Saturday, July 31, 2010

Cheap Laptops

A laptop computer or simply laptop (also notebook computer or notebook) is a small mobile computer, typically weighing from one to three kilograms, depending on size, materials, and other factors.

While the terms "portable" and "notebook" are often used interchangeably, "laptop" is the older SC introduced in 1983 with the Gavilan. "Notebook" is a later coinage, which are used for smaller devices such as those of differentiation wasCompaq LTE series in 1989, which were, in contrast to previous laptops, the approximate size of an A4 sheet of paper. [1] in each term is often used improperly: due to heat and other issues, many laptops for use on the tour are inappropriate, and most are not the size of an A4 sheet. Although some older portable computers such as laptops and some Macintosh models Turbo Zenith Sports, have sometimes been described as "laptops", their size and weight was too great for this category.

Laptopsusually with a single battery or an external AC / DC, the battery can run both the power of the computer.

TouchpadAs with an Acer laptop PCs, portable computers are capable of the same tasks as a desktop PC, although usually less unchanged. They contain components that are similar to their desktop counterparts and perform the same functions but are miniaturized and optimized for mobile use and efficientPower consumption. Laptops usually have liquid crystal displays and most of them use different memory modules for memory (eg, SO-DIMMs instead of the larger DIMMs). In addition to a built-in keyboard may be a touchpad (also known as the use of the trackpad) or a pointing stick for input, though an external keyboard or mouse can be connected to the rule.

Categories
Terms sometimes used for subtypes of laptop computers are:

Ultra Portable
Laptops with screens typically less than 12 inches diagonally and weighing less than 1.7 kg. Their primary audience is usually applied for entrepreneurs, small, lightweight laptops. Ultra laptops are often very expensive and energy-saving CPU home and almost always have integrated graphics.
Thin-and-lights
Laptops usually weighing between 1.8 kg and 2.8 kg with a screen size 12-14 inches diagonally.
Laptops medium
This rulehave screens from 15 to 15.4 diagonally and weighing about 3-3.5kg. They are usually a bit 'to sacrifice computing power for small size and battery life, even if the length and breadth of the state are determined by the size of the screen.
Desktop replacement computers
Powerful notebook will be used mainly in a fixed location and only rarely because of their weight and size, the dairy provides space for more powerful components and a big screen, UsuallyMeasure 15 inches or more. Desktop replacement rather limited battery life, rarely more than three hours, because the hardware is not the optimal power efficiency.
History
laptop / notebook computers has been technically possible before, had similar ideas have been proposed, notably Alan Kay's Dynabook concept, developed at Xerox PARC in 1970, in the early years.

The first commercially available portable computer was used by Osborne 1 in 1981, CP / M OSSystem. Although it was large and heavy compared to today's portable with a small CRT, the HAD almost revolutionary impact on business, as professionals were able to take their computer and data with them for the first time. These and other "luggables" were inspired by what was probably the first portable computer, the Xerox NoteTaker, again developed at Xerox PARC, for 1976, but made only ten prototypes. The Osborne was about the size of a portable sewing machine, andEven more important could be transported on a commercial airplane. However, it was not possible, Osborne is powered by batteries, which had linked

Lasting success was the Compaq Portable, the first product introduced by Compaq in 1983, at which time the IBM Personal Computer had become the standard platform. Although little more portable machines Osborne, and also that the management of AC running MS-DOS and was the first true IBM clone (IBM's own laptop laterwho arrived in 1984, was substantially lower] than the IBM-compatible PC [Compaq Edit).

Another significant machine announced in the 1981, although preliminary, were sold in 1983, was the Epson HX-20. A simple handheld computer, which features a keyboard 68-key full-transit, the rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, a small (120 x 32 pixels) Dot matrix LCD display with four lines of text, 20 characters per line text mode, a 24 column dot matrix printer, Microsoft BASIC interpreter, and 16 KB of RAM(Expandable to 32 kB).

