A laptop, or notebook, is a portable personal computer with a clamshell form factor, suitable for mobile use. Although there used to be a distinction between laptops and 'notebooks (the former were bigger and heavier than the latter), there is often no longer any difference in practice. Laptops are commonly used in a variety of settings, such as at work, in education, and for personal multimedia.
A laptop combines the components and inputs of a desktop computer, including the display, speakers, a keyboard, and pointing devices (such as a touchpad or trackpad) into a single one. Most modern-day laptops also have integrated webcams and built-in microphones. This device can be powered either from a rechargeable battery or by mains electricity from an AC adapter. Laptops are diverse devices and specialistic kinds, such as rugged notebook or convertible computers, have been optimized for specific uses. The hardware specifications significantly vary between different types, makes, and models.
Portable computers, which later developed into modern laptops, were originally considered to be a small niche market, mostly for specialized field applications, such as the military, accountancy, for sales representatives etc. As they developed into modern-day-like laptops, they became widely used for a variety of purposes.
Laptop - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia