A laptop computer or just laptop (also laptop or notebook) is really a small mobile pc, usually weighing from someone to three kilograms, according to size, materials and other factors.

As the terms "laptop" and "notebook" in many cases are used interchangeably, "laptop" may be the older term, introduced in 1983 with the Gavilan SC. "Notebook computer" is really a later coinage, that was used to differentiate smaller devices such as for instance those of the Compaq LTE series in 1989, of, in comparison to previous laptops, the approximate size of an A4 paper sheet.[1] Either term is frequently used improperly: as a result of heat and other conditions, many gaming laptop are inappropriate for use on one's lap, and most are not how big an A4 sheet.

Although, some older portable computers, including the Macintosh Portable and certain Zenith TurbosPort models, were sometimes referred to as "laptops", their size and weight were too perfect for this category.

Laptops usually run about the same battery or from an external AC/DC adapter which can charge the battery while also supplying power to the computer itself.

An Acer laptop with touchpadAs personal computers, laptops are capable of the exact same tasks as a computer PC, although they're typically less powerful for the exact same price. They contain components which are similar to their desktop counterparts and perform the exact same functions, but are miniaturized and optimized for mobile use and efficient power consumption.