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AA
Major Project Study Report OnMajor Project Study Report On
TitledTitled
A STUDY OF CUSTOMERA STUDY OF CUSTOMER
PURCHASE DECISION TOWARDS LAPTOPS.PURCHASE DECISION TOWARDS LAPTOPS.
(Special Reference to Udaipur)
Submitted in partial fulfillment for theSubmitted in partial fulfillment for the
Award of degree ofAward of degree of
Master of Business AdministrationMaster of Business Administration
Submitted toSubmitted to
Rajasthan Technical University, KotaRajasthan Technical University, Kota
(www.rtu.ac.in)(www.rtu.ac.in)
Session 2008-2010Session 2008-2010
Under the Guidance of:Under the Guidance of: Submitted By:Submitted By:
Mr. Mukesh KumawatMr. Mukesh Kumawat Jitendra MehraJitendra Mehra
Project Guide & FacultyProject Guide & Faculty MBA IVMBA IVthth Sem.Sem.
Vision School of ManagementVision School of Management(Affiliated to Rajasthan Technical University & Approved by A I C T E)(Affiliated to Rajasthan Technical University & Approved by A I C T E)
Udaipur Road, Chittorgarh (Raj.)Udaipur Road, Chittorgarh (Raj.)
E-mail:E-mail: [email protected][email protected]
Website:Website: www.visionmanagement.orgwww.visionmanagement.org
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PrefacePreface
This MRP is prepared as the partial fulfillment for Two-Year degree Program of
MBA curriculum ofRajasthan Technical University, Kota. It is expected from an MBA to
possess a good communication & effective presentation skills.
Objectives of the project report, these are:-
It is uphold the dignity of individual
It is honor all commitments
It is committed to quality, Innovation and growth in every endeavor
It is responsible Corporate Citizens.
The research provides an opportunity to a student to demonstrate application of his/her
knowledge, skill and competencies required during the technical session. Research also helps
the student to devote his/her skill to analyze the problem to suggest alternative solutions, to
evaluate them and to provide feasible recommendations on the provided data. Although I
have tried my level best to prepare this report an error free report every effort has been made
to offer the most authenticate position with accuracy. This report contains a number of
additional features:
Introduces electronic industry in India, general c electronic manufacturing
process, SWOT analysis, price & profit to the firm, trend & players, domestic
players, market opportunities for investment & company profile & objectives of
the report.
On conceptual framework which related to electronic market (in the public sector,
interpretative models.
On data analysis & interpretation related to electronic products.
On observation & finding, conclusions & suggestion related to research
methodology, data analysis & interpretation which consider the topic of
A STUDY OF CUSTOMER PURCHASE DECISION
TOWARDS LAPTOPS.
A bibliography in project report is provided at the end that should serve as good
sources of reference material for learners & researchers in the area.
An annexure appears at the end of the report that provides some useful sources of
information on the Internet regarding project report. This should prove to be a welcome
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features for those persons who would like to access the net for more information on issues
covered in this project report.
DECLARATIONDECLARATION
This is to certify that Market Research Project Report on A STUDY OF
CUSTOMER PURCHASE DECISION TOWARDS LAPTOPS. (Special Reference
to Udaipur)submitted by me in Masters of Business Administration Program from Vision
School Of Management, Chittorgarh [Rajasthan Technical University, Kota] is my
original work and the project report has not formed the basis for the award of any
diploma, degree, associate ship, fellowship or similar other titles. Embodies the originalwork done by me under the able guidance and supervision of Mr. Mukesh Kumawat
(Guide & Faculty) Vision School of Management, Chittorgarh.
No part of this report has been produced from any other summer project, monograph,
report or book and all facts and figures have been confirmed by organizational guide.
------------------------------ ------------------------------Mukesh Kumawat Jitendra Mehra
Project Guide M.B.A. IV Sem.
Date--------------------- Date-------------------
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The successful completion of a Market Research Project Report
requires guidance & help from a number of people. I was fortunate
to have all the support from my teachers. I therefore take this
opportunity to express my profound sense of gratitude to the all
those who extended their whole hearted help and support to me in
completing the project study report work on
A STUDY OF CUSTOMER PURCHASE DECISIONA STUDY OF CUSTOMER PURCHASE DECISION
TOWARDS LAPTOPS.TOWARDS LAPTOPS.
(Special Reference to Udaipur)(Special Reference to Udaipur)
I also expressmy deep sense of gratitude to Mr. Mukesh Kumawat (Guide
& Faculty), who has helped us to do our project. We also thank to other faculty of
VSM & respondentsfor his valuable help in each stage of the project. Because of
his co-operation and continuous guidance successful completion of this project
study report was made possible.I am sincerely thankful to Dr. A.L. Jain (Director, Vision School of
Management) for allowing me to undertake the report and making
available all facilities for the successful completion of the report
besides guiding me to pursue the study on proper line.
I also express my deep sense of gratitude towards Miss. Nisha
Jain, Mr. Vibhor Paliwal, Mr. Rahul Jain, Mrs. Pratibha
Pagaria, Ms. Shobhika Tyagi (Faculty), P.L. Dashora
(Librarian) & all faculty members.
No Acknowledge would suffice for the support my family members, my training
colleagues, classmates & friends.
Lastly, I extend my thanks to all those whose name have not been mentioned way in
successfully carrying out the project report.
ThankingYou:
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Jitendra Mehra
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARYEXECUTIVE SUMMARY
India's premier information, enabling specifies requirements for a quality management
system where an organization needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide
product and services that meets customer and applicable regulatory requirements.
The menu of Industry global services broadly covers IT consulting and professional
services in the area of vertical applications, technology integration, ERP implementation
and software development. This also includes a complete portfolio of systems and
network services for development. This also includes a complete portfolio of systems and
network services for Facilities Management, Helpdesks, Systems Supports and network
and Internet Implementation.Computer Industry customers include Samsung, Government of Singapore, and AMAL
insurance Jurong Port in Singapore and Malaysians BSN commercial bank, SIA, DBS
bank, Maybank life assurance charted semiconductors.
