Laptops have been around for quite some time now—for over a decade, in fact. Since the first mobile computers were introduced, businesspeople and mobile individuals alike have been snapping up these gadgets so they can do their computing while on the road. But it’s only very recently when laptops finally overtook desktops in worldwide computer sales.

Laptops aren’t exactly the first choice when buying a computer, except perhaps when mobility is key to the purchase. Laptops, after all, are more expensive than their desktop counterparts, and generally have lower performance. But with the popularity of Wireless networking, people finally had a reason to buy a laptop. They could now connect from anywhere with a WiFi hotspot.

This freedom of mobility and connectivity is surely a boon to laptop manufacturers and sellers. And laptop users are ever so happy with public wireless networks springing about in various places. And don’t forget the home—it’s great to be able to roam around one’s house and surf the Internet from any room. It’s not just about surfing the Web or sending email. A laptop can also be one’s central point of contact (with a VoIP client) and multimedia machine (with a DVD player, for instance).