It use to be that laptops were very expensive. Owning a laptop means you either have the money to buy one or it is lent to you through your office. But who doesn't have a laptop nowadays? Everywhere we go we see people lugging messenger bags stuffed with a laptop. The need to go mobile, which is today's trend, has pushed manufacturers to produce computers that can adapt to people who are constantly on the go and make it affordable too. A laptop needs to be portable and have a reliable battery and power supply so that it can be used in places where there is limited or no access to electricity.

A laptop is basically a smaller version of the desktop computer. Like a desktop it has a screen, keyboard, a pointing device, CPU, RAM, and power supply. In the case of a laptop however, there is a rechargeable battery attached normally to its underside which can be charged using a power supply unit that is plugged directly to a wall socket.

In a laptop computer, the power supply is usually external. It is connected to the laptop via a DC connector cable. The power supply simultaneously charges the battery while providing power directly to the laptop. Once the laptop is done charging, the power supply runs the computer using the external power supply.

A lot of people prefer the laptop to the desktop because the former can be used in places where a desktop unit cannot go. An executive, for example, can send and receive emails during his daily commute to work. In this instance the laptop helps increase productivity. Having a laptop also means that you have instant access to information that you might need. A laptop can be turned on and connected to the Internet while not at home or in the office, giving the user solutions or answers to problems and questions.

Partly because of the power supply and battery, laptops have lower power consumption than desktops. A laptop usually uses 20-80 watts of electricity compared to the desktop’s 100-800 watts.

Because of laptop popularity, replacement parts like laptop power supplies are very much in demand. There are a lot of power supply brands, models and specifications to meet the different brands and models of laptops in the market. Some popular manufacturers of laptops such as Dell, HP/Compaq, and IBM/Lenovo, also make laptop power supplies to answer the demands of their customers. When in doubt there are manufacturers who sell universal laptop power supplies that come with different pins and attachments to fit different brands and models of laptops. Most laptop power supplies also double as an automatic voltage regulator. Traveling from one country to another becomes more convenient since you don't have to worry about 110-volt or 220-volt power outlets.

All these comforts are nothing without a laptop's power supply. A battery can last only for so long before it runs out of juice. Thus, a power supply is one of the most important accessories of a laptop, perhaps even more important than a battery. You can still operate a laptop even if there is no battery as long as there is a power outlet nearby. You never leave home with your laptop without your power supply in tow.