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The Laptop Computer Evolves

Laptop computer - wait a minute. That's a very weird name all things considered. I have a very high regard for my lap and all that's involved, and I suspect most people do. Just like I'd want to be real careful with McDonald's coffee so it doesn't end up in my lap, I'm not going to put a notebook computer in my lap no matter what anyone calls it. In fact, I'll go so far as to suggest that anyone who actually does put a laptop computer in their lap is probably not fit to be walking around without a minder.

Now laptop computers are marvelous devices for the terminally mobile who just have to be able to check their email on airplanes or work like a dog on a beach, or who just want to have a really convenient way to watch DVDs when they're traveling. But. Cramming all those components into a laptop computers skinny case does lead to some thermal issues. First off the limited space makes cooling a problem. Yeah, the laptop has got a fan, but it just doesn't do a whole lot. Nearly every component using some electricity is generating some waste heat as a by-product of the work it does. Probably the CPU is the major heat source. All those little tiny circuits the electrons have to push through generate some serious heat. the bottom of laptop computer is HOT. It definitely doesn't go on my lap.

My current laptop computer is about 4 years old and still running well. It has enough power to do almost everything I need except high end graphic editing. And it's been remarkably resistant to environmental and power system problems that have killed off several of my desktop systems. I attribute this to two main factors. First, the case is pretty well sealed and the fan does push a reasonable amount of air through it without allowing a lot of room for annoying insects or choking on the dust (no, I'm not going to explain that, but I will say that nice roomy, relatively cooler desktop systems here tend to attract some annoying insects and collect dust). Second, while I normally have my laptop connected to the power grid, it runs off a big nasty iron core transformer (the original electronic power supply died, no doubt as a result of power variations that got through the stabilizer). Essentially my laptop computer is pretty well protected from problems on the power grid. You might think a line stabilizer should be sufficient to protect your computer, but my experience says it ain't so. Power grid to stabilizer to transformer offers more protection.

I don't understand why the transformers use din desktop systems don't provide the same kind of protection, but they don't seem to. My laptop gets hot even when I have it sitting on an aluminum heat radiator. And, from time to time my fan has started to make very weird sounds (this is supposedly a result of overheating and it does seem to be). My current laptop is an HP Compaq Presario 900 model. But my first laptop computer was something else again.

Back in the dark ages (mid 1980's), I needed a machine I could use to connect into a mid-size system at work, and I ended up with an IBM Convertible. Interesting machine. No hard drive of course. Back then an external 10 megabyte HD ran about 1500 bucks. 64KB of main memory and a floppy drive. It had a built in modem which was one reason I got it. A 300 baud modem (remember, dark ages). But, you know what, I could dial in from home, log onto the machine at work and actually do some useful work. In those long gone days, programs were very tightly written and ran in ridiculously small memory spaces. It wasn't much good as gaming machine though. I still have that first laptop computer stashed away safely for when it becomes a priceless relic in the history of the computer revolution.

Most of you reading this will have no idea of how amazing a laptop computer like the IBM Convertible was back in it's day. Today's laptop computer is like a 2007 Ferrari compared to the original Ford Model T. And the real winner is you, because it doesn't cost like a Ferrari. Laptop computers are now essentially ridiculously cheap for the quality and capacity you get. Sure, you will have to pay a premium over a similar desktop system because of the more expensive manufacturing techniques and the use of specialized components, but that premium has been steadily shrinking with every new generation of laptop computer. Looking back, it is absolutely mind boggling what you can get today for far less than I paid for that IBM Convertible laptop computer.

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