Electronic Industry chosen platform of total technology integration lends itself to some
very significant alliances with the global leaders.
Today the industry has aligned its operations into five entities that offer seamless linkages
for the customers seeking entry into the wired world through total the. Integrationsolution ands services.
The industry focuses on the ever-growing segment in Imaging, Telecom and
Communication products solutions and services. Now it has an exclusive sale and
support.
The Industry Managed Network Service offerings for corporate include VPNs,
ASP offerings, Co Location/ hosting, CDNs, security, corporate internet telephony
solutions, technical and consumer help desks, 24/7 Network Operations Centre
monitoring and a host of value added networking services. Consumer services include
dialup PSTN/ISDN Internet access, Valufon calling cards and VoIP telephony devices.
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Table of ContentTable of Content
Certificate I
Preface II
Declaration III
Acknowledgement IV
Executive Summary V
Table of Contents VI
Chapter No. TITLE PAGE NO.
1 Industry Introduction 1-31
A Company Profile & Their Products 32-55
2 Conceptual Framework 56-74
A Review of Literature 75-87
3 Research Methodology 88-90
A Data Analysis & Interpretation 91-108
Finding & Conclusion 109
Suggestion 110
Bibliography 111
Annexure 112-114
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Chapter No.: 01Chapter No.: 01
OVERVIEW OF THE
INDIAN ELECTRONIC MARKET
ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY IN INDIA
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Historical Developments
The Electronics Industry in India took off around 1965 with an orientation
towards space and defence technologies. This was rigidly controlled and initiated by
the government. This was followed by developments in consumer electronics mainly
with transistor radios, Black & White TV, Calculators and other audio products.
Colour Televisions soon followed. In 1982-a significant year in the history of
television in India - the government allowed thousands of colour TV sets to be
imported into the country to coincide with the broadcast of Asian Games in New
Delhi. 1985 saw the advent of Computers and Telephone exchanges, which were
succeeded by Digital Exchanges in 1988. The period between 1984 and 1990 was the
golden period for electronics during which the industry witnessed continuous and
rapid growth.
From 1991 onwards, there was first an economic crises triggered by the Gulf
War which was followed by political and economic uncertainties within the country.
Pressure on the electronics industry remained though growth and developments have
continued with digitalisation in all sectors, and more recently the trend towards
convergence of technologies. After the software boom in mid 1990s India's focus
shifted to software. While the hardware sector was treated with indifference by
successive governments. Moreover the steep fall in custom tariffs made the hardware
sector suddenly vulnerable to international competition. In 1997 the ITA agreement
was signed at the WTO where India committed itself to total elimination of all
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customs duties on IT hardware by 2005. In the subsequent years, a number of
companies turned sick and had to be closed down. At the same time companies like
Moser Baer, Samtel Colour, Celetronix etc. have made a mark globally.
Current Scenario
In recent years the electronic industry is growing at a brisk pace. It is currently worth
US$ 32 Billion and according to industry estimates it has the potential to reach US$
150 billion by 2010. The largest segment is the consumer electronics segment. While
is largest export segment is of components. The electronic industry in India constitutes
just 0.7 per cent of the global electronic industry. Hence it is miniscule by
international comparison. However the demand in the Indian market is growing
rapidly and investments are flowing in to augment manufacturing capacity.
The output of the Electronic Hardware Industry in India is worth US$11.6 Billion at
present. India is also an exporter of a vast range of electronic components and
products for the following segments
Display technologies
Entertainment electronics
Optical Storage devices Passive components
Electromechanical components
Telecom equipment
Transmission & Signaling equipment
Semiconductor designing
Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS)
This growth has attracted global players to India and leaders like Solectron,
Flextronics, Jabil, Nokia, Elcoteq and many more have made large investments to
access the Indian market. In consumer electronics Korean companies such as LG and
Samsung have made commitments by establishing large manufacturing facilities and
now enjoy a significant share in the growing market for products such as Televisions,
CD/DVD Players, Audio equipment and other entertainment products.
The growth in telecom products demand has been breathtaking and India is adding 2
million mobile phone users every month! With telecom penetration of around 10 per
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cent, this growth is expected to continue at least over the next decade. Penetration
levels in other high growth products are equally high and growth in demand for
Computer/ IT products, auto electronics, medical, industrial, as well as consumer
electronics is equally brisk. Combined with low penetration levels and the Indian
economy growing at an impressive 7 per cent per annum, the projection of a US$150
Billion+ market is quite realistic and offers an excellent opportunity to electronics
players worldwide.
Electronic Manufacturing Services
India is well-known for its software prowess. But on the hardware front, the progress
is rather slow. However, the country has been making gains in this sector also. lready,
50 Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS)/Original Design Manufacturers
(ODMs) providers are operating in India, ranging from global players including
Flextronics and Solectron to indigenous firms including Deltron, TVS Electronics and
Sahasra. Further moves by international players are expected to add production in
India in the coming years. Indias contract-manufacturing business is expected to
nearly triple in revenue over the next five years, a development that will present both
opportunities and potential pitfalls for the worldwide electronics supply chain.Revenue generated by Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) providers and
Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) in India will expand to $2.03 billion in 2009,
rising at a CAGR of 21 per cent from $774 million in 2004. Indian EMS/ODM
revenue grew by 20.8 per cent to reach $935 million in 2005. Obvious allure of
locating electronics production in India is the nations low labor costs. Labor costs for
conducting electronics manufacturing in India are between 30 to 40 per cent less than
in the United States or in Western Europe. Other equally important benefits from
operating in India include a fast-growing domestic market, an excellent education
system, the nations technology parks and the recent improvements in the countrys
transit and utility infrastructure.
However, the Indian contract-manufacturing industry is not expected to pose a
significant threat to Chinas position as the epicenter of electronics manufacturing in
the short term. Indias contract manufacturing activities primarily serve the nations
indigenous demand.
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OEMs primarily outsource manufacturing to cater to the Indian domestic market,
although export of Indian-assembled electronic goods does occur. In the longer term,
i.e. 2009 onward, it is predicted that India may compete with the Chinese providers in
select products as the nations share of the global electronics market increases.For
OEMs, using contract manufacturing services in India can help them penetrate the
local market. However, OEMs face specific risks associated with using contract
manufacturers in India. Fluid exchange rates combined with volatile oil and
component prices lead to unpredictable costs. Changing government policies along
with shifting government regimes also contribute to an unpredictable political
environment. Doing business in India is often disjointed, with an inefficient
bureaucratic system that causes frequent delays. However, for OEMs able to manage
these risks, the opportunity in India is significant. The semiconductor fabrication
segment has a small existing base in India with only two fabrication units, which both
are developing chips for the defense and strategic sectors. However, semiconductor
suppliers are expanding their manufacturing activities in India to serve the growing
contract-manufacturing industry in the nation. As evidence of this trend,
groundbreaking commenced on a 200 mm fabrication unit in Hyderabad operated by
Nano-
Tech Silicon India Ltd.
Electronic Contract Manufacturing Revenue
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Recent trends show that an increasing number of engineering and design activities are
also being outsorced to EMS companies and they are becoming ODMs (Original
Design manufacturers) and also provide final system integration and logistical support
E&Y have projected that India can target a share of 1 per cent in North America, 2 per
cent in Western Europe, 4 per cent of Asia and 5 per cent of Rest of the World of the
Electronics Manufacturing Services market. Thus India can target 2.2 per cent of the
world-wide electronics EMS market of US$497 Billion by 2010 which works out to a
potential of US$11 Billion.
The recent acceleration in EMS activity is mainly due to rapid growth in the electronic
Hardware market in all segments particularly rapid growth has taken place in Telecom
Infrastructure Equipment, computers, Consumer & Hand held devices.
Behind the impressive growth of the electronics industry is the robust and consistent
growth in Electronic Hardware market of approximately 25 per cent due to a stable
economy & large middle class of 350 million people. The fastest growing segments
are demand for telecom services particularly cell phones, internet subscribers &
growth in demand for it products with increasing penetration of computers, falling
prices & Government support to rapidly encourage usage of IT in all sectors. Within
next 5 years penetration of telephone users (both landline & mobile) is projected to
increase from 100 to 500 per thousand while PC's increase from 10 to 30 plus per
thousand. Some of the other factors are Highly talented workforce, especially for
design and engineering services with good
communication skills.
Rising labor costs in China.
Presence of global Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) majors in India and
their plans for increased investments in India.
More outsourcing of manufacturing by both Indian and global Original Equipment
Manufacturers
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Production Trend of Different Segments
Consumer Electronics
Consumer electronics (durables) sector continues to be the main stay of the Indian
electronic industry contributing about 32 per cent of the total electronic hardware
production. By the end of 2005-06, the market for consumer durables (including
entertainment electronics, communitarian and IT products) was Rs 180 billion (US
$4.5 billion). The market is expected to grow at 10 to 12 per cent annually and is
expected to reach Rs 60 billion (US$13.3 billion) by 2008. The urban consumer
durables market is growing at an annual rate Corporate Catalyst India A report on
Indian Electronics Industry of seven to 10 per cent, the rural durables market is
growing at 25 per cent annually. Some high-growth categories within this segment
include mobile phones, TVs and music systems.
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Computer Industry
With sound macroeconomic condition and buoyant buying sentiment in the market,
PC sales touched 6.5 million units during 2006-07. The high growth in PC sales is
attributed to increased consumption by Industry verticals such as Telecom, Banking
and Financial Services, Manufacturing, Education, Retail and BPO/IT-enabled
services as well as major e- Governance initiatives of the Central and State
Governments. Significant consumption in the small and medium enterprises and
increased PC purchase in smaller towns and cities was witnessed during the year. It is
expected that increased Government focus on pan-India deployment of broadband at
one of the lowest costs in the world will soon lead to accelerated PC consumption in
the home market. The growing domestic IT market has now given impetus to
manufacturing in India. The year witnessed not only capacity expansion by the
existing players, but also newer investments in hardware manufacturing. India is also
high on the agenda of electronics manufacturing services companies.
This is now a matured industry sector in the country at least as far as various
application segments is concerned. State-of-art and reliable SCADA, PLC/Data
Acquisition systems are being applied across various sections of the process industry.
Latest AC drive systems from smaller to very high power levels also find application
in large engineering industries like steel plants and/or metal industries. World class
UPS systems are being manufactured in the country to cater to the need of the
emerging digital economy. However, it appears there is really no manufacturing base
in the country for the whole range of the latest test and measuring instruments which
are invariably procured from outside. A good number of Indian companies in the
control and instrumentation sector are able to acquire orders for export systems
through international competitive bidding.
However, the creation of knowledge base in the country through industrial R&D in
this critical sector has not been improving as desired. There is still lack of needed
R&D activities by the industry looking at the global market. On the part of
Department of Information Technology some of the latest technology development
and applications in this area include Intelligent SCADA Systems for monitoring andcontrol of Mini Hydel plants, Advanced Traffic Control System for urban
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tranPCation, Intelligent Power Controllers for improvement of quality of electric
power, etc. These systems have been successfully developed and applied in real field
conditions.
Communication & Broadcasting Sector
The telecommunication industry has gained tremendous recognition as the key driver
for all round development and growth. With about 256 million telephone subscribers
(as on Corporate Catalyst India A report on Indian Electronics Industry February,
2007) India has emerged as one of the largest in the world and second largest in Asia.
The share of private sector in telecom industry has increased to more than 57 per cent
and the contribution of mobile telephony has gone upto 63 per cent on December,
2007. Buoyed by the better-than-expected teledensity in 2005 (11.4 per cent against
8.6 per cent in 2004) due to the mobile boom in India, Department of
Telecommunications (DoT) has revised the upwards the target of 22 per cent
teledensity by 2007. Broadband connectivity is holding tremendous potential in the
country. It is expected that the number of broadband subscribers would reach 20
million by 2010. India has emerged as the second largest market for mobile handsets.
Following the unprecedented growth in the mobile market, a number of companies are
planning to set up production base for mobile hand sets in the country for meeting
local as well as export markets. Direct to Home (DTH) broadcast service has gained
more and more popularity during 2005. DTH service is available through National
Broadcaster and private DTH service provider. Better quality digital broadcast
reception is now available almost everywhere in the country to the common people on
their TV sets through the use of small dish antenna and a Set-Top Box (STB).
Strategic Electronics
Though the government has started the process of getting private sector involved in
the production of strategic electronics equipments, the private involvement is at its
nascent stage. The estimated market for strategic electronics in India during 2005-06
was Rs.32 billion and 95 per cent of this was done by the public sector unit Bharat
Electronics Limited (BEL).
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Electronic Components
The total production of components was estimated at Rs. 88 billion during 2005-06.
The colour picture tube production is likely to be around 11 million, a decline from
11.2 million in the last year. The production of B&W picture tubes declined further
due to decreased market for B&W TVs. The components with major share in the
export are CD-R, CPTs, PCBs, DVD-R, connectors, semiconductor devices, ferrites,
resistors, etc. Significant developments took place during the year in the area of colour
picture tubes and colour glass parts. Another CPT manufacturer successfully launched
manufacture of pure flat tubes, leading to availability of flat tubes from three
indigenous sources. The CPT units continued expansion of capacities to improve
further their global competitiveness. Two more lines were commissioned during the
year, one for manufacture of large size flat colour Corporate Catalyst India A report
on Indian Electronics Industry picture tubes and the second for small size. Two more
lines are likely to come up next year. Keeping pace with the downward trend in prices
of color TVs, the prices of CPTs also fell.
Production Trend of Different Segments
Computers Communication
& Broadcast
Equipment
One of the CPT
manufacturers
successfully developed a
prototype of the 42 Plasma Display
Panel. This marked a major achievement of a milestone in the area of developing from
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green field a Technology development initiative in a Hi Tech area. The focus of
development was in optimizing the Plasma Display Cell design to achieve the desired
parameters of Contrast and Brightness, achieving high speed response times and
parallely designing the Scan and sustain driver boards to match the Panel parameters.
A fully functional video Controller was also designed and developed to match the
Logic Circuits of the PDP Panel. In the year 2006, the company plans to begin selling
commercially the PDP Panels developed completely inhouse and the focus there on
will be to create low cost products through Technological breakthroughs. The color
glass parts manufacturer implemented major expansion of its capacity to meet
increased local requirement due to substantial growth in CPT production. The unit
also started manufacture of glass parts for pure flat tubes as the demand for such tubes
increased due to one more unit launching production during the year. Both the existing
manufacturers of B/W glass parts continued the production of colour funnels in their
existing lines. They were also planning to make large investment to set up
manufacturing facilities for colour panels in near future. A number of existing units
imported capital goods under various schemes for expansion of their capacities in
PCBs, connectors, cable assemblies, colour picture tubes, compact disc, glass parts for
colour picture tubes, etc. Corporate Catalyst India A report on Indian Electronics
Industry The serviceable market for professional grade components such as PCBs,
semiconductor devices, connectors, wound components, antennas, etc., is likely to go
up due to launch of manufacture of mobile handsets in the country.
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History of Laptop Computers - History
Left - Modern Laptop Today
It is a little hard to determine what was the first portable or laptop
computer, the first portable computers did not look like the book-
sized and folding laptops that we are familiar with today, however,
they were both portable and lapable, and lead to the development of notebook style
laptops. I have outlined several potential firsts below and how each qualifies, many of
the off-site links provide good photos of the computers that will let you see the
progression in design.
The First Laptop? Maybe
Designed in 1979 by a Briton, William Moggridge, for Grid Systems Corporation, the
Grid Compass was one fifth the weight of any model equivalent in performance and
was used by NASA on the space shuttle program in the early 1980's. A 340K byte
bubble memory lap-top computer with die-cast magnesium case and folding
electroluminescent graphics display screen.
HP Mini 210 NotebookSuperior Entertianment Computing, Stunning Notbook
Designs, Visit Us!www.HP.com/IN/mini210
Gavilan Computer As The First Laptop?
Manny Fernandez had the idea for a well-designed laptop for executives who were
starting to use computer. Fernandez, who started Gavilan Computer, promoted hismachines as the first "laptop" computers in May 1983. Many historians consider the
Gavilan as the first fully functional laptop computer.
The First Laptop Computer - Osborne 1
The computer considered by most historians to be the first true portable computer was
the Osborne 1. Adam Osborne, an ex-book publisher founded Osborne Computer and
produced the Osborne 1 in 1981, a portable computer that weighed 24 pounds and cost
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$1795. The Osborne 1 came with a five-inch screen, modem port, two 5 1/4 floppy
drives, a large collection of bundled software programs, and a battery pack. The short-
lived computer company was never successful.
More History of Laptop Firsts Also released in 1981, was the Epson HX-20, a battery powered portable
computer, with a 20-character by 4 line LCD display and a built-in printer.
In January of 1982, Microsoft's Kazuhiko Nishi and Bill Gates begin
discussions on designing a portable computer, based on using a new liquid
crystal display orLCD screen. Kazuhiko Nishi later showed the prototype to
Radio Shack who agree to manufacture the computer.
In 1983, Radio Shack released the TRS-80 Model 100, a 4 lb. battery operated
portable computer with a flat and more of a laptop design.
In February 1984, IBM announced the IBM 5155 Portable Personal Computer.
Three years later in 1986, Radio Shack released the improved and smallerTRS
Model 200.
In 1988, Compaq Computer introduces its first laptop PC with VGA graphics -
the Compaq SLT/286.
In 1989, NEC UltraLite was released, considered by some to be the first
"notebook style" computer. It was a laptop size computer which weighed under
5 lbs. (second photo)
In September 1989, Apple Computer released the first Macintosh Portable that
later evolved into the Powerbook. (second photo)
In 1989, Zenith Data Systems released the Zenith MiniPC, a 6-pound laptop
computer. (more Zenith laptops)
In October 1989, Compaq Computer released its first notebook PC, the
Compaq LTE.
