How Mini Notebooks Came To Be
People love taking things on-the-go. And they love smaller versions of the real thing. One of the first real instances of this was the portable CD player. When they arrived, we no longer wanted to listen to music at home or in the car, because now we could listen to it in the grocery store. Yeah, thats right, the grocery store (Sounds strange, but I know a woman whos done that). Or how about popcorn chicken, or Pop Tarts, or iPods? All of these are examples of things we as humans have created to suffice our need to take things with us.
And now, the mini notebook -- a miniature version of a laptop (sometimes called a "netbook") which is more useful for its wireless capabilities rather than its program usage. The Mini Notebook craze is blowing up the nation. These new notebooks are lighter, cheaper and faster than anyone would have ever anticipated. With breakthroughs in portable technology, we now have a new way of thinking about computers with high speeds on low cost/small-sized devices.
The Network Computer The idea for the netbook can be traced back to the Network Computer of the 1990s. Oracle developed a desktop computer that relied solely on its programming. That is, it had no external drives or disk inputs. This was an idea that was simply a decade ahead of its time. Not only were desktop computers becoming more and more as essential to a home as a microwave, but the fastest Internet speed at the time only ran at 28.8 kb/s, much too slow for the Network Computer to be of any use. Of course, this idea was scrapped.
One Laptop Per Child In 2005, the One Laptop Per Child organization was founded. Their goal was to create cheap laptops to educate children in developing countries. After a couple years, they achieved their goal, and by Christmas, 2007, the XO-1 laptop was available. It sold for 188 dollars per unit, when purchased by thousand. They were extremely durable and have a long battery life. This new laptop made great strides for the mini notebook, and many more were to follow.
Eee PC Following the XO-1, ASUS created what became the standard in mini-notebooks. They called it the Eee PC and it weighed only 2 pounds with a 10 inch screen. Shortly after, bigger brand name companies began developing their own and by late 2008, mini notebook sales started taking money away from normal laptop sales.
The craze has just begun, and with the world's love for portability, we can assume that we have much more in store. Laptops will continue to get smaller and lighter and faster because we are living on the cutting edge of technology.
Related Reading:
Laptops For DummiesLaptops For Dummies, 3rd Edition shows you how to use your laptop to its fullest potential, from how to purchase a laptop and what to do when you first open the box to how to keep your laptop safe and running smoothly. You will discover how to choose and purchase the right laptop for you, how to set up and maintain your laptop, customize user accounts, adding your laptop to networks, printing, and connecting to the Internet. In this updated and revised edition, find information about synchronizing with the desktop, coordinating email pickup between two machines, remote access to the desktop, networking, power management, storage, and especially laptop security. You’ll find out how to:
- Navigate all your laptop’s components
- Use keyboard shortcuts and a mouse
- Organize and manage files and accounts
- Print files and add your laptop to a network
- Properly equip your laptop carrying case with tools and resources
- Manage the power supply
- Add software tools to synchronize and update files between a laptop, a PDA, and a desktop or office server
In addition to the basics, find lists of ten battery tips and tricks, ten handy laptop accessories, and ten things you should keep in your laptop carrying case in Laptops for Dummies, 3rd Edition, a convenient and handy guide!
Laptops Just the Steps For DummiesYou’ll get the straight, simple lessons that you need to effectively use your Vista powered laptop in Laptops Just the Steps For Dummies. Get where you need to go with a minimum of steps! This book lays out a specific goal and helps you achieve it with a series of lessons, paired with tips and graphics to illustrate the task. You can read this book from cover to cover or skip to the parts that you need to know. In a flash, you will understand the basic parts, switches, and drives that make up your laptop. You’ll learn how to operate the main functions of Windows Vista, like managing user accounts, navigating the system, and working with files, folders, software, and devices. You’ll learn how to create media and connect to the Internet with or without wires! You’ll discover how to troubleshoot and patch your operating system. You will find out how to:
- Clean and maintain your laptop
- Operate Windows Vista and manage its options
- Create and store media
- Set up a router, connect to a network, and go wireless
- Sync data and create backups
- Browse safely
- Troubleshoot hardware and software and patch your operating system
Laptops Just the Steps For Dummies provides you with all of the information you need to work more efficiently than ever before!
Upgrading and Repairing Laptops (3rd Edition)While pricing for laptops has come down considerably in recent years, they still represent a significant expense and pose a number of challenges for the user who wants to upgrade their laptop as opposed to simply buying a new one. Scott Mueller uses laptops exclusively now and has assembled the only resource for upgrading and repairing laptops ever published! Beyond cutting edge, Scott goes where no computer book author has gone before - right past all the effusive warranty stickers, hidden screws and the fear factor to produce a real owner's manual that every laptop owner should have on his/her desk. Scott demystifies the laptop, shows you the upgrades you can perform, the ones that are better left to the manufacturer and how to use add-on peripherals to make the most of your laptop. This book is perfect if you've ever wondered what goes on inside your portable PC, how to upgrade/repair your PC or how to live on the road with it, then this is the one must-have book of the year!
- Scott digs elbow-deep into laptops and shows readers how to upgrade, repair and hotrod their laptop and peripherals!
- This is the owner's manual that should be sold with laptops!
- Never-before-seen video shows you the inside of a laptop and what makes it tick
- Extensive coverage of new dual-core laptops, which make laptops every bit as powerful as a desktop
