Laptop

Now that the iPad has come out, many people have wondered where the future of clam-shell design laptops
will go. Thankfully, designers still have many ideas that will work
particularly well for laptops in coming years. Not everything is
possible in reality yet, but make no mistake: what designers come up
with today is what engineers will make reality in the future.

One idea is to make the clam-shell laptop design hold dual touch-screens, rather than a keyboard side
and a screen side. One of the touch screens could also have a tactile
feedback system; when used as a keyboard, it feels like a
real keyboard. Another idea is to use a display that isn't on a
screen, but relayed to a wall in the house. You could even use
flexible screens to allow your laptop to be rolled up when not used.
(Such screens are available with today's technology, though they are
not touch-sensitive.) A common feature of new designs is to reduce
the size of pretty much everything involved. With a heads-up
projected display, the hardware can get smaller in each iteration
while maintaining the same size display. All of these ideas are of
course just futuristic design ideas, and do not even have working
prototypes available.

The Canova design uses an innovative
way of combining the classic clamshell design with new dual-screen
abilities. Created by Milan design firm V12 Design in 2008, the dual
touch-screen displays can also be held as a book, or even laid flat
to have a single maximal touchscreen. Although many other futuristic
designs are possible (as seen in the previous paragraph), what makes
V12's Canova design special is that Estari, a laptop manufacturer in
the United States, was so impressed with their design that they decided to see
what they could make out of materials available today. Their result
is the second generation Canova, a dual screen laptop that hinges at
a different place than traditional clamshell designs.

The second generation Canova improves
on the first design by allowing the system to be maneuverable in was
the first design couldn't. Each of the 15.4-inch screens can be
locked into positions relative to the other. This makes the dual screen
laptop capable of acting as an easel, propping up as though it were a
backward clamshell design, or even as a dual laptop, allowing two
users to work simultaneously.

Estari claims that they will be able to
release the laptop at a $400 price point. Many experts doubt this claim, especially since it sports dual touch screens of
significant size. However, if they can afford to get it out at that price,
then it will likely be very successful with consumers from all budgets and walks of life.

The Notebook Estari Canova dual-head is
currently still under development, but it should be available
commercially sometime in the next year or two.

The iPad is not
a laptop. Unlike other tablets, Apple's new iPad just isn't even
trying to do all the things another computer might. Yes, you can use
the iPad to write up documents, play music or podcasts, and enjoy
games of all kinds. However, you may do these things only through the applications that are
purchasable in the app store. While a great many different apps are
certainly available (with more to come each day), you should not
expect the software you are used to using to be available on the
iPad.

This
is not to say that the iPad isn't a great device on its own merits. Yet, you should not purchase it thinking that it will do the same job
as another tablet might. Most specialized needs new laptop purchasers
have--whether it be for real estate, tax preparation, or even
business presentations--cannot readily be had with the iPad. This is
because specialized needs are usually run by specialized programs,
which generally are available only on specific platforms. In the
future, the app store may start offering programs suited to high-end
professional needs, but until then, the iPad just isn't capable of
doing everything your laptop can.

Unlike
a laptop computer, which allows you to do whatever computing need you
require on the go, the iPad is geared more toward light computing of
a different kind. The iPad will go places your laptop never would,
and will allow you to do many things in many places that you never
could do with your old laptop. But this is no substitute for a good
laptop computer. Typing for extended periods on a non-tactile screen
just isn't the same as having a full-size keyboard, and even if you
use the keyboard attachment, it still doesn't quite live up to what
you need when doing serious work. The iPad is geared more toward
casual usage, and any true business use will be optimized only in
places where you need an absolute minimum of computing power and a
maximum of portability.

With
all that said, most computer experts and enthusiasts have fallen for the iPad
fever. If you're familiar with the iPhone/iPod Touch interface, then
you'll already be well aware of how the iPad handles, and of how it
differs from a typical tablet computer. The iPad is an ingenious
device that creates its own market space, rather than competing
against other laptops for the same share of the market. If you're not
already familiar with using an iPhone or iPod Touch, I highly
recommend you try out the iPad before rushing out and purchasing one. If you are unable to imagine life before your iPhone,
then the iPad is probably for you. It will then only take a few test runs of book-reading and game-playing
before you also partake of the Apple iPad Kool-Aid. Just remember
that it isn't a laptop, and is definitely not a substitute for doing
real work on the go.

