The notebook PC is an all-in-one body that consolidates the elements necessary for a personal computer. You cannot change the keyboard, pointing device, and display to your liking. Therefore, when choosing a favorite machine, the feel of the keyboard, the ease of use of the pointing device, and the size and beauty of the screen are important factors in choosing a product. And these elements take precedence over the processing performance of the PC itself.
KVM as PC identity (keyboard, video, mouse)
The point of choice for a notebook PC is HID and a monitor. HID stands for Human Interface Device, equivalent to a mouse and keyboard. A monitor is a screen.
It is both true and false that it drives PC choice. This is because these devices can be used without any problems if they are acquired additionally and connected externally. Consider an integrated HID and monitor as an emergency, and have a set of three for every location where you use your laptop. Even when I go on a business trip, I carry different combinations of 3-piece sets depending on the period and style of the stay.
Personally, I think it would be nice to combine a compact NUC that is easy to carry with a portable battery or USB PD power supply, connect a monitor sized according to the day’s activity, and operate with a portable keyboard with and pointing device.
At least, it’s no longer true that anyone with a 15.6-inch or larger monitor doesn’t need a PC with an integrated keyboard.
Of course, there are some sites where such tools don’t work very well. It is inconvenient to use on the train, and not suitable for taking notes when switching to a camera. It goes without saying that different people want different form factors.
At the “PC Maker Planning Conference” distributed by PC Watch last fall, many voices wanted a modern VAIO Type-P. If you connect an all-in-one device of that size to a large screen monitor, and if you can secure some processing performance, it should be a mobile notebook that can be used anytime, anywhere. I certainly want it.
The changing and expanding world view of notebook computers
There are also indications that PC form factors vary. While the classic style clamshell notebook continues to be used, everyone can choose the form factor they like best from a variety of options depending on their work and study style. I would like to welcome this.
On the other hand, Intel’s NUC-like form factor is small enough to fit behind a monitor. I think there is too. And if there are powerful gaming computers, old-fashioned full towers, etc. are useful not for full storage, but for physically placing high-performance clutches, heat treatment in a wide space, and bright lighting.
Anyway, I think the heyday of typical notebook PCs with 14-inch monitors is coming to an end. That does not mean that the time will come when we put a battery in the NUC and carry it with a mobile monitor. Laptop-like devices with HIDs and reasonably functional monitors will continue to be used in the mainstream.
However, the style of use of expanding the notebook computer will become the new normal. This is because many end users have now gained the practical knowledge that it is convenient to attach an external monitor to their notebook. Because of the coronavirus, I was forced to work from home, and I had to work in my living room, which is not the place to work. I understood what I could get. That’s an external monitor and various HIDs. In some cases, you may want an external camera, a speakerphone with noise cancellation, or a completely wireless headset.
It is easy to connect a PC to a T home with an HDMI cable, and one USB Type-C cable can cover the power supply and video transmission for PC monitors ranging from compact screens to large screens.
The same goes for HIDs. The existence of easier-to-use keyboards and mice has come to be recognized as personal equipment by end users, who have only seen personal computers as light commercial vans. I realized that I don’t have to do everything the same as other people, and if I have tools that allow me to work in my own territory comfortably and at my own pace without burden, I can enjoy my work. It’s like “work with a smile” when Windows 3.1 came out. It was 30 years ago.
Versatility and scalability
The PC’s best feature is its versatility. Because it is versatile, it is a being that can do anything, and people who do not understand it have no idea how to use it. However, people who understand this intuitively can use it in ways that surprise even computer experts.
Another characteristic of personal computers is their extensibility. Connect what is not there. Even if there is, you’d better link a better one. A general purpose port is provided for this purpose. Now, most things can be connected as long as there is a USB Type-C shaped port.
Unfortunately, it is often as a result of the deterioration of these external devices that the laptop in front of you feels old and useless. The keyboard key tops are chipped, the slide pad has become slippery and shabby and defective, and the backlight display has some yellowing and scratches on the surface. There is also a deterioration in the built-in battery. Replacing these would be quite expensive. If so, it will be a decision to change the entire main unit.
At the end of the year, an old friend contacted me and told me that it was the season for sending New Year’s cards, but the keyboard on his laptop appeared to be broken and he was unable to type. When I told him to buy a keyboard at a mass retailer and connect it, everything seemed to be fine, and when I received the report later, it seemed that the PC reset was delayed. No way, he didn’t think you could get a keyboard that can be connected to a notebook PC for a few thousand yen if you didn’t choose the item, and you could easily connect it externally.
The clamshell notebook as an all-in-one personal computer has expanded our consciousness for quite some time. I’m sure it will continue to be that way, but I think it’s time to shift the direction a bit. Even if it is an all-in-one, it turns into a hub location that can be connected to various external devices for convenience. I’m sure that will lead to a change in awareness of using personal computers.
