Nothing has revolutionised the way we communicate, research, write, play games and socialise like the laptop.

A portable device that allows you to do pretty much anything, anywhere was always going to be popular, but laptops have arguably changed the face of business, finance, politics and entertainment. The world is constantly switched on, work can be taken away from the office, and celebrity movements can be dissected and discussed within minutes of them stepping out of the front door.

The laptop and wireless Internet are a marriage made in heaven: instant communication, wherever you are, has been the holy grail of technology for many decades, and now most of us have such a device sitting in front of us.

The Internet is a research giant, making it perfect not only for students but for office workers and even parents at home. Is determinism a challenge to morality? Why is my baby crying? And what is double-entry accounting? The Internet gets these questions thrown at it on a daily basis (we tried Google auto-complete), and it responds with aplomb. As a result, reports and essays that would formerly have taken weeks of painstaking library research and writing up notes by hand can now be done in just a few days (or a night, if you’re feeling confident). And with a laptop in hand, you can do all this wherever you like, instead of being tethered to your desk all day long.

Social networking wouldn’t be where it is now without the dawn of the laptop. The whole point of social networking is it is instant communication: everyone hates that feeling of logging onto their site of choice after a long time away, and having to faff around getting caught up on the news. Laptops and wireless Internet allow quick, occasionally covert checking throughout the day, meaning you never miss anything vital (from a politician’s latest gaffe to pictures of your friend Mike from that Friday night). And speaking of instant communication, the ability to connect with people has been a gift to businesses and companies, as workers are now accessible all the time and meetings can even be held when all the attendees are on different continents.

The relationship between the Internet and laptops has led to the birth of online operating systems (a compelling image, we know). Such systems allow users to perform any of the functions their laptop does on an online space, meaning that it’s easier than ever to share information and collaborate on various projects.

Aside from research and work, laptops have revolutionised the world of gaming. These days, gaming and similar pursuits are no longer confined to the bedroom or the living room. Gamers can interact through the Internet, in coffee shops and anywhere else they please, enjoying games that are available in a variety of formats. From online casino games to the trials and tribulations of virtual Solitaire, gaming has never been so varied nor so accessible.

While the laptop and the Internet were separately fabulous inventions, together they have produced a hybrid product so great that it’s changed the way society works. From the guy killing time playing online blackjack to the annual company meeting taking place in 5 different boardrooms at once, everyone has benefitted from being able to communicate whenever they need to, wherever they are. But as much as it’s changed the world, new technologies are appearing all the time, and one day the time may come when the laptop looks old-hat. And as much as we love our old friend, we think we’ll be first in line to try the next big thing.