Editing Mobile computing (section)

==Portable computing devices==
{{main article|Mobile device|Portable computer}}
Several categories of portable computing devices can run on batteries but are not usually classified as laptops: portable computers, [[Personal digital assistant|PDA]]s, ultra mobile PCs (UMPCs), tablets, and smartphones.

* A [[portable computer]] is a general-purpose computer that can be easily moved from place to place, but cannot be used while in transit, usually because it requires some "setting-up" and an AC power source. The most famous example is [[Osborne 1]]. Portable computers are also called a "transportable" or a "luggable" PC.
* A [[personal digital assistant]] (PDA) is a small, usually pocket-sized, computer with limited functionality. It is intended to supplement and to synchronize with a desktop computer, giving access to contacts, address book, notes, e-mail, and other features.[[Image:PalmTX.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Palm TX]] PDA]]
* An [[ultra mobile PC]] is a full-featured, PDA-sized computer running a general-purpose operating system.
* [[Smartphone|Phones]], [[Tablet computer|tablets]]: a slate tablet is shaped like a paper notebook. Smartphones are the same devices as tablets, however, the only difference with smartphones is that they are much smaller and pocketable. Instead of a physical keyboard, these devices have a [[touchscreen]] including a combination of a [[virtual keyboard]] but can also link to a physical keyboard via wireless [[Bluetooth]] or USB. These devices include features other computer systems would not be able to incorporate, such as built-in cameras, because of their portability - although some laptops possess camera integration, and desktops and laptops can connect to a [[webcam]] by way of USB.
* A [[carputer]] is installed in an automobile. It operates as a wireless computer, sound system, GPS, and DVD player. It also contains word processing software and is Bluetooth compatible.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/tag/carputer/|title=Carputer Articles on Engadget|publisher=AOL|work=Engadget|access-date=16 July 2015|archive-date=5 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505145743/https://www.engadget.com/tag/carputer/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* A Pentop (discontinued) is a computing device the size and shape of a pen. It functions as a writing utensil, MP3 player, language translator, digital storage device, and calculator.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geardiary.com/2007/10/07/the-fly-fusion-pentop-computer-review/|title=Gear Diary » The FLY Fusion Pentop Computer Review|date=7 October 2007|access-date=16 July 2015|archive-date=23 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023064252/https://geardiary.com/2007/10/07/the-fly-fusion-pentop-computer-review/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* An application-specific computer is one that is tailored to a particular application. For example, [[Ferranti]] introduced a handheld application-specific mobile computer (the [[Ferranti MRT|MRT-100]]) in the form of a [[clipboard]] for conducting [[opinion polls]].<ref>G Rowley, K Barker, and V Callaghan “'' The Questronic Project and the Ferranti MRT 100 A Boon For Survey Research''”, The Professional Geographer, Volume 37, Issue 4, pages 459–463, November 1985</ref>

Boundaries that separate these categories are blurry at times. For example, the [[OQO]] UMPC is also a PDA-sized tablet PC; the [[EMate 300|Apple eMate]] had the clamshell form factor of a laptop but ran PDA software. The [[HP Omnibook]] line of laptops included some devices small enough to be called ultra mobile PCs. The hardware of the [[Nokia 770]] internet tablet is essentially the same as that of a PDA such as the [[Sharp Zaurus|Zaurus]] 6000; the only reason it's not called a PDA is that it does not have [[Personal information manager|PIM]] software. On the other hand, both the 770 and the Zaurus can run some desktop Linux software, usually with modifications.