since their screens also serve as input
devices, they run a higher risk of screen damage from impacts and misuse.
Higher hinge risk A convertible tablet's screen hinge is often more complex and
delicate.

Closing
As we can see, the description of each product, its discussion of pros and cons, we can identify
with ones need or use for the particular product. Technology changes quickly, one will always
have a need, and computers are present to help one in their daily tasks as it maybe for own
personal use, or work related tasks.

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