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Computers have come a long way over the last few decades. There was a time when a computer could occupy an entire room and still only have the computing power of today's average calculator. This is definitely not the case today, with computers ever shrinking while becoming more and more powerful at the same time. Modern laptops are the quintessential example of a tiny computer with giant capabilities.
The average laptops of today have hundreds, if not thousands of times the computing power as those we used to land Neil Armstrong on the moon, and many of these are smaller than a coffee table book. The laptop computer is quickly overtaking the desktop as the primary computer in the home and they are absolutely essential for millions of college students. They have revolutionized the way companies conduct business and are a staple tool of industry as well.
Laptops were first introduced in the early 1980's. These first models were incredibly expensive, with some costing over $8000, and were not nearly as powerful as what can be purchased today. Because they were so expensive they were primarily used by NASA and the military, but as the technology improved the price began to fall, eventually making them affordable for the average Joe. By the beginning of the new millennium laptop computers had become ubiquitous.
Desktop computers are quickly going the way of the dinosaur and being replaced by laptop computers. Most modern laptops are capable of performing any of the tasks, or running any of the programs that are common to desktops. But because laptops are much more compact, and can be used from any location, they offer a convenience that can't be duplicated by the standard desktop computer. However, due to the way a desktop is constructed, they are still heavily used when vast amounts of memory are needed, as a desktop computer's memory can be easily expanded.
Today's laptops come in many different configurations. Tablets, for instance, are laptop computers that are designed to work with a touchscreen interface instead of a traditional keyboard. There are also hybrids that incorporate a touchscreen, rotatable monitor that is attached to a keyboard and can be used in either configuration. Gaming laptops are also popular variations. While these computers look like any other laptop from the outside, they incorporate the most high-tech processors, memory and audio/video technology available.
The laptop computer industry is a multi-billion dollar affair. It is estimated that over 300 million laptops have been sold world-wide over the last two years alone. If one were to assume that all 300 million of these laptops were simple, inexpensive models, it would generate approximately 200 billion dollars in sales. If one were to figure in those that bought top-of-the-line laptops, that sales figure would be exponentially higher. What makes these numbers even more impressive is the fact that originally, laptop computers were thought to only be appealing for a limited number of applications. Obviously, time has proven that there is a much larger market for these computers than was originally envisioned.
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