| we hear the word `notebook` the first thought that | | | | Today notebook refers to laptops that can have |
| strikes our grey matter is a writing device in the | | | | their windows reversed to make it into a notebook |
| form of a book usually made of paper. We generally | | | | and can be written on like a tablet. It can be used |
| imagine it in various forms like notepad, writing pad, | | | | for making handwritten notes in class or to make |
| or simply a scrapbook. Its use is generally determined | | | | sketches and drawings that can later be used as |
| by its size - not forgetting the general saying `the | | | | notes. |
| smaller, the better`. | | | | What makes the notebook indispensable is its |
| The concept (of notebooks) which started as a | | | | portability, efficiency coming next to it. Today we |
| collection of leaves somewhere in ancient Rome has | | | | are not under the constraints of working for fixed |
| today taken the shape of a latest electronic device | | | | hours in office; our work can come home with us, |
| called the `laptop`. Laptops were named `notebooks` | | | | thus, providing us with a more comfortable and |
| probably because of their small size inspite of the | | | | relaxed environment. Other than that the notebook |
| fact that originally they did not have any note-taking | | | | occupies the least possible space on the desk and |
| ability. | | | | saves us from the tangles of wires. To top it all the |
| Initially laptops had integrated screen and keyboard | | | | sleek, sensuous look of the portable notebooks |
| and were more like `suitcase computers` but with | | | | makes it the most desirable asset today. |
| advancements in technology they kept getting | | | | As the saying goes, if you want to gain something |
| smaller in size with enhanced features. Laptops were | | | | you should be ready to lose some too. Here the |
| referred to as notebooks when they had condensed | | | | loosing factor comes in the face of money. This |
| in size comparable almost to a paper notebook. | | | | piece of sophisticated technology is twice as |
| Moving a step further we got something called PDA`s | | | | expensive as its desktop counterpart or sometimes |
| (Personal Digital Assistants) which were a little larger | | | | even more than that. But since all good things come |
| than portfolio notebooks and were named `notebook` | | | | in small packages, the notebook as well should be |
| to differentiate them from general laptops. In | | | | accepted with its exorbitant price realizing the fact |
| common man`s words these were called `Palm tops`. | | | | that it is paving the way for a simpler and efficient |
| The quest for comfort did not end with the PDA`s. | | | | future. |
| Moving a step further we got a much better and | | | | Despite the notebooks being smaller and elegant, it is |
| advanced version of PDA s called the `Tablet PC`s`. | | | | a bitter fact that it can never completely take over |
| Tablet PC`s are laptops or rather notebooks that | | | | the desktop. The reason being the deficiency of |
| have a special pen and software with which we can | | | | space to fit in all the components and the lack of |
| interact with the screen directly. So it was a kind | | | | escape routes for heat. Moreover upgrading the |
| where we can actually write on with a pen - a real | | | | hardware in a notebook becomes an overpriced task |
| master piece in the world of science! Here the screen | | | | and can be done much easily and reasonably in a |
| itself is used as the Input-Output device rather than | | | | desktop. |
| the Mouse or the Keyboard. Moreover these PDA`s | | | | Inspite of these various shortcomings the fact |
| and Palmtops use flash memory and they do not use | | | | remains that the era of literature and arts has been |
| the same OS or hardware as used by the typical | | | | succeeded by the scientific era with computer being |
| laptop and notebooks. | | | | at the centre of this renaissance. |