In March 1991, Microsoft released the Microsoft BallPoint Mouse that used
both mouse and trackball technology in a pointing device designed for laptop
computers.
In October 1991, Apple Computers released the Macintosh PowerBook 100,
140, and 170 - all notebook style laptops. (more on Powerbooks)
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In October 1992, IBM released its ThinkPad 700 laptop computer.
In 1992, Intel and Microsoft release APM or the Advanced Power Management
specification for laptop computers.
In 1993, the first PDAs or Personal Digital Assistants are released. PDAs are
pen-based hand-held computers.
Laptop
A laptop is a personal computerdesigned formobile use and small and light
enough to sit on a person's lap while in use. A laptop integrates most of the typical
components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device
(a touchpad, also known as a trackpad, and/or a pointing stick), speakers, and often
including a battery, into a single small and light unit. The rechargeable battery (if
present) is charged from an AC adapterand typically stores enough energy to run the
laptop for two to three hours in its initial state, depending on the configuration and
power management of the computer.
Laptops are usually notebook-shaped with thicknesses between 0.71.5 inches
(1838 mm) and dimensions ranging from 10x8 inches (27x22cm, 13" display) to
15x11 inches (39x28cm, 17" display) and up. Modern laptops weigh 3 to 12 pounds
(1.4 to 5.4 kg); older laptops were usually heavier. Most laptops are designed in the
flip form factor to protect the screen and the keyboard when closed. Modern tablet
laptops have a complex joint between the keyboard housing and the display,
permitting the display panel to swivel and then lie flat on the keyboard housing.
Laptops were originally considered to be "a small niche market" and were
thought suitable mostly for "specialized field applications" such as "the military, the
Internal Revenue Service, accountants and sales representatives". But today, there are
already more laptops than desktops in businesses, and laptops are becoming obligatory
for student use and more popular for general use. In 2008 more laptops than desktops
were sold in the US.
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History
The Epson HX-20
As the personal computer became feasible in theearly 1970s, the idea of a portable personal
computer followed. A "personal, portable
information manipulator" was imagined by Alan Kay at Xerox
PARC in 1968 and described in his 1972 paper as the "Dynabook".
The IBM SCAMP project (Special Computer APL Machine Portable), was
demonstrated in 1973. This prototype was based on the PALM processor (Put All Logic In
Microcode).The IBM 5100, the first commercially available portable computer, appeared in September
1975, and was based on the SCAMP prototype.
As 8-bit CPU machines became widely accepted, the number of portables increased rapidly.
The Osborne 1, released in 1981, used the Zilog Z80 and weighed 23.5 pounds (10.7 kg). It
had no battery, a 5 in (13 cm) CRT screen and dual 5.25 in (13.3 cm) single-density floppy
drives. In the same year the first laptop-sized portable computer, the Epson HX-20, was
announced.[5] The Epson had a LCD screen, a rechargeable battery and a calculator-size
printer in a 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) chassis. Both Tandy/RadioShack and HP also produced portable
computers of varying designs during this period.
The first laptops using the flip form factor appeared in the early 1980s. The Dulmont
Magnum was released in Australia in 1981-82, but was not marketed internationally until
1984-85. The 8150 US$GRiD Compass 1100, released in 1982, was used at NASA and by
the military among others. The Gavilan SC, released in 1983, was the first notebook
marketed using the term "laptop". From 1983 onward, several new input techniques were
developed and included in laptops, including the touchpad (Gavilan SC, 1983), thepointing
stick(IBM ThinkPad 700, 1992) and handwriting recognition (Linus Write-Top, 1987). Some
CPUs were designed specifically for low-power use including laptops (Intel i386SL, 1990),
and were supported by dynamic power management features (Intel SpeedStep and AMD
PowerNow!) in some designs. Displays reached VGA resolution by 1988 (Compaq SLT/286)
and 256-color screens by 1993 (PowerBook 165c), progressing quickly to millions of colors
and high resolutions. High-capacity hard drives and optical storage (CD-ROM followed by
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CD-R and CD-RW and eventually by DVD-ROM and the writable varieties) became
available in laptops soon after their introduction to the desktops.
Classification
The general terms "laptop" or "notebook" can be used to refer to a number of classes of small
portable computers:
By purpose and (approximately) by screen
size:
Desktop replaelectronic emphasizes
performance, is less portable, 15" and
larger screen;
Standard laptop balances
portability and features, 13-15" screen;
Subnotebook emphasizes portability,has fewer features, 12" or smallerscreen.
By features:
Budget a cheap, lower-performance
standard-sized laptop;
Tablet PC Has a touch-screen
interface, may or may not have a
keyboard;
Netbook A budget subnotebook
suited to Internet surfing and basic
office applications. Usually has a 9" or
10" screen.
Gaming laptop - A larger laptop with a
powerful graphics card for playing
graphics-intensive computer games. Rugged Engineered to operate in
tough conditions (strong vibrations,
extreme temperatures, wet and dusty
environments).
Desktop replaelectronic
Dell XPS M140 Laptop.
A desktop replaelectronic computer is a laptop that provides most of the
capabilities of a desktop computer, with a similar level of performance.
Desktop replaelectronics are usually larger and heavier than standard laptops.
They contain more powerful components and have a 15" or larger display.[11] Because of their
bulk, they are not as portable as other laptops and their operation time on batteries is typically
shorter; instead, they are meant to be used as a more compact, easier to carry alternative to a
desktop computer.
Some laptops in this class use a limited range of desktop components to provide better
performance for the same price at the expense of battery life; in a few of those models, there
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is no battery at all and the laptop can only be used when plugged in. These are sometimes
called desknotes, a portmanteau of the words "desktop" and "notebook," though the term can
also be applied to desktop replaelectronic computers in general.
In the early 2000s, desktops were more powerful, easier to upgrade, and much cheaper in
comparison with laptops. But in the last few years, the advantages have drastically changed
or shrunk since the performance of laptops has markedly increased. In the second half of
2008, laptops have finally outsold desktops for the first time ever. In the U.S., the PC
shipment declined 10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008. In Asia, the worst PC shipment
growth went up 1.8 percent over the same quarter the previous year since PC statistics
research started.
