What is a laptop?
We all possess and use laptops in our day to day lives. Laptops are known to be one of the most useful machines, giving us all the entertainment and productivity we need. But have we ever stopped and wondered what is a laptop?
Laptops are portable computers with built-in screens and alphanumeric keyboards. They are compact devices that terminate the nuisance of connecting wires. They are light-weight and provide battery backup which means they are highly portable and suited for working on-the-go.
Laptops are sometimes referred as notebooks and portable PCs as well. They may be more diminutive than desktop computers but not at the cost of features. This effectively means that a laptop can provide the same features and functions as an actual computer, that too without occupying a lot of physical space.
However, laptops are very fragile and must be used carefully to avoid expensive repairs. Due to their size, they are easy to steal and they are more prone to physical damage because they are moved more often than desktop PCs. Also laptops may lose functionality and user data due to liquid damage.
Laptops have gone through countless innovations and today, we get the opportunity to buy different types of laptops (each fulfilling a different set of requirements). The answer to the question “Which type of laptops is the best?” is highly subjective but the device which most effectively meets your needs is the best among the group.
Types of Laptops
Notebooks are laptops designed to be highly portable. To enhance mobility, they often miss out on physical features such as lesser ports or smaller batteries. These laptops pack very optimum performance features and are often priced between the lower and middle ends.
A more advanced type of Notebooks are the Ultrabooks. These are high end devices. They house larger and better screens, more efficient batteries, high performance internals and a plethora of connectivity options. They are sleek and portable but carrying them around for long hours may be a problem for some owing to being large and slightly heavier than Notebooks. These laptops often come with a hefty price tag but they are usually worth the money spent.
Chromebooks are the laptops that are produced by Google and as the name suggests, they run on their Chrome OS (operating system owned by Google). These devices have comparatively lower hardware requirements, run their own online apps rather than traditional applications and use cloud storage. They are known for providing easy setup, controlled usage and strong parental controls at a very affordable price. Chromebooks have been a huge success in the field of education as they can replace more expensive devices required for e-learning.
A very intriguing category of laptops is the Convertible (2 in 1) laptops, like the Lenovo flex 5. These devices are a hybrid of laptops and tablets as they can easily be toggled from keyboard mode to touchscreen mode by means of sliding away or detaching the keyboard. They are relatively expensive and suited for those who have texts and graphics to work with simultaneously.
Gaming laptops are designed to provide all the features needed for a smooth and professional gaming experience. On the outside, these laptops have high refresh rate screens, RGB keyboards and flashy designs. Complementary to the externals, the internals of these devices are equally appalling; latest gen processors and graphics cards, larger RAMs, faster storages and effective power supply and cooling mechanisms. However, these are big-budget devices for a niche segment of the market.
Regardless, there are a countless number of factors to consider when purchasing a laptop. You need to be wary of screen type and size, optimum amount and type of RAM and storage, graphics, connectivity and portability and a longer list to go.
Thinking of buying your own laptop? The following articles can help you meet your perfect laptop: