In recent years, notebook computers have gone from being niche items used primarily by travelers, to a mainstay of both offices and homes, outselling desktop computers in many cases. In fact, laptops outsold PCs for the first time in 2003, which is good news for wannabe notebook computer owners because brisk sales means stiff competition, which means lower prices.
Although notebook computers use the same types of peripherals, operating system, and application software as desktop computers use, they differ in several ways from desktop computers: