Portable computer

There are four basic types of portable computer:

• The laptop (or desknote or notebook) with conventional screen and keyboard, requiring a seated position and both hands. A relatively recently introduced modification has been the Tablet PC, which essentially is a laptop operated with a stylus on a sensitive screen.
• The palmtop which is something between laptop and PDA.
• The Personal digital assistant (PDA), usually held in one hand and operated with the other.
• The wearable computer with handsfree interface, and usually some voice capability (speech recognition and speech synthesis).

Portable computers have been increasing in popularity over the past decade, as they do not restrict the user in terms of mobility as a desktop computer would. Wireless Internet, extended battery life and more comfortable ergonomics have been factors driving this increase in popularity.