Patent ID: 8339775

Claim:
A portable computing device, comprising: a wedge shaped body comprising a first end and a tapered second end narrower than the first end, the wedge shaped body having an inclined top surface and formed from a lightweight material and configured to support and enclose a plurality of operational components wherein the plurality of operational components are fastened within the wedge shaped body in a top down manner using the inclined top surface as a reference datum to form an multi-planar arrangement of components that conforms to the overall shape of the wedge shaped body and the inclination of the inclined top surface resulting in the portable computing device having a thin profile and high component packing density, the wedge shaped body further configured to present one or more user input components at an angle to an end user of the portable computing device, the user input components presented at the angle to the end user comprising: a keyboard assembly, the keyboard assembly comprising a keyboard having a plurality of user pressable key pads only one of which is a consolidated power on/off key pad, the power/on off key pad arranged to power on/power off the portable computing device in response to a received key press, and a touch pad located within and proximate a touch pad opening in the wedge shaped body in proximity to the tapered second end, the touch pad being adapted to accept touch inputs from the end user of the portable computing device and having a support structure that accommodates the wedge shape of the wedge shaped body; a bottom cover having a uniform height and formed of the lightweight material, wherein the wedge shaped body and the bottom cover are secured to each other by way of a plurality of tamper resistant fasteners to form a complete housing for at least a portion of the portable computing device; a lid portion, the lid portion comprising a display assembly arranged to present visual content; and a hinge assembly having a size and shape that fits within the first end of the wedge shaped body, the hinge assembly arranged to pivotally connect the complete housing and the lid portion, wherein one or more electrical conductors electrically connect at least some of the operational components in the complete housing to the display assembly at least one of which is carried in the hinge assembly.