But the first true laptop was probably the GRID Compass 1101, designed by Bill Moggridge 1979-1980 and published in 1982. Enclosed in a magnesium case, introduced the now familiar clamshell design in which the folded flat against the keyboard display off. The computer can be powered by batteries and is equipped with a plasma display at 320 × 200 pixels and 384 kilobytes of bubble memory. There was not IBM-compatible, and its high price (U.S. $ 10,000)limited to specialized applications. However, it was widely used by U.S. military and NASA on the Space Shuttle during 1980. The manufacturer subsequently earned significant returns GRID for its patent rights as its innovations became commonplace. Grid Systems Corp. was later confirmed by Tandy (Radio Shack bought).

Two other laptops noteworthy were the first Sharp PC-5000 and the Gavilan SC, announced in 1983, but sold in 1984. The Gavilan was notably the first computer to bemarketed as "portable." There was also a pioneering touchpad-like pointing device, mounted on a panel above the keyboard. As the Grid Compass, the Gavilan and Sharp were housed in clamshell cases, but were partly IBM-compatible, although primarily running their own system software. Both had LCD displays, and could connect to optional external printers.

The year 1983 also saw the introduction of what was probably the best-selling early laptop, the 'Kyocera Kyotronic 85, which owe much to the design of the previous Epson HX-20. Although it was a seller in Japan at first, was quick to Tandy Corporation, Olivetti, and NEC, which saw its potential and marketed or licensed, as the TRS-80 Model 100 line (or Tandy 100) Olivetti M-10, NEC PC-8, 201th [2] The machines ran on standard AA batteries. The Tandy Built-in programs, including a BASIC interpreter, a text editor and a terminal program, were supplied by Microsoft and areThoughts written by Bill Gates himself. The computer was not a clamshell, but according to a swivel LCD screen 8 × 40 characters over a full travel keyboard. With its internal modem, it was a portable communication device. Because of its mobility, battery life good (and easy replacement), reliability (does not have moving parts) and low price (less than U.S. $ 300), the model was very popular, always a favorite among journalists. Weighed less than 2 kgwith dimensions of 30 × 21.5 × 4.5 cm (12 × 8.5 × 1.75 inches). Initial specifications included 8 kilobytes of RAM (expandable to 24 kB) and a 3-MHz processor. The car was in fact about the size of a paper notebook, But the term had not yet come into use, and was generally described as a "portable computer.

Among the first commercial IBM-compatible laptops were the IBM PC Convertible, introduced in 1986, and two Toshiba models, the T1000 and T1200 introducedin 1987. Although limited floppy-based DOS machines that have been stored with the operating system read-only memory, models of Toshiba's small and light enough to be carried in a backpack and could be out of lead-acid batteries. This was also the now standard features "Shoot for DOS-based machines: The computer may be stopped between sessions, with no time to be restarted.

The first laptops successful on a large scale has come largely through a Request for Proposal (RFP)the U.S. Air Force in 1987. This contract would mean the purchase of more than 200,000 laptops. Competition to supply this contract was contested and the major PC companies of the time, IBM, Toshiba, Compaq, NEC and Zenith Data Systems (ZDS), rushed on laptops in an attempt to win this business develop. ZDS, which once held an important agreement with the IRS for its Z-171 was obtained, the contract for the assignment of the Supersport series. The series was launched with Supersportan Intel 8086 processor, dual floppy drive, a backlit, blue and white STN LCD screen and a NiCd battery. Later models featured an Intel processor 80286 and a 20MB hard drive. Because this deal ZDS became the world's largest supplier of portable computer in 1987 and 1988.

