Huhh...?

In today's Digital Life (8/8/2006), there is this interesting and informative article about how laptops can spontaneously go up in flames...

But there is this part in the article which made me go "huhh?!". And this part was this remark by an Associate Professor, who specialises in power engineering, on how "it is common to see users put the computers on their laps (emphasis mine), on their beds and other soft surfaces, this easily blocks up ventilation holes and can cause pressure to build in the batteries".

Hmm.. If laptops are not supposed to be used on laps, why are they called "laptops" in the first place...? Perhaps the manufacturers should put this warning label on their laptops: "Warning: this laptop should not be used on a lap"...