It is often said that change is the only constant. While it may sound counter-intuitive, it is the one fact all of us can bank on. Everything, from an industry, to an entity, to even an individual, has to undergo some sort of transformation. When we remember the yesteryear laptops, we tend to think of bulky models that we often griped were too heavy to carry.
Just over a decade ago, all of us were confined to our chairs, working on desktops. However, with the availability of affordable laptops, we could finally work from anywhere, and while that was seen as a measure of convenience, we still had to lug around with heavy devices.
Today however, things have changed dramatically. From ultra-thin laptops, to notebooks and 2-in-1 convertibles, we prioritize convenience in its truest sense. If we have to work on-the-go, we prefer purchasing either a notebook, or an ultra-thin laptop model and some of the best laptops India that barely weighs 1-1.5 Kgs . All the top laptop brands, from Apple to HP now provide lightweight, ultra-thin laptop models that serve as our gauzy companions.
So how did we go from having heavyweight, bulky laptop models to ultra-thin, lightweight ones? Here’s a quick trip down the memory lane.
World’s First Laptop
The world’s first laptop came into being back in 1982, and while upon hearing the word “laptop”, you would imagine it was a device that may have weighed around 2-3 Kgs (after all, this was in 1982), the laptop weighed a mammoth 5 Kgs. The only reason why we call it a laptop is because it resembled the modern versions, with a clamshell and was portable. Designed by Grid Systems, the world’s very first portable PC cost a fortune (equivalent to present-day’s US$20,000!). Dubbed the “Compass”, Grid System’s machine served as the inspiration for Apple’s first laptop, the Macintosh Portable, which was unveiled in 1989, and unlike the MacBook Airs we own today, Apple’s first laptop model weighed a staggering 7.2 Kgs!
The next big breakthrough came in 1992, when “ThinkPad” was unveiled by IBM — a product line that continues to exist even today. Both the screen and the keyboard were foldable in half, while the laptop’s TrackPoint allowed users to operate the mouse on the screen. Four more years later, it was Toshiba’s turn to launch an innovative device that served as the next pit-stop in our journey, when the company released Libretto, which also became the first entrant in the sub-notebook category. This was also extremely lightweight, weighing just 840 grams, and as a result, became an instant hit with the legion of laptop fans.
Dell Takes Over
During the early 2000s, the laptop world changed completely when Dell started unveiling its laptop range. Thinner and even more lightweight as compared to its predecessors, Dell’s laptops boasted larger displays, and Dell’s products arguably shaped the laptop design that we now know and adore. Before long, other laptop brands started to copy Dell’s design, but the laptops weren’t as sophisticated, as they still came with less RAM and storage space. That was when Apple once again flexed its muscle, and unveiled MacBook Air.
Apple has been known as the trendsetter, as well as the brand that never shied away from pushing the envelope and challenging the status quo. That was exactly what MacBook Air did. The most disruptive PC company in the world unveiled a thin, lightweight laptop that still packed impressive features and specs. A few years later, Microsoft released the Microsoft Surface, which became the most popular hybrid tablet computer, which also set the tone for the rest of the decade.
Along the way, we have witnessed the likes of Yoga laptop range, that sold on its “athletic design”, while today, we even get dual-screen laptops, which allow users to do their primary work on the main screen, while checking their e-mails, or do some other personal work on the secondary screen! Talking about thin laptops, Asus VivoBook X407 is arguably the best thin affordable laptop in the market today, and the laptop price in India starts at Rs. 28,490, making it one of the best laptops under 30000. A few other top-selling laptops under 30,000 INR include ASUS VivoBook 14 X409UA-EK362TS laptop and Lenovo V14.