ZDS with Tottori Sanyo in the design and manufacture of portable computers this partnership. This report is important because it is the first agreement between a brand and a large Asian OEM (original wasEquipment Manufacturer). At that time, Compaq, IBM, Toshiba, NEC, etc. all designed and manufactured their own machines. But after the success of the ZDS with other reports, such as Compaq and citizens, soon followed. At that time, the quality of Japanese design and production in conjunction with the strength of the dollar against the yen (typically about 130 Yen = $ 1) drove most brands to suppliers in Japan. Companies such as Sanyo, Tottori Sanyo, Citizen, Casio, and wereall strong in this business as OEMs concerned. But by the mid-1990s a weakening U.S. dollar and increasing the profitability of Taiwanese OEMs such as Acer, Quanta, Compal, Twinhead, and Chicony lead the supply base quickly move from Japan to Taiwan. He also started trademarks, which were more nimble and less on internal engineering such as Gateway, Dell and Micron has appointed soon to rise to leadership positions. Combinations such as Dell / Compal and Gateway / Quanta became a powerhousePartnerships contributed significantly to the expression of Taiwanese OEMs as the center of PC manufacturing from about 1995

Another significant computer was the Cambridge Z88, Clive Sinclair, who will be introduced in 1988. The size of an A4 sheet of paper and ran on standard batteries and contain basic spreadsheets, word processing and communication programs. It expects the future miniaturization of the portable computer and a ROM-based computers with a smallthe display, can - like the TRS-80 Model 100 - also be seen as a forerunner of the Personal Digital Assistant.

Until the late 1980's, laptop computers increasingly popular with business people. The NEC Ultralite, released in mid-1989, was perhaps the first notebook with a weight of just over 2 kg, instead of a floppy disk or hard drive contained a 2 megabyte RAM drive, but this reduced its utility and its size. The first notebook to include hard drives werethose of the Compaq LTE series, introduced toward the end of this year. Indeed, the size of a notebook, but also features backlit displays with CGA resolution (but not the colors CGA).

The Macintosh Portable, Apple's first attempt to develop a car battery before computerThe Apple Computer for use on the road was the 1989 Macintosh Portable (although an LCD screen has an option for the transportable Apple IIc in 1984). Actually a "luggable", was praised Mac laptopfor its clear active matrix display and long battery life, but a bad seller was due to its mass. In the absence of a true Apple laptop, several compatible devices such as laptop output were available for Mac users, but for reasons of copyright, users had to buy a number of Mac ROMs, which usually meant that a new or used Macintosh as well.

The Apple PowerBook series, introduced in October 1991, pioneered changes that are now de facto standardPortable, such as the positioning of the keyboard, room for palm rest and the inclusion of a built-in pointing device (trackball). The following year he published his IBM ThinkPad 700C, with a similar design (though with a distinctive red TrackPoint pointing device).

Subsequently, the first display to 256 colors PowerBook (PowerBook 165c, 1993) and the first true touchpad, first sound recording in 16-bit, and the first integrated Ethernet network adapter (PowerBook 500, 1994).

Summer1995 was an important turning point in the history of notebook computers. In August of that year Microsoft introduced Windows 95 was the first time that Microsoft had placed much of the power management control in the operating system. Up to this point each brand used custom BIOS, drivers, and in some cases, ASICs, to optimize the battery life of their machines. The move by Microsoft was controversial in the eyes of notebook designers because it greatly reduces its ability to innovate;However, it has served its role in simplifying and stabilizing certain aspects of design notebooks. Windows 95 has also opened the importance of the CD-ROM in mobile computing and initiated the transition to the Intel Pentium processor as the base platform for notebooks. The gateway is only the first notebook with a Pentium processor and a CD-ROM introduced. The with a removable hard disk and floppy drive was the first three-spindle (optical, floppy and hard) NotebookComputer. The Gateway Solo was extremely successful in the consumer segment of the market. At about the same time the Dell Latitude, Toshiba Satellite and IBM Thinkpad were reaching great success with Pentium-based two-disc spindle (hard drive and floppy drive) systems directed toward the corporate market.

has improved an old (1997) Micron Technology laptopAs in 1990 increased the value and popularity of laptops. Consequently, prices fell. SeveralThe developments are designed for laptops quickly implemented, improving usability and performance. Among them:

Improved battery technology. The heavy lead-acid batteries were replaced with lighter and more efficient technologies, first nickel-cadmium, nickel, and then nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium ion and lithium polymer then.

