Building your own laptop

So what I hear both of you saying is that it is both easier to build a desktop? I am not really limited to laptop so if it is better to build a desktop then that may be what I do. Question: I haven't done much research yet into specific motherboards. I will look up the motherboard form factor. But it sounds like it is a motherboard that can be flexible enough to take any other parts. Is this true? What are the limitations? Also, wouldn't it be better to get a list of the parts BEFORE figuring out what case?

NOPE! There are DOZENS of measurements that have to be made, be precise, etc... Since that would just be DUMB, because you would have to make a LOT of different boards, and likely lose a LOT of money, they standardized on the PC form factor. Of course, that is limiting, so when they decided on the AT, they called THAT the AT, and then they changed it AGAIN, and came up with the ATX, etc.... Cases may come in different styles, etc.... but have the same form factor. Some may handle multiple form factors BUT, if they say they handle a given form factor, it should handle that one. THAT is why I said you could freely handle many companies.

BTW when you say BUILD, I am assuming that you are misusing the term like 99.96% of the public. I doubt more than a VERY tiny percentage, like .05%(about 5 per 10,000) here EVER BUILT a computer! Even most "Computer PROFESSIONALS" would likely burn out a few circuits in the attempt.

NOPE! MOST mean ASSEMBLE, when they say build! If you MEANT build, I would strongly suggest you forget it. If you meant ASSEMBLE, "motherboards" are generally 100% PREbuilt with sockets for the memory, CPU, expansion slots, etc... MOST don't even have space to solder, let alone directions to, so forget THAT also. You don't need to fiddle with discrete components, or simple ICs.

If you want to add items not supported natively, you can use an expansion board.

Here is one ad that came up for bestbuy:

So the first feature in the ad body is ATX(FORM FACTOR) 1 (CPU) MAX. 32GB DDR3 Max Support for up to 4 GPUs, Handles multiple Graphics cards, though it comes with native HDMI, SATA/600 with RAID support(for DISKS), 3 PCI/sx16(EXPANSION SLOTS), 4 USB 3.0(CAN be used for external expansion). All is already built. If you want to build your own, outside of making your own board from scratch, I don't know of any option.

IRONICALLY, building a smart phone is likely easier than a laptop. A lot of the microcontrollers sold now have the ability to have cellular connections, have touch screens available, and have the basic features. Many ALSO have ANDROID native support! You could MAYBE even get a case. ALSO, there are ways that you can build the main computer(microcontroller) effectively from scratch. STILL, I advise against it. The odds of creating damage are nearly as good as they are with an INTEL system. ALSO, building it this way WILL cost a few hundred dollars! The microcontroller, complete with processor and OS, is DIRT CHEAP, like $20+, but the touch screen, cellular board, etc... are FAR more expensive.

And HEY, HERE is a thought! SOME microcontrollers are almost like a PC with ADDITIONAL connectivity. THEY could be used to build a laptop(though you STILL need a case). But the resulting computer would be like a chrome laptop. The new intel ones tend to be bigger and cost a LOT more.

Steve