The reason why laptops are called notebooks.

[Weenus]

Ok someone told me the reason why laptops no longer are called laptops is because people were using them on their laps, n they gave off radiation which gave them leg tumers or something along those lines and the companies got sued, kinda like cell phones.

Then i heard that wasn't true but because the heat given off from the laptops makes men infertile, which makes alot more sence to me.

Either way im too paranoid to use my laptop err notebook on my lap, or stomache or anything...

Does anyone know why the name was changed???

 

[Trippytiger]

I use my laptop on my lap. It's a P4-M, too.

I don't really think that the term notebook has replaced laptop; I see both being used about equally. It would be interesting to know if there's supposed to be any distinction between the two, though.

 

[phaxmohdem]

I always thought that laptopa was the term for the smaller actually portable units, while notebooks were the larger heavier models that ussually need to sit on a desk. Besides, if you're a regular to this forum you don't need fertility anyways

 

[Weenus]

Originally posted by: phaxmohdem
I always thought that laptopa was the term for the smaller actually portable units, while notebooks were the larger heavier models that ussually need to sit on a desk. Besides, if you're a regular to this forum you don't need fertility anyways

lol ouch, does 15 posts count as a regular?

 

[corkyg]

Notebook is a more generic, technically accurate term because many of the new ones are simply too big to use on one's lap - and they can get pretty darn hot as well - espcially those with non-mobile processors. Laps are really not recommended because that can impede proper cooling due to blocked air circulation below. But - you can use any term you like as long as you are understood.

 

[BlingBlingArsch]

in the early 80`s Toshiba copyrighted the word laptop. the word was a just a marketing name Toshiba and IBM came up with to associate with their smaller (Din A4) and lighter (4-5kg) portable computers. Those were contrasting the existing notebooks like the Commodore SX-64 (10kg) and other heavyweights (Mac Portable 15kg http://www.klg.de/compmu/comppics/portable.jpg) . The Toshiba T-1100 laptop, a nine-pounder with two disk drives and 256 kilobytes of memory sold in 1985 was one of the very first laptops. Inside, it boasted a 4.77-megahertz Intel, pricing 4-5k. http://www.computerpartner.de/imgserver/bdb/106000/106051/detail.jpg
4.77mhz...that cries for an oc.

 

[eastvillager]

they were originally called laptops.

then companies started trying to make significantly smaller ones, and needed some marketspeak to get the point across, so they tried to differentiate by calling the smaller/lighter machines noteboooks.

It never really 'took'.


sorta like hacker vs. cracker. we're all hackers now, black hats and white hats.

 

[vegetation]

Does anyone know why the name was changed???

Marketing. No other reason.

 

[Paul Stamatiou]

radiation? I thought the whole deal was because it gets hot and thats bad for your balls.

 

[Weenus]

Originally posted by: Paul Stamatiou
radiation? I thought the whole deal was because it gets hot and thats bad for your balls.

So is that true???

 

[ssvegeta1010]

Weenus- That is true, but only if it gets excessively hot. (i.e. A P4 notebook) A Turion or Dothan notebook would be fine to have on your lap. If it starts feeling too hot, turn up the fans, or take it off of your lap.

 

[BlingBlingArsch]

copyright laws

 

[Foghorn]

blame a lawyer somewhere

 

[Rottie]

Originally posted by: phaxmohdem
I always thought that laptopa was the term for the smaller actually portable units, while notebooks were the larger heavier models that ussually need to sit on a desk. Besides, if you're a regular to this forum you don't need fertility anyways

I disagree with you about notebooks were the larger heavier models I had Dell Latitude XP4200 it is very small and very lighter so I often wonder if laptop is heavier than notebook..you might notice why Apple iBook (i"BOOK") is small notebook.

 

[Hacp]

Ok, remember those old school notebooks? Thats how small most of today's 12 inchers are.

 

[Paul Stamatiou]

Originally posted by: Hacp
Ok, remember those old school notebooks? Thats how small most of today's 12 inchers are.

old school notebooks... like a compaq armada?

 

[piasabird]

This is just a technical nomenclature. Generally a notebook is lighter, smaller, and thinner and suppose to be more portable.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Oh who cares

 

[jaykleg]

A long time ago there were portables and laptops. The term laptop indicated that the system a) could be battery operated, and b) could be held on the lap while in use. When I first paid attention to anyone using the term "notebook" a number of years later it was Dell, and their response to my query about the nomenclature was that they used the term notebook to indicate that the system was NOT a laptop. (It shouldn't be used on the lap, due to cooling considerations.)

A lot of the notebook systems these days have cooling slots and fans mounted on the bottom. Not a good idea to block those by holding them on the lap. Obviously you can use them on the lap if you take the precaution of providing good ventilation (lap board, whatever).

I like the term "notebook" because it irks me when people talk about getting a "labtop". Duh. How do they get labtop from laptop?

On the other hand fbrdphreak is right. Who really gives a flyin' freep what they're called?

 

[HermDogg]

Laptop comes from a latin phrase meaning "don't drop this." They're called as such because in the old days there only used to be desktops, called so because if you put them on a table or a chair or god forbid, your lap, they would shoot deadly beams into your eyes and then explode. And no one wants that.

 

[ValuedCustomer]

Originally posted by: vegetation
Marketing. No other reason.

:thumbsup:

 

[Epimetheus64]

Originally posted by: HermDogg
Laptop comes from a latin phrase meaning "don't drop this." They're called as such because in the old days there only used to be desktops, called so because if you put them on a table or a chair or god forbid, your lap, they would shoot deadly beams into your eyes and then explode. And no one wants that.

:laugh: One of mine exploded last year.