Processor power management. While laptops in 1991 to 80,286 processor because of the energy needs of the most powerful 80,386 limitsThe introduction of the Intel 386SL, laptops designed for the needs of specific performance marked a point where the design requirements of the CPU laptop were included. The 386SL integrated a 386SX core with a memory controller and that was with an I / O chip coupled to create the SL chipset. It 'been more integrated than any previous solution although the cost was higher. There was a strong notebook brands most important time accepted. Intel followed this with the 486SL chipset used by the sameArchitecture. However, Intel had to design this approach as it introduced its Pentium series without. Early versions of the mobile Pentium required mounting tab can be used (in LCD manufacturing) and this may initially provide a limited number of business notebooks. However, Intel did eventually migrate to more standard chip packaging. One limitation of notebooks has always been the difficulty in upgrading the processor, which was a common attribute of desktops. Intel has tried to solvethis problem with the introduction of the MMC for mobile computing. The MMC is a standard form on which sit the CPU and external cache memory could. There was the notebook buyer to make his CPU at a later time to update simplifies the manufacturing process some, and was in some cases to circumvent U.S. import duties as the CPU will be used for frame to be added later in the United States arrived Intel Stuck with MMC for a few generations but ultimately could not maintain the appropriate speedand integrity of data in the memory subsystem through the MMC connector.

Improved liquid crystal displays, particularly active matrix TFT (Thin Flim-transistor) LCD technology. The first laptops were black and white, blue and white or grayscale, STN (Super Twist Nematic) passive-matrix LCD prone to heavy shadows, ghosting and blurry movement (some portable computer screens were plasma display sharper black and white, but he has too much power from the batteries to supply electricity). ColorSTN screens were used for some time, although their quality is poor. Until about 1991, two new colors LCD hit the mainstream market in a big way techologies; Dual STN and TFT. The Dual STN screens display many of the problems of STN at a very affordable price solved and TFT offers excellent image quality, although initially a high price. DSTN continued at a significant cost advantage over TFT until the mid-90s range before the cost delta dropped to the point that DSTN wasare no longer used in notebooks. Improvements in production technology should show were larger, sharper, had higher native resolutions, faster response times and color may indicate with great accuracy, making them an acceptable substitute for a traditional CRT monitor.

Improved disk technology. Early laptops had only floppy disks and notebook. As thin, high-capacity hard drives with higher reliability and shock resistance and lower power consumption were available, userscomputer could store their work on the laptop and take it with them. The 3.5 "hard drive was created in response to the needs of notebook designers that needed smaller, lower power consumption products. As the pressure to continue to reduce the size notebooks even more, the 2.5" HDD was introduced.

Better connectivity. Internal modems and standard serial, parallel and PS / 2 ports on IBM PC-compatible laptops made it easier, away from work from home, adding network cardsand, since 1997, USB, and since 1999, Wi-Fi, laptop computers made it easy to use devices with a desktop computer.


The $ 100 laptop

A prototype of the first generation $ 100 laptop
In 2005, members of the MIT Media Lab Nicholas Negroponte presented the teachers, the $ 100 laptop from One Laptop Per Child Project. The objective is to develop, manufacture, distribution and laptops are so cheap, provide every child inworld access to knowledge and to modern forms of education. The laptops will be sold to governments and school children. These structures, many of which prototypes have already been submitted will be rugged, Linux-based, and so efficient that the energy sufficient to power the dynamo crank alone for hand-operation (although this crank was removed). Ad-hoc wireless mesh networking used to allow several machines to share a single InternetConnection.

Recommend : Toshiba Satellite T115D-S1125

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