The laptop computer has been a very popular form of technology for a long time, but, that is changing fast. The laptop and notebook both provided freedom of movement compared to the aging desktop monster with the CRT display. They were both easy to transport, cheaper, and were more energy efficient. But, they provided the familiar mouse and keyboard that was considered essential for a computer to be useful; that was, until the tablet, iPhone and Android, total wireless communication, and touchscreens. And, now comes the revolution. Well, change is more appropriate than revolution, but there will be some adjustments.
But, for all of the joy of small, light, devices, there was still a desire to have a keyboard to do "real work". And, although there are third party peripherals to allow us to attach a keyboard, some form of integration seemed like the next step.
And what some are calling a hybrid laptop is the current technology coming down the road. These "laptops" have a dock that can be transported or left at home as needed. There are already several iterations and there is a good roundup at retrevo here. But, that is not the end of the story. There is a lot riding on the OS and how it will complement the transformation. Microsoft will be selling Windows 8, (Formally called Metro UI), later this month. And, it uses the tiles familiar to tablet and phone users, with a touchscreen, but will also work with older laptops as well. See the writeup from PCWorld here.
Generally I look forward to change but there are still concerns about the wireless infrastructure and security to think about. There is still no better mousetrap here yet. And for those who abhor change, the laptop will be around for some time. By the way, you can still buy a desktop computer if you need a really heavy paperweight!
But, for all of the joy of small, light, devices, there was still a desire to have a keyboard to do "real work". And, although there are third party peripherals to allow us to attach a keyboard, some form of integration seemed like the next step.
And what some are calling a hybrid laptop is the current technology coming down the road. These "laptops" have a dock that can be transported or left at home as needed. There are already several iterations and there is a good roundup at retrevo here. But, that is not the end of the story. There is a lot riding on the OS and how it will complement the transformation. Microsoft will be selling Windows 8, (Formally called Metro UI), later this month. And, it uses the tiles familiar to tablet and phone users, with a touchscreen, but will also work with older laptops as well. See the writeup from PCWorld here.
Generally I look forward to change but there are still concerns about the wireless infrastructure and security to think about. There is still no better mousetrap here yet. And for those who abhor change, the laptop will be around for some time. By the way, you can still buy a desktop computer if you need a really heavy paperweight!
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