A laptop portfolio is a cost-effective way to show work. Printing and binding are expensive, and not always necessary. If a creator is already using a laptop and software to create content, then he already has the work available to present digitally. Current operating systems include tools that flip through images with the touch of a button, and even create slide shows that run at a predetermined speed.
Digital technology makes displaying many types of work convenient. If a photographer or designer also produces videos or creates websites, a laptop portfolio allows for the multimedia work to be presented in one portable location, without fumbling with DVDs and other removable media.
If a portfolio is being shown to many different potential employers, it is a good idea to show work that relates to each job. With a laptop, the portfolio can be edited as needed for each new audience. This can be done on the fly as new employment opportunities arise, without having to anticipate every possible type of employment opportunity ahead of time.
Employers like to know that their applicants have a good knowledge of modern technology. A laptop portfolio demonstrates your ability to use computers and software. A presentation with motion and sound may impress more than a few pieces of paper and a leather case. Offering to email the entire portfolio or just part of it is a good way of letting an interviewer know that you are adept at Internet communication.