It wasn't until the early 1970s that
“portable” computers finally shrunk in size enough to be truly
considered a laptop computer. The Dynabook, though never built beyond
a semi-operational test model, had the form factor more akin to a
tablet computer than the flip-screen laptop architecture we are so
used to today. Resembling an iPad more than anything else, the
Dynabook had a miniature keyboard built in beneath a rudimentary
screen, and was intended as a personal computer that would be aimed
at mainly children's use. The designer, Alan Kay, more recently
developed the One Laptop Per Child project, somewhat fulfilling his
dream over 35 years later.

Despite this early design
prototype, it wasn't until a full decade had passed that the first
true laptop went on the market. The Osborne 1, first released in
1981, was the size of a full briefcase (poorly designed as being just
a bit too large to fit under an airline seat), yet only sported a
tiny 5-inch screen in the middle of its bulky frame. At $2,000, it was
certainly not cheap. However, considering the price of much larger
computers, it was seen as a steal. Although small enough to literally
be used on one's lap, the computer was not very portable, since it
required power from a standard wall plug to operate.

The Osbourne 1 sold well, and was
imitated wildly by competitors that popped up months after release.
On the success of its premiere unit, the Osbourne Computer
Corporation announced the Osbourne Executive, a new laptop design
that took all the positives from the Osbourne 1 and corrected many of
its predecessor's flaws. Unfortunately, when they announced the
successor, sales of the former computer plummeted; no one wanted to
purchase a computer that was about to become obsolete. The lost sales
forced the company into bankruptcy, and the Osbourne effect is still
spoke of today as a cautionary tale in when not to announce a new
product line upgrade.

Although some taut the Osbourne 1 as
the first laptop, its sheer size and shape made it uncomfortable at
best for being used on an actual lap. By contrast, the GRiD Compass,
introduced in 1982, sports the clamshell architecture that we all
associate with laptops today. Although few remember it today because
of its failure to sell in the consumer market, the United States
government took it as their standard portable computer, and used it
in locations as diverse as paratrooper backpacks to NASA space
shuttles.

The GriD Compass was truly a laptop in
every sense of the word, and performed very well for its time. The
main reason it did not succeed in the open market was not lack of
features, performance, or portability—it was because it ran its own
operating system, and was not IBM compatible. Data could not be
easily transferred from larger non-portable IBM computers to the GriD
Compass, and consumers didn't like this.

Laptop computer sales languished behind
their desktop counterparts for the next six years. Users didn't see a
need to bring computing power on the go, while manufacturers didn't
bother trying to create a need no one was sure would pay off. It
wasn't until 1987 when the US Government put in a 200,000 order for
laptops that computer companies first took laptops seriously.
Afterward, the need for laptops was created through innovative
advertising campaigns, and laptops became ubiquitous among computer
users.

Many of us are forgoing the days of owning desktop computers and working primarily with mobile laptop computers instead. However, the old-school desktop computer still has its uses: particularly as a media center. But what if you don't own a desktop yet still want to stream media to a television? Simple: use your laptop!

I regularly talk to people who have no idea of the true power their laptops have. They don't know that these mobile machines are media centers in their own right. Many can easily output 720p or 1080p video to that HDTV sitting in your living room.

The big question is, of course, how could you do this. Well, first off, you need to check on a few things to make sure it is possible. Mainly, you need to ensure that your laptop has the necessary outputs to render a picture to your television.

You will want to check your computer's ports, as there should be either a Mini-DVI, DVI, VGA, Mini-VGA, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, or Mini-HDMI port (yeah, lots of possibilities here) located on the side or rear of your laptop. Having one of these is crucial in being able to use your laptop as a media center. Barring that, I am going to assume you have one of these ports (if not, it might be time to consider an upgrade).

Once you have found one of these ports, you are in business. The only thing left is to connect your computer to your television. This is where it can get a bit complex, and you will probably have to spend a few bucks or do some online shopping, but it isn't as bad as it sounds.

First off, I prefer purchasing a computer port to television port cable with the adaptation built into the cord, but sometimes this is not possible. However, if you are able to find one of these cables (as apposed to purchasing a stand-alone adapter and having to attach it to your television or laptop), it will make things much simpler.

As for audio, you need to read the instruction manual on how your laptop computer outputs audio, and you might want to look up how many channels it outputs as well. Many laptops offer audio output directly from the headphone jack or even a dedicated port.

In my case, I own a two-year-old Macbook, and it has a Mini-DVI port and it outputs surround sound from the headphone jack. After determining this, I went onto Amazon and purchased a Mini-DVI to HDMI (female) adapter, 3.5mm to Digital Fiber Optic Audio TosLink cable, and HDMI cable. The total cost, at the time, was around $16 for for everything, so that wasn't bad at all.

In any case, I would opt for HDMI, but for older televisions, this might not be an option. Choose to your own needs accordingly.

All recent laptops should be capable of outputting 720p or 1080p video as well as 5-channel surround sound.

All you need to do is ensure that you have the proper ports and that the computer actually does output these signals.

Once you get everything setup, you might need to tinker with the settings in your display preferences for both Mac and Windows, but you should have a picture on your television. After that, you could simply play your movies from the laptop and maximize the screen, or you could install media center software like XMBC or Boxee.

So, you finally have everything running now, right? However, let me quickly mention some of the pitfalls of using a laptop as a media center.

The first issue is that you'll need to have the laptop wired up in a hackish fashion. You'll likely need to have it plugged into a power source, the video converter, the audio converter, and, even then, you'll need to run these wires to the display. It is not going to look pretty, no matter how you handle this. Again, it won't be pretty, but it will work.

Another issue that became quickly apparent is that this will make your computer run hot — very, very hot. I have seen my Apple Macbook approach 85-degrees celsius when it normally runs, at max, at around 72-degrees celsius. It is sometimes concerns me that I am somehow reducing the life of the laptop at temperatures that high. So, this is something worth thinking about.

The final issue with using your laptop as a media center is that, quite simply, it isn't convenient. Does the thought of having to pull out a few cables, connecting them to your laptop, finding a place to put your laptop, setting up your laptop to play the movie, and then potentially having to stand up and come to the laptop to control it (if you don't own a remote) sound appealing, especially when wanting to just sit down, relax, and enjoy a movie at that very moment?

Those are some pretty big tradeoffs, but, again, you don't own a dedicated media center, this laptop solution could be for you.

I currently do this as I don't own a dedicated media center, and didn't feel the need to buy a media center extender — although I eventually plan on purchasing one. This solution is very affordable, and, as I've said numerous times before, it isn't convenient, but it works!

The Sony VAIO E Series has some new additions to the family — two new notebooks. There is a 14- and 17- inch notebook, and both pack some power in a small yet stylish package.

Both laptops are taking advantage of the latest technologies within the processor and graphics departments, and they are certainly well capable of accomplishing most of what needs to be done on your typical laptop. These notebooks are also fully capable of displaying HD video content.

The E Series brings with it some cool Sony-specific features: the WEB button allows users to start surfing the Web without booting into the PC's operating system with Quick Web Access and the ASSIST button gives users one-touch access to support for diagnosing and troubleshooting problems with VAIO Care.

The 14" laptop offers an Intel Core i3-330M 2.13GHz processor, 4GB DDR3 SDRAM (running at 1066 MHz), 14-inch 16:9 VAIO Display (1600 x 900 resolution) with LED backlight, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5145 graphics card with 512MB VRAM, and a weight in at around five pounds.

The 17" laptop steps it up a bit with an Intel® Core i5-430M 2.26GHz processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology (making it a max speed of 2.53 GHz), 4GB DDR3 SDRAM (1066 MHz), 17.3” 16:9 VAIO Display (1920 x 1080 resolution) with LED backlight, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 graphics card with 1GB VRAM, and weighs around seven pounds.

Both laptops come with a 500 GB drive, but you could easily expand it to 1 TB if needed, as there are two hard drive slots.

Finally, these Sony laptops sport impressive designs that come in various color options: glossy black, glossy white, vivid pink, blue, and green.

Depending on your location, the VAIO E Series 14-inch notebook will be available beginning in April, and the 17-inch model will be available around around the end of March.

There have been a number of weird laptop designs over the years. From the “ebook”, LG's badly named laptop, which runs on liquid fuel rather than a rechargeable battery, to ThinkPad's 755, whose screen can be removed and put on an overhead projector, laptop designers have tried a number of strange things to make their laptop stand out.

Perhaps the most strange of these odd designs is the Xentex Flip-pad Voyager, a 2002 laptop that is one of the largest laptops that any manufacturer has tried to get away with building. The Voyager is a full 19.5 inches wide by 14 inches tall when unfolded, and it sports dual 13.3 inch displays that are fully maneuverable in any direction. Yes, that's right: this laptop has two screens, each of which is usable with separate keyboards as two computers.

Just in case your eyes merely scanned over the nineteen and a half inch width s-tat, it may be worth it to clarify just how big this monster is. Not only does it sport a full-size keyboard, but also a numbers keypad on one side and a function-key 5x5 grid on the other. This means there are 23 keys across the top of the keyboard. Compare that to the keyboard you use on your desktop machine, and you may start to get an idea of just how big this laptop really is.

At twelve and a half pounds, it's a little heavy to use as a real mobile laptop, but perhaps this can be forgiven due to the fact that two people can use it simultaneously. And since both the screens and the keyboard portions fold in half, the laptop can be folded over twice, making it take up much less space when carrying it along.  In fact, when folded up completely, the Voyager is actually much smaller than laptops that come in at half the width.

The Voyager's initial press releases from 2002 seem to indicate that it's aimed at a presentation crowd. Dual display connectors allow it to have four screens simultaneously, which is way more extreme than any other laptop before or since. It's unclear how well these sold, but the fact that almost no one remembers them today is proof enough that they didn't sell very well on the open market.

With an 850Mhz processor and 128MB of RAM, this computer certainly isn't strong enough to do much of anything in today's processing power heavy world. But the games of one-on-one Doom matches on this machine were probably epic. If you want to recreate the experience, though, make sure you have a floppy drive to install with.

If you really do want one, you may have quite a search on your hands.  It's a bit difficult to find one on the market these days. In late 2008, an unbootable Flip-pad Voyager sold on eBay for $99. On the one hand, that seems a bit expensive for a laptop case that doesn't even boot up. But then again, it seems pretty cheap for a weird laptop design that'll surely be a great conversation piece.

It's easy to be overwhelmed when shopping for utilities for your new laptop, as most software stores feature an entire aisle full of packages with fancy titles.  And simply having a good antivirus package is not enough anymore. What is a savvy computer owner to do?

Enter Iolo's System Mechanic (www.iolo.com), which is really many programs rolled into one, all synchronized to work together to keep your laptop or netbook working like new. 

System Mechanic 9.5 allows you to fix, clean, and optimize your system with one-click of your mouse.  It first analyzes your system to find common problems, reports the issues to you, then allows you to click a button called Repair All to fix everything at once.  You can choose either a Quick or a Deep analysis to start your optimization - depending on how much time you want to wait before you see results and how many issues you think your machine has.

A winner of many awards including Cnet's Editors Choice, System Mechanic's features a registry cleaner, disc defragmentation tool, a junk files cleanup tool, an Internet speed optimizer, a utility that cleans and recovers orphaned RAM or random access memory, and a Startup Optimizer that turns off unneeded programs that run at startup which slows your boot time. 

The patent-pending Active Care program optimizes your PC during idle time, allowing it to run like a new machine all the time, without your valuable time being spent manually cleaning it. 

If you want to be able to control these fix-it processes, System Mechanic gives you the option to do it yourself - utility-by-utility.  

Although there are many good choices for utilities available, System Mechanic consistently ranks among the top, and at $39 for use with up to 3 PCs - it is a great value too. 

A few years ago, the word netbook didn't really mean anything. But look at what it now represents: it is the savior of PC sales around the globe. These stripped down notebook computers trade power for mobility, but it is obviously a change that consumers haven't worried about. But guess what? All that is coming to an end, and I couldn't be happier!

As you might have figured already, there are some qualms I have with netbooks.

One big issue is that the pricing of these devices is highly inconsistent. Some of these netbook computers cost twice as much as regular notebooks with several times more power, speed, and features. Logically, that makes no sense whatsoever. But, quite ridiculously, consumers paid for them in 2009 anyways. However, analyzing the stupidity of consumeristic behavior is another blog in of itself. Still, paying more for less doesn't make sense, and consumers will eventually come around to realize that.

There is also the problem of size — these things are too small! I know I don't have the smallest hands in the world, but when friends of mine with ridiculously small hands can't type on these things, it makes wonder who these netbooks were created for. If a company is going to create a product, it might as well be usable from, if anything, an input perspective. These things can only get but so small before they become a pain to work with. And don't get me started on the screen sizes either. Yeah, size matters.

Today's netbooks simply are not the solution. They are overpriced pieces of hardware with yesteryear's performance. It feels like we are taking one step forward and two steps back.

But those are only a few of the issues I have with netbooks — there are many more where that came from, but I'll spare you the details.

However, it is understandable as to why people want netbooks: we like simple things. Many people fire up a computer and go directly to the browser and nothing else, which is why Google's Chrome OS is so interesting. But even I have my reservations about that.

The eWeek staff sums up the whole situation best with their coverage of the IDC PC Market Prediction for 2010:

The loser is the mininotebook, or netbook. The research firm says 2009 was the climax for netbook market growth and share, pointing to falling prices of portable PCs and lack of differentiation when stacked up against a fully loaded PC.

They even go on to say that desktops will possibly make a comeback, which certainly is the much better value. But I'm thinking more powerful yet affordable laptops from manufacturers like Asus, Toshiba, and HP will be making a big impact in 2010. Then again, there are also those tablet computers.

