Priority Electronics Blog

A few years ago the IDC came out with an analytical report stating that the laptop would overtake the desktop by 2011. Now that we’re getting close to that predicted date some analysts believe that time may come sooner rather than later. Last year annual shipments for desktops grew by 2% whereas portable devices grew by 26.3%.

Companies such as Dell are currently shifting their focus toward producing more laptops and fewer desktops. In April of 2008 Dell announced the closing of their Austin, Texas plant and the lay-off of numerous employees. These changes are to save the company billions. In turn Dell hopes to use that money toward expanding their line of laptops.

Other PC manufacturers are expected to turn their focus on the laptop market as well. Part of this shift is due to technological advancements. As new advancements are made in the laptop industry, the differences between a laptop and desktop are decreasing. With the closing of this gap consumers are more inclined to purchase a laptop.

Portability plays another major factor in this shift. With laptops consumers can take their work anywhere. A person is no longer limited to working in one location. Many people use laptops while on flights, trains, or to get extra work done at home. Additionally, coffee shops, hotels, and libraries have made taking your work anywhere easier by offering wireless services.

Lower prices have also made laptops more accessible. Major discount retailers such as Wal-Mart have struck deals with manufacturers like Dell to bring better deals on laptops to the consumer. In addition, stronger competition between manufacturers encourages pricing wars that benefit the consumer.

Karine Paoli from the IDC stated the “IDC expects 2008 to be another buoyant year for the EMEA PC market. Notebooks will remain a key driver across the region, with total PC sales in EMEA expected to cross the 100 million mark.”

Despite the laptop taking a larger piece of the PC market, the desktop isn’t going out of consumer hands. Currently, desktops can store larger files. On a desktop computer you can add several hard drives to your computer. Laptops lack this advantage because a person would have to carry around several large accessories in order to store large files or programs. Carrying too many items in your laptop case defeats the purpose of having a portable and compact laptop. However, with newer technologies coming to the market, it won’t be long before the laptop’s capabilities will meet that of a desktop. Once this happens, it should be little to no surprise that desktops may become obsolete.

Add This!	Del.icio.us	Digg	Google
SlashDot	Newsvine	reddit	Ask

Laptops get redesigned often. Manufactures such as Dell, Apple, HP, IBM, etc. will change more than just the hard drive and processor; they will even change the exterior color of their laptops. Some changes are specific for one company whereas others are seen throughout the industry.

A current trend seen throughout the laptop industry is the end of full-screen LCDs on laptops. Full screens still exist, but they are getting harder to come by. Many arguments exist for why this move toward wide screens is better; however, some consumers argue that you get less for your money.

Pro Wide Screens:

Those who are pro wide-screens say that a wider screen makes it easier to multitask. Having a wide-screen makes it easier to view two programs side by side versus having to switch between screens. Saving minutes off a task means better productivity and more time left to move onto other things.

If you’re into watching movies on your laptop, some argue your DVD viewing experience can be enhanced by having a wide screen. It is like having a wide screen television on your laptop. In addition, with LCD screens getting brighter, crisper, and reducing glare, your DVD will look just as good as it would on your TV.

Gamers often site the wide screen as better because it enhances the gaming experience. Their view is similar to an avid movie watcher preferring a wide screen over a full screen.

Against Wide Screens:

Some consumers argue that laptop companies are trying to save money by producing wide screens. Full screens are bigger and take up more space on laptops. By making wide screens they are not only saving money, they are also able to make laptops smaller.

Those against the wide screen trend argue that yes, you can view two programs side-by-side, but the time you save in having the two applications open you lose more time in having to do more scrolling. Programmers in particular argue this point.

Not only do you lose time scrolling, but you also get less LCD real estate. A 15″ LCD screen is not always a 15″ LCD. You get more surface area on a full screen as opposed to a wide screen.

