Laptop Sales Decreasing

 

For the first time tablet computers and other devices have overtaken laptops in sales. This is most likely due to people just wanting a device to surf the internet and not needing all the features a laptop provides. There have also been more and more people buying netbooks instead of laptops. Netbooks are ideal for people who mainly use a computer for internet activities. Netbooks, especially some of the smaller ones, wouldn't necessarily be ideal if you are writing a big report due to the smaller keyboard especially with a netbook with only a 10' screen or less. Tablet computers have also gained popularity with the release of the iPad less than year ago and the Samsung Galaxy Tab released in the fall. The iPad can be compared to a touch screen netbook because it is an ideal internet device. One downside of the iPad is its size because of this it's not something that you would have in your pocket walking down the street unless you have  iPad pants which I wrote about in a previous post. The Samsung Galaxy Tab is a more portable tablet computer because it is smaller; it is however a bit bigger than something you would put in your pocket. I don't think even with more tablet computer sales laptop sales will be hurting because some people aren't going to buy a netbook or a tablet computer if they need a portable computer with all the functions of a desktop computer. Some of the tablet computers the iPad in particular are not much cheaper than a laptop so many people would choose to buy a laptop that they can do use to do all tasks that they would be able to do on a desktop computer.

Netbook or Laptop

Netbooks were released about a year and have been increasing in popularity since. Netbooks don't have all the features a laptop or desktop computer has and are mainly meant to be used as a web device. There are some things about Netbooks that are disadvantages though. Due to their small size they aren't very ergonomic. Some examples of this is the do have smaller screen size, 5 inches or smaller, and smaller keyboards so it can be harder to type depending on your hand size. Someone who is deciding between a netbook and a laptop has to think about what they are going to be using it for. If they want to just surf the internet and occasionally do word processing than a netbook would be a good choice. If someone wants to use it mainly for word processing and be able to burn and use CDs than they would want to buy a laptop. Another plus about netbooks is they are cheaper than laptops but then again they don't have all the features of laptops. Netbooks are great but they probably won't replace your desktop or laptop computer.

Technology in the Classroom

Millions of children and teens went back to school this past Tuesday depending on where you live. Children packed up their bags with binders, paper, pencils and pens. Apart from taking notes children and teens are now using computers more than ever because of this technological age we live in. There are now interactive boards called activboards. These are great because they go a step further than projectors because they can be interacted with. They can be written on with special styluses and once written on can be easily erased without mess unlike chalk boards which leave residue on the board and on the users hands. Many more schools are focusing on how to give their students more much needed computer skills that are needed in today's work world. Children who have learning difficulties now have the option of having a laptop to help them with their everyday class work. Some children who have trouble writing are also often with provided with laptops. Younger and younger children are being encouraged to type out big projects because this is the way they will be handing in papers as they get into high school and just later elementary school. Technology is now be incorporated in the classroom more than it every has.

Laptops For Three Year Olds

It seems that computer companies are trying to target younger and younger audiences. This came especially apparent to me after I saw a dell commercial and one of the kids with a full backpack (the commercial's message was don't make your kids pack too much this school year) was a young school age boy, so not a three year old but not the age of child that you would think of buying a laptop for. Technology definitely does benefit kids but would a child be benefitted enough to have their own computer. Not to mention though how rough kids are with their toys. Would they understand that a laptop isn't a toy and be gentle with it? It's great for kids to have access to a computer but a child but having a brand new computer may be a bit much it's different than a child having an old computer that they can just play on or sharing a computer. I wonder though it one day this will be normal for younger kids to have their own laptops but spending that much money for a brand new laptop doesn't seem a good idea for a child that young. Children definitely are using computers at a younger and younger age and computer skills are being taught more and more to younger and younger kids. I understand a younger child having a laptop for a learning disability but if the child doesn't have any learning disabilities than it does not make sense for a young child to have a laptop.