While this isn't as dramatic as the tablet vs. laptop debate, I think the end the netbook is on its way. Sure, sales will continue, and perhaps, miraculously, they might even improve in 2010, but eventually consumers will realize that netbooks in their current forms are a poor investment. At least, I hope they will.

In 1888, the first patent for an electronic device that could capture handwriting was introduced — a precursor to modern day tablet. Since then, there have been a myriad of attempts to capture the marketplace with tablet-style computers. While innovative, the efforts so far have been commercial failures. Yet Apple, Microsoft, and others intend on stirring up this market. You'd think they were out to replace laptops. Are they?

As we all know, all our gizmos are becoming getting smaller in size. Especially computers. A quick glance at Apple's Macbook Air or Dell's Adamo XPS offers testament to that. Eventually, we will have a laptop that is as thick as a few sheets of paper. How can you possibly improve upon that?

There's Apple. While not being the first company to attempt a tablet computer, Apple has revived the idea that you could chop off the keyboard and add a touch-friendly interface to arrive with a thing we call the tablet (or slate).

The Players

We all know how it goes. Once Apple does something, everyone else wants to get in on the action: Dell, Asus, Lenovo, HP, Sony, and others are all scraping together ideas and resources to put together tablet computers, without any proof that they will sell (yet documentation of failure is aplenty). Of course, Apple has a large consumer base that will purchase anything the company puts to market, so this time is different.

Unlike the iPhone, however, the competition is already close on Apple's heels. And there are quite a few noteworthy tablets coming out this year:

The Apple iPad, while not the first tablet, is the reason why this article even exists. This is the hype machine. This is the leader of the pack. The iPad will be the one that is going to be the benchmark for comparison (as fair or unfair as that is) for a long time.

Microsoft's attempt at tablet computing seems to be far more unique and specialized than the other products with the Microsoft Courier. This tablet appears to be aimed at students and professionals who need to take notes, conceptualize ideas, and be productive.

Dell's foray into tablet computing results in the Streak (aka Dell Mini 5). It's intriguing because of the Android operating system and close relationship with Amazon. We are also hoping it will be on the affordable side.

Finally, the Lenovo Ideapad U1 Hybrid is not only a tablet — it is a laptop as well. It is two computers in one. The best of both worlds; the crème de la crème. It should appeal primarily to those consumers who are in the market for both laptop and tablet.

If tablet computers are going to succeed this time around, those are the products you will want to keep your eyes on, after their release, to gauge the interest levels of tablet computing.

Why the Tablet Makes Sense

There are a few reasons why a tablet makes sense in most people's homes. Let's say you are sitting on your couch, wanting to look something up on the Web. Do you really need a full fledged laptop to accomplish this? Not really. For one, you have to go grab the laptop, open it up, turn it on, open the browser, get to the page, and so on. Okay, so it isn't really that bad, but you get the idea.

However, with a tablet, you can just grab the thing, boot it up, fire up the browser, and find what you need. Not only will it take up less space and be less distracting, but it is simply more convenient.

Also, if you have ever sat your laptop on the edge of a couch only to witness it fall to the floor by the gentle nudge of a pet, you'll understand why a laptop for casual use can be a pain.

So the tablet could easily serve as a device for casual use. But what about for serious computing?

Why the Laptop Won't Be Replaced

There are also reasons why a tablet can't, in their current forms, replace laptops.

One issue is that there is no way on Earth that I (or most other human beings) would be able to type out an article like this on a tablet (or any touch screen for that matter). The input, while touch-friendly, isn't typist-friendly. The technology that will allow users to type as easily on a screen as a keyboard has not been developed, and until it is, the laptop will reign supreme.

Also — and maybe this is just me — I don't know if would want to take a tablet out to the local Starbucks to do work on it. It does not seem like a device I would want to take out of the home. I don't know why this is exactly, but that's my feeling towards tablets. Maybe someone else has a different view on the matter, but not others seem to disagree.

I also question the durability of these devices. I've known so many people who have said that they have broken up to four iPod Touch devices, iPhones, and other touch-screen devices. You just have to believe that there are going to be people complaining of cracked iPads. I can already envision someone sitting down on the couch and hearing the crunch of $500+ down the drain. It's enough to make a grown man cry.

The Verdict

But today's newest gadgets are being created to solve specific problems: like eReaders, smartphones, and netbooks. The iPad tablet, along with other competition in the tablet arena, is aimed at being that device that you could (and possibly should) casually use around the home. Perhaps these tablets will set the standard of casual usage in the future (and I don't think many would mind that). However, when it comes to business and text-intensive activities, the laptop is (and will be) king — for now.