Whether you’re for or against this new trend is a matter of preference. The bigger question is will laptop manufacturers stop making full screens? In recent news Toshiba has stopped production of their full screen laptops. Other companies have reduced the production of their full screen lines as well. With other companies following Toshiba’s example it seems like it will be only a matter of time before the full screen becomes obsolete.

Add This!	Del.icio.us	Digg	Google
SlashDot	Newsvine	reddit	Ask

Last month LG Chem, South Korea’s second largest battery manufacturer, caught fire. It is estimated that this fire will trigger a large price increase on laptop batteries.

The price increase will affect companies like Dell, HP, and Asus. These companies purchase most of their battery supplies from LG Chem. In total the shortfall of batteries that is likely to ensue could affect up to 40% of shipments from Taiwan.

Dell would not discuss how much prices will rise; however Dell’s spokesman Jess Blackburn was quoted as saying, “the industry is experiencing battery supply constraints because of these problems. Therefore, pricing is being impacted by current availability. But we are working with our partners throughout our supply chain to reduce the impact on our customers.”

Extra battery pack purchases may also be affected by the battery shortage. Larger battery retailers may be limiting the amount of batteries consumers can purchase.

Currently, LG Chem thinks it will be able to get its factory back to full production in two to three months. In the mean time, it will be up to other third-party battery manufacturing companies to increase production to meet the needs of the consumer.

At Priority Electronics, the fire will have little effect on our laptop battery prices. We do not purchase from LG Chem. We have other companies that produce quality laptop batteries for us. Our laptop battery prices are competitive and we offer a one year warranty. In this battery shortage think Priority Electronics as your fully stocked source for batteries.

Add This!	Del.icio.us	Digg	Google
SlashDot	Newsvine	reddit	Ask

One of the biggest disadvantages with using battery powered products is that batteries have a limited lifespan. Expanding a battery’s lifespan is an area in which manufacturers of laptops, hybrid cars, and cell phones are constantly working on.

The Argonne National Laboratory recently announced that they have come up with a new way to develop lithium-ion batteries. With their latest discovery, Argonne is able to increase the battery capacity in lithium-ion batteries by up to 30%

Currently these batteries have many markets cornered, among them the laptop computer industry. In contrast with its previous counterparts, these laptop batteries tend to be more reliable as well as lighter. However, they also have a downside. Lithium-ion batteries tend to overheat and last about 750 charges, (which means your battery will last about 3years).

The new material used by Argonne would allow these batteries to be charged up to 1,500 times. This is a significant increase from 750. They accomplished this increase by creating a new compound within the battery that acts as a stabilizer.

Today’s laptop batteries use cobalt oxide electrodes. Using this electrode is the main cause for excessive heating. In order to combat the overheating issues as well as increase storage capabilities Argonne used manganese oxide.

Manganese oxide acts as a stabilizing force for a laptop battery because it contains more inactive materials that help balance out the electrochemically active ones.

This technology seems to be ideal for laptops and shows promise for cell phone use, but not quite so great for the hybrid car industry. However, Argonne is looking to expand their current capabilities to create a better power source for hybrid vehicles. In Argonne’s efforts to market this new battery they have made an agreement with Japanese company Toda Kogya.

The following statement was released by Gary Henriksen, Manager of the Electrochemical Energy Storage Department at Argonne, regarding this new deal: “Our agreement with Toda Kogyo is an important step toward bringing to market key advanced lithium-ion battery technologies that are being developed here at Argonne with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy.” He also continued to say, “The technologies being licensed will enhance the performance, life and inherent safety of lithium-ion cells compared to those that employ the cobalt-based cathode technology that has dominated the market since the introduction of lithium-ion batteries in 1990.”

The Toda Kogyo Company has been around since 1823. It is the world’s leading manufacturer of iron oxide particles. Their designs for using these particles as well as their ability to manufacture new technologies will help bring these new batteries to the world market.

Currently, there is no word on how long it will take them to implement this discovery in laptops.

Add This!	Del.icio.us	Digg	Google
SlashDot	Newsvine	reddit	Ask