WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.400 If you were born before the late 90s, you probably remember a time when laptops 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:08.120 were heavy, clunky power hogs with the elegance of a cinder block. 00:00:08.120 --> 00:00:11.160 But these days, the Cinequanon of laptop marketing 00:00:11.160 --> 00:00:16.080 seems to be an emphasis on how thin, light, and portable everything is. 00:00:16.080 --> 00:00:19.600 And somehow this is all without compromising on performance. 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:23.040 We're even seeing laptops that are light enough to pick up with just two fingers, 00:00:23.040 --> 00:00:26.860 yet come with high-end processors, displays, and storage solutions. 00:00:26.860 --> 00:00:30.540 So how did we get from there to here? 00:00:30.540 --> 00:00:36.400 Before we answer, we'd like to give a huge thank you to our friends over at HP, specifically Kevin Wenzel, 00:00:36.400 --> 00:00:39.740 Derek Canas, and Kenneth Chan for contributing their insights to this episode, 00:00:39.740 --> 00:00:45.140 as well as to Intel and HP for sponsoring it. First, let's look at the most important components, 00:00:45.140 --> 00:00:50.500 integrated circuits like CPUs. The transistors that make up a CPU are called MOSFETs, 00:00:50.500 --> 00:00:54.380 and they have special physical properties that allow them to be easily scaled, 00:00:54.380 --> 00:00:58.340 meaning that for a long time, manufacturers were able to squeeze more and more 00:00:58.340 --> 00:01:01.980 of them onto a chip, increasing processing performance. 00:01:01.980 --> 00:01:05.340 And to a point, these higher-performance CPUs 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:09.940 didn't need additional electrical power, as long as the size of the actual package 00:01:09.940 --> 00:01:14.540 stayed about the same. But more efficient processors aren't the only reason 00:01:14.540 --> 00:01:19.140 that our laptops are so light. The small electronic components like inductors 00:01:19.140 --> 00:01:24.100 and capacitors that feed the CPU with power have also gotten smaller. 00:01:24.100 --> 00:01:27.420 By gradually moving towards higher switching frequencies. 00:01:27.420 --> 00:01:31.980 So here's what that means. For power to get to your CPU without frying it, 00:01:31.980 --> 00:01:36.720 the voltage has to be stepped down. Small components like inductors do this 00:01:36.720 --> 00:01:42.820 by storing small amounts of energy, stepping it down, and releasing it to the CPU a certain number of times 00:01:42.820 --> 00:01:46.880 every second. And it turns out the physics behind this process 00:01:46.880 --> 00:01:50.420 allow higher-frequency inductors to be made smaller, 00:01:50.420 --> 00:01:55.020 which saves both space and weight in a compact device like a laptop. 00:01:55.020 --> 00:02:00.740 Even printed circuit boards, you know, the green layer that everything is mounted on, have changed. 00:02:00.740 --> 00:02:04.020 The improvements here are harder to see with the naked eye, 00:02:04.020 --> 00:02:08.820 but they make a big difference. Modern laptops use high-density interconnects, 00:02:08.820 --> 00:02:11.980 meaning that copper traces go through the PCB 00:02:11.980 --> 00:02:16.820 in multiple layers. This allows manufacturers to pack more connectivity 00:02:16.820 --> 00:02:20.820 into a smaller, lighter space. We've also seen improvements 00:02:20.860 --> 00:02:26.600 from increased manufacturing expertise, both from past experience and with better tools 00:02:26.600 --> 00:02:32.340 for predicting outcomes. Nowadays, manufacturers can run pretty accurate simulations 00:02:32.340 --> 00:02:35.620 on exactly what various design ideas 00:02:35.620 --> 00:02:40.060 are gonna do to thermal output. This reduces the chance that bringing the components 00:02:40.060 --> 00:02:43.680 closer together is gonna cause overheating in the finished product. 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:48.500 Of course, we'd be remiss if we didn't talk about improved chassis and battery technology. 00:02:48.500 --> 00:02:53.100 On one hand, shrinking connectors have made it so you don't have to have a thick design 00:02:53.100 --> 00:02:57.660 just to accommodate that gigantic printer port, but there's more to it than that. 00:02:57.660 --> 00:03:01.060 Many laptops have switched to using alternative metals, 00:03:01.060 --> 00:03:06.140 like lightweight magnesium alloys, like you'd find in HP's Dragonfly Elite Book. 00:03:06.140 --> 00:03:09.220 Metals such as these are chosen not only for their lightweight, 00:03:09.220 --> 00:03:13.660 but also for their relative strength, meaning that they're not just used for the outside, 00:03:13.660 --> 00:03:17.260 but also for internal brackets that hold components in place. 00:03:17.260 --> 00:03:20.300 Manufacturing the chassis, like the components inside, 00:03:20.300 --> 00:03:25.220 has also gotten more precise with advancements in techniques like CNC and thixemolding, 00:03:25.220 --> 00:03:30.460 which involves heating magnesium into a slurry and then precisely injecting it into molds 00:03:30.460 --> 00:03:33.740 to create components of different shapes and sizes. 00:03:33.740 --> 00:03:38.180 We've also seen a whole scale shift away from old school nickel cadmium 00:03:38.180 --> 00:03:42.700 and nickel metal hydride batteries. These were reliable and hardy, 00:03:42.700 --> 00:03:46.540 but also didn't hold as much energy per unit of weight. 00:03:46.540 --> 00:03:50.940 Nowadays, many laptops use lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries, 00:03:50.940 --> 00:03:54.660 which don't need to weigh nearly as much to hold lots of power. 00:03:54.660 --> 00:03:58.340 They've existed for many years, but growing demand for lightweight devices 00:03:58.340 --> 00:04:02.340 has led to falling prices, making them more and more common. 00:04:02.340 --> 00:04:06.140 Now, of course, there are still trade-offs inherent in buying an ultra-thin laptop. 00:04:06.140 --> 00:04:10.260 They still face thermal challenges that larger machines with better airflow do not, 00:04:10.260 --> 00:04:13.700 meaning that they can't be packed with the fastest hardware on the market. 00:04:13.700 --> 00:04:19.320 I mean, that's why gaming-focused laptops still exist and tend to be larger and heavier. 00:04:19.320 --> 00:04:23.160 But for everyday use, the sleek and lightweight machines that we have today 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:27.640 are gonna satisfy the majority of users. Speaking of sleek, satisfying things, 00:04:27.640 --> 00:04:32.360 I'm off to hit the gym. Thanks for watching, guys. Check out our other videos, like or dislike this one 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:35.560 if you're into that, and leave a comment if you have a suggestion for a future, 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:38.520 fast as possible video. I will see you there. 00:04:39.640 --> 00:04:40.640 You'll be there.