|  | 1.1 | The Basics of Computer Hardware
| 1.1.5 | PC components versus laptop components

Laptop computers and notebook computers are becoming increasingly popular, as are palm top computers, personal digital assistants, and other small computing devices. The information described in the previous sections also pertains to laptops. The main difference is that components in a laptop are smaller – the expansion slots become PCMCIA slots, where NICs, modems, hard drives and other useful devices, usually the size of a thick credit card, can be inserted into the PCMCIA slots along the perimeter as shown in the figure.