The names "Media Center Laptops" and "Gaming Laptops" are also used to describe
specialized members of this class of notebooks.
Subnotebook
Sony VAIO P series subnotebook.
A subnotebook, also called an ultraportable by some
vendors, is a laptop designed and marketed with an
emphasis on portability (small size, low weight and longer
battery life) that retains the performance of a standard
notebook Subnotebooks are usually smaller and lighter than standard laptops, weighing
between 0.8 and 2 kg (2 to 5 pounds); the battery life can exceed 10 hours when a large
battery or an additional battery pack is installed.
To achieve the size and weight reductions, ultraportables use high resolution 13" and smaller
screens (down to 6.4"), have relatively fewports, employ expensive components designed for
minimal size and best power efficiency, and utilize advanced materials and construction
methods. Some subnotebooks achieve a further portability improvement by omitting an
optical/removable media drive; in this case they may be paired with a docking station that
contains the drive and optionally more ports or an additional battery.
The term "subnotebook" is usually reserved to laptops that run general-purpose desktop
operating systems such as Windows, Linux orMac OS X, rather than specialized software
such as Windows CE, Palm OS orInternet Tablet OS.
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Netbook
Netbooks are laptops that are light-weight, economical, energy-efficient and
especially suited for wireless communication and Internet access. Hence the name netbook
(as "the device excels in web-based computing performance") rather than notebook which
pertains to size.
With primary focus given to web browsing and e-mailing, netbooks "rely heavily on the
Internet for remote access to web-based applications"[19] and are targeted increasingly at cloud
computing users who rely on servers and require a less powerful client computer. While the
devices range in size from below 5 inchesto over 12, most are between 7 and 11 inches and
weigh between 0.9 - 1.4 kg (2-3 pounds).
Netbooks normally use light-weight operating systems such Linux and Windows XP.
Because they're very portable, Netbooks have a few disadvantages. Because the netbooks are
thin, the first such products introduced to the market had their primary internal storage in the
form of solid-state drives and not hard disks, which are essential to installing very many
programs. Hard disk drive technology and form factors have since been adapted to fit into
netbooks.
Given their size and use of more rudimentary components compared to notebooks and
subnotebooks, netbooks also generally have a smaller-capacity hard drive, slowerCPU, and a
lower-profile RAM capacity.
Recently, Google has announced to be developing an own operating system called Chrome
for this market.
The big breakthrough for netbook computers did not happen until the weight,
diagonal form-factor and price combination of < 1 kg, < 9", < U.S. $400, respectively,
became commercially available at around 2008.
Rugged laptop
A Panasonic Toughbook.
A rugged (or ruggedized) laptop is designed to reliably
operate in harsh usage conditions such as strong vibrations,
extreme temperatures, and wet or dusty environments.
Rugged laptops are usually designed from scratch, rather
than adapted from regular consumer laptop models.
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Rugged notebooks are bulkier, heavier, and much more expensive than regular laptops, and
thus are seldom seen in regular consumer use.
The design features found in rugged laptops include rubber sheeting under the keyboard keys,
sealed port and connector covers, passive cooling, superbright displays easily readable in
daylight, cases and frames made of magnesium alloys that are much stronger than plastic
found in commercial laptops, and solid-state storage devices or hard disc drives that are
shock mounted to withstand constant vibrations. Rugged laptops are commonly used by
public safety services (police, fire and medical emergency), military, utilities, field service
technicians, construction, mining and oil drilling personnel. Rugged laptops are usually sold
to organizations, rather than individuals, and are rarely marketed via retail channels.
ComponentsMiniaturization: a comparison of a desktop computer
motherboard (ATX form factor) to a motherboard from a
13" laptop (2008 unibody
Macbook)
Inner view of a Sony Vaio
laptop The basic components oflaptops are similar in function to their desktop counterparts, but
are miniaturized, adapted to mobile use, and designed for low power consumption. Because
of the additional requirements, laptop components are usually of inferior performance
compared to similarly priced desktop parts. Furthermore, the design bounds on power, size,
and cooling of laptops limit the maximum performance of laptop parts compared to that of
desktop components.
The following list summarizes the differences and distinguishing features of laptop
components in comparison to desktop personal computer parts:
Motherboard Laptop motherboards are highly make and model specific, and do not
conform to a desktop form factor. Unlike a desktop board that usually has several
slots forexpansion cards (3 to 7 are common), a board for a small, highly integrated
laptop may have no expansion slots at all, with all the functionality implemented on
the motherboard itself; the only expansion possible in this case is via an external port
such asUSB. Other boards may have one or more standard, such as ExpressCard, or
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proprietary expansion slots. Several other functions (storage controllers, networking,
sound card and external ports) are implemented on the motherboard.
Central processing unit (CPU) Laptop CPUs have advanced power-saving features
and produce less heat than desktop processors, but are not as powerful.[29]There is a
wide range ofCPUs designed for laptops available from Intel (Pentium M, Celeron
M, Intel Core and Core 2 Duo), AMD (Athlon, Turion 64, and Sempron), VIA
Technologies, Transmeta and others. On the non-x86 architectures, Motorola and
IBM produced the chips for the former PowerPC-based Apple laptops (iBook and
PowerBook). Some laptops have removable CPUs, although support by the
motherboard may be restricted to the specific models.[30] In other laptops the CPU is
soldered on the motherboard and is non-replaceable.
A SODIMM memory module.
Memory (RAM) SO-DIMM memory modules that are
usually found in laptops are about half the size of desktop DIMMs.
They may be accessible from the bottom of the laptop for ease of upgrading, or
placed in locations not intended for user replaelectronic such as between the keyboard
and the motherboard. Currently, most midrange laptops are factory equipped with 3-4
GB ofDDR2 RAM, while some higher end notebooks feature up to 8 GB of DDR3
memory. Netbooks however, are commonly equipped with only 1 GB of RAM to
keep manufacturing costs low.
