Portable computers – Advantages and trends of laptops and notebooks

Technology intersects more and more with most domains of peoples’ life. It has constantly evolved for the last 15 years. Gadgets tend to become smaller and smaller (more portable), to be able to do more things faster, and are becoming more accessible.

In this article I will highlight a few general facts about portable computers. Soon I will write more specific articles about netbooks, laptops, tablets, smartphones, for a clear image for those who want this kind of device.

Advantages and disadvantages:

Here are the advantages that brought a huge rise of the market share in recent years for portable computers:

• Reduced size and weight. Little occupied space in office; easy to hide and store.
• Although weak or average, system configurations are balanced so an inexperienced buyer will not have to have headaches because of selecting components;
• No need for an UPS because they have batteries;
• Good connectivity especially when it comes to wireless;

Pros and Cons of portable computers

The disadvantages of portables are more numerous, but they weigh less in the decision to buy such a device because all attention turns to the advantages:

• They have weak or medium performances; for high performances prices are extremely high.
• They offer limited upgrade possibilities;
• More difficult to clean of dust, and more bacteria accumulate because they are used in different environments. If we have a portable laptop it may not be the best idea to bring it in bed with us.
• Due to portability they are used in bad positions which can generate health problems.
• They are easier lost or stolen.
• Using wireless connections information can be more easily intercepted than when it comes to connections with wires.
• Some computers do not have an optical unit and need an external unit.
• They warm up and the generated heat can be annoying in summer time, but this can easily be solved with a cooler pad.

Although there are numerous disadvantages we can notice that most are performance related and the others are easily solvable.

The 3 essentials for a portable computer:

• Size is generally the first thing we look at when it comes to buying a portable computer and it is closely related to ease of use and transport. The more we plan to transport the device the more we will want a smaller and lighter device, but it is also important to consider the performances of the device depending on what its purpose will be.
• Performance is usually the second important characteristic to consider. If you need a high performance portable this will be the most important factor, not size, because generally the smaller they are the weaker their performance is. There are exceptions, but those products are extremely expensive.
• Autonomy is the 3^rd important aspect, which is very important especially if you plan to use your portable on the field where you do not have access to an electrical outlet.

Choosing a portable depending on your purpose and needs:

Work can be done most efficiently on a full size laptop (14-17 inch). A netbook is not as efficient because it has a smaller keyboard and display and low technical performances. The tablet can also prove useful when it comes to organizing work or easy tasks. The virtual keyboard is something you will need some time to get used to, and it can be a serious problem if you want efficiency. Smartphones are useful for communication, but when it comes to working they do not offer too many options.

In everyday use for those who need high portability characteristics an ultraportable laptop (11-13 inch) or a netbook (8-10 inch) can prove to be the right choice. A tablet could also be great, depending on the applications that will be used.

For surfing the internet a large display laptop (15-17 inch) also has a considerable weigh. If you want to surf while you are on the move you may discover that a netbook (8-10 inch), an ultraportable (11-13 inch) or a tablet could be enough. They have greater autonomy and a lower weight. Of course if you do not surf too much and like using an RSS feed then you might find a smartphone to be the perfect device.

For communication it is clear that the leader is the smartphone, which includes phone, e-mail, social networks in a single small device. An interesting option is that of a netbook or tablet if you want versatility (for example you might want to use tweetdeck or others).

Viewing multimedia content can be done on any of the above mentioned devices. A 15-17 inch laptop offers a higher resolution, an optical unit (DVD or even BluRay), possibly a sound card, and video acceleration when viewing HD movies, so a good experience. An ultraportable (13 inch) or a tablet may be a good option when travelling due to the reduced size and weight.

When it comes to games the next question arises: Do we play at home or when travelling? When playing at home the best option is a high tech desktop replacement device, but when travelling the best option may be the smartphone.

Conclusions and trends for future laptops and notebooks

It seems that the era of desktops is over and we are heading to a new stage dominated by portable computers in the forms we already know: laptops, netbooks, smartphones and tablets. It is estimated that until 2015 the number of smartphones connected to the internet will be bigger than the number of computers. We can conclude saying that the trend is for making smaller and simpler devices.