Expansion cards A PC Card (formerlyPCMCIA) orExpressCard bay for expansion
cards is often present on laptops to allow adding and removing functionality, even
when the laptop is powered on. Some subsystems (such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or a
cellular modem) can be implemented as replaceable internal expansion cards, usually
accessible under an access cover on the bottom of the laptop. Two popular standards
for such cards are MiniPCI and its successor, the PCI Express Mini.
Power supply Laptops are typically powered by an internal rechargeable battery that
is charged using an external power supply. The power supply can charge the battery
and power the laptop simultaneously; when the battery is fully charged, the laptop
continues to run on AC power. The charger adds about 400 grams (1 lb) to the overall
"tranPC weight" of the notebook.
Battery Current laptops utilizelithium ion batteries, with more recent models using
the new lithium polymer technology. These two technologies have largely replaced
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the older nickel metal-hydridebatteries. Typical battery life for standard laptops is
two to five hours of light-duty use, but may drop to as little as one hour when doing
power-intensive tasks. A battery's performance gradually decreases with time, leading
to an eventual replaelectronic in one to three years, depending on the charging and
discharging pattern. This large-capacity main battery should not be confused with the
much smaller battery nearly all computers use to run the real-time clockand to store
the BIOS configuration in the CMOS memory when the computer is off. Lithium-ion
batteries do not have a memory effect as older batteries may have. The memory effect
happens when one does not use a battery to its fullest extent, then recharges the
battery. New innovations in laptops and batteries have seen new possible matchings
which can provide up to a full 24 hours of continued operation, assuming average
power consumption levels. An example of this is the HP EliteBook 6930p when used
with its ultra-capacity battery.
Video display controller On standard laptops the video controller is usually
integrated into the chipset. This tends to limit the use of laptops for gaming and
entertainment, two fields which have constantly escalating hardware demands.
Higher-end laptops and desktop replaelectronics in particular often come with
dedicated graphics processors on the motherboard or as an internal expansion card.
These mobile graphics processors are comparable in performance to mainstream
desktop graphic accelerator boards.
Display Most modern laptops feature 12 inches (30 cm) or larger coloractive matrix
displays based on a CCFL lamp with resolutions of 1280x800 (16:10) or 1366 x 768
(16:9) pixels and above. Many current models use screens with higher resolution than
typical for desktop PCs (for example, the 1440900 resolution of a 15"). Newer
laptops come with LED based screens offering a lesser power consumption and wider
viewing angles. Macbook Pro[34] can be found on 19" widescreen desktop monitors.
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A size comparison of 3.5" and 2.5" hard disk drives
Removable media drives A DVD/CD reader/writer drive
is typically standard. CD drives are becoming rare, while Blu-
Ray is becoming more common on notebooks. Manyultraportables and netbooks either move the removable media drive into the
docking station or exclude it altogether.
Internal storage Laptophard disks are physically smaller2.5 inches (64 mm) or
1.8 inches (46 mm) compared to desktop 3.5 inches (89 mm) drives. Some newer
laptops (usually ultraportables) employ more expensive, but faster, lighter and power-
efficient flash memory-based SSDs instead. Currently, 250 to 500 GB sizes are
common for laptop hard disks (64 to 256 GB for SSDs).
Input A pointing stick, touchpad or both are used to control the position of the
cursor on the screen, and an integrated keyboard is used for typing. An external
keyboard and/or mouse may be connected using USB or PS/2 (if present).
Ports several USB ports, an external monitor port (VGAorDVI), audio in/out, and
an Ethernet network port are found on most laptops. Less common are legacy ports
such as a PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, serial port or a parallel port. S-video or
composite video ports are more common on consumer-oriented notebooks. HDMI
may be found on some higher-end notebooks.
Docking stations
A docking station is a relatively bulky laptop accessory that contains multiple ports,
expansion slots, and bays for fixed or removable drives. A laptop connects and disconnects
easily to a docking station, typically through a single large proprietary connector. A port
replicator is a simplified docking station that only provides connections from the laptop to
input/output ports. Both docking stations and port replicators are intended to be used at a
permanent working place (a desk) to offer instant connection to multiple input/output devices
and to extend a laptop's capabilities.
Docking stations became a common laptop accessory in the early 1990s. The most common
use was in a corporate computing environment where the company had standardized on a
common network card and this same card was placed into the docking station. These stations
were very large and quite expensive. As the need for additional storage and expansion slots
became less critical because of the high integration inside the laptop, port replicators have
gained popularity, being a cheaper, often passive device that often simply mates to the
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connectors on the back of the notebook, or connects via a standardized port such as USB or
FireWire.
Standards
Some laptop components (optical drives, hard drives, memory and internal expansion cards)
are relatively standardized, and it is possible to upgrade or replace them in many laptops as
long as the new part is of the same type. Depending on the manufacturer and model, a laptop
may range from having several standard, easily customizable and upgradeable parts to a
proprietary design that cannot be reconfigured at all.
In general, components other than the four categories listed above are not intended to be
replaceable, and thus rarely follow a standard. In particular, motherboards, locations of ports,
and design and plaelectronic of internal components are usually make and model specific.Those parts are neither interchangeable with parts from other manufacturers nor upgradeable.
If broken or damaged, they must be substituted with an exact replaelectronic part. Those
users uneducated in the relevant fields are those the most affected by incompatibilities,
especially if they attempt to connect their laptops with incompatible hardware or power
adapters.
Intel, Asus, Compal, Quanta and other laptop manufacturers have created the Common
Building Blockstandard for laptop parts to address some of the inefficiencies caused by the
lack of standards.
Advantages
Laptop computers are portable and can be used in many
locations. Shown here is former Mexican president
Vicente Fox.
Portability is usually the first feature mentioned in
any comparison of laptops versus desktop PCs.
Portability means that a laptop can be used in
many placesnot only at home and at the office,
but also during commuting and flights, in coffee shops, in lecture halls and libraries,
at clients' location or at a meeting room, etc. The portability feature offers several
distinct advantages:
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Getting more work done Using a laptop in places where a desktop PC can't be
used, and at times that would otherwise be wasted. For example, an office worker
managing their e-mails during an hour-long commute by train, or a student doing
his/her homework at the university coffee shop during a break between lectures. Immediacy Carrying a laptop means having instant access to various information,
personal and work files. Immediacy allows better collaboration between coworkers or
students, as a laptop can be flipped open to present a problem or a solution anytime,
anywhere.
Up-to-date information If a person has more than one desktop PC, a problem of
synchronization arises: changes made on one computer are not automatically
propagated to the others. There are ways to resolve this problem, including physical
transfer of updated files (using a USB flash memory stick or CDRs) or using
synchronization software over the Internet. However, using a single laptop at both
locations avoids the problem entirely, as the files exist in a single location and are
always up-to-date.
Connectivity A proliferation of Wi-Fi wireless networks and cellular broadband
data services (HSDPA,EVDO and others) combined with a near-ubiquitous support
by laptops means that a laptop can have easy Internet and local network connectivity
while remaining mobile. Wi-Fi networks and laptop programs are especially
widespread at university campuses.
Other advantages of laptops include:
Size Laptops are smaller than standard PCs. This is beneficial when space is at a
premium, for example in small apartments and student dorms. When not in use, a
laptop can be closed and put away.
Ease of Access - Most laptops have doors on the underside that allow the user to
access the memory, hard drive and other components, by simply flipping the laptop to
access the doors. For desktops the user must usually access the backside of the
computer, which is harder if it's in an area with little space.
Low power consumption Laptops are several times more power-efficient than
desktops. A typical laptop uses 20-90 W, compared to 100-800 W for desktops. This
could be particularly beneficial for businesses (which run hundreds of personal
computers, multiplying the potential savings) and homes where there is a computer
running 24/7 (such as a home media server, print server, etc.)
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Quiet Laptops are often quieter than desktops, due both to the components (quieter,
slower 2.5-inch hard drives) and to less heat production leading to use of fewer and
slower cooling fans.
Battery a charged laptop can run several hours in case of a power outage and is not
affected by short power interruptions and blackouts. A desktop PC needs a UPS to
handle short interruptions, blackouts and spikes; achieving on-battery time of more
than 2030 minutes for a desktop PC requires a large and expensive UPS.[40]
All-in-One - designed to be portable, laptops have everything integrated in to the
chassis. For desktops (excluding all-in-ones) this is divided into the desktop,
keyboard, mouse, display, and optional peripherals such as speakers, and a webcam.
This leads to lots of wiring. It can also lead to massive power consumption.
Extras - in comparison to low-end desktops, even low-end laptops include features
such as integrated Wi-Fi, and Express Card slot, and a memory card reader.
Disadvantages
Compared to desktop PCs, laptops have disadvantages in the following fields:
Performance
Whilst the performance of mainstream desktops and laptops is comparable, laptops are
significantly more expensive than desktop PCs at the same or even lower performance level.
The upper limits of performance of laptops are a little bit lower, and "bleeding-edge" features
usually appear first in desktops and only then, as the underlying technology matures, are
adapted to laptops.
However, for Internet browsing and typical office applications, where the computer spends
the majority of its time waiting for the next user input, even net book-class laptops are
generally fast enough. Most higher-end laptops are sufficiently powerful for high-resolution
movie playback, 3D gaming and video editing and encoding. However, laptops are
disadvantaged when dealing with database, maths, engineering, financial software, etc.
Some manufacturers work around this performance problem by using desktop CPUs for
laptops.
Upgradeability
Upgradeability of laptops is very limited compared to desktops, which are thoroughly
standardized. In general, hard drives and memory can be upgraded easily. Optical drives and
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internal expansion cards may be upgraded if they follow an industry standard, but all other
internal components, including the CPU, motherboard and graphics, are not intended to be
upgradeable.
The reasons for limited upgradeability are both technical and economic. There is no industry-
wide standard form factor for laptops; each major laptop manufacturer pursues its own
proprietary design and construction, with the result that laptops are difficult to upgrade and
have high repair costs. With few exceptions, laptop components can rarely be swapped
between laptops of competing manufacturers, or even between laptops from the different
product-lines of the same manufacturer.
Some upgrades can be performed by adding external devices, either USB or in expansion
card format such a PC Card: sound cards, network adapters, hard and optical drives, and
numerous other peripherals are available, but these upgrades usually impair the laptop's
portability, because they add cables and boxes to the setup and often have to be disconnected
and reconnected when the laptop is moved.
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Ergonomics and health
Laptop coaster preventing heating of lap and improving laptop airflow.
Because of their small and flat keyboard and trackpad pointing devices, prolonged
use of laptops can cause repetitive strain injury.[44]
Usage of
separate, external ergonomic keyboards and pointing devices
is recommended to prevent injury when working for long
periods of time; they can be connected to a laptop easily by USB or via a
docking station. Some health standards require ergonomic keyboards at workplaces.
The integrated screen often causes users to hunch over for a better view, which can cause
neck or spinal injuries. A larger and higher-quality external screen can be connected to
almost any laptop to alleviate that and to provide additional "screen estate" for moreproductive work.
A study by State University of New Yorkresearchers found that heat generated from laptops
can raise the temperature of the scrotum when balancing the computer on one's lap,
potentially putting sperm count at risk. The study, which included roughly two dozen men
aged 21 to 35, found that the sitting position required to balance a laptop can raise scrotum
temperature by as much as 2.1 C (3.78 F). Heat from the laptop itself can raise the
temperature by another 0.7 C (1.26 F), bringing the potential total increase to 2.8 C (5.04
F). However, further research is needed to determine whether this directly affects sterility in
men.[45]
A common practical solution to this problem is to place the laptop on a table or desk. Another
solution is to obtain a cooling unit for the laptop, these units are usually USB powered and
consist of a hard thin plastic case housing 1, 2 or 3 cooling fans (with the entire assembly
designed to sit under the laptop in question) which results in the laptop remaining cool to the
touch, and greatly reduces laptop heat buildup.
Heat from using a laptop on the lap can also cause skin discoloration on the thighs. [46]
Durability
A clogged heatsink on a 2.5 year old laptop.
Due to their portability, laptops are subject to more wear an
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