A portable personal computer is provided that includes a main housing having a base and an upper housing erecting on top of the base for containing circuitry of the portable personal computer. The base contains a power supply unit for the computer. The upper housing includes a top end and an inner wall. A display is pivotally attached to the upper housing adjacent the top end of the upper housing such that the display is held against the inner wall of the upper housing in a closed position. A detachable keyboard is provided which has a top row and a bottom row for inputting data into the portable personal computer. The keyboard is mounted onto the portable personal computer and covers the display in the closed position such that the computer constitutes an integrated entity. The keyboard is removed from the computer in an open position for operation. The display is exposed when the keyboard is removed from the computer. The display can swing away from the inner wall of the upper housing in the open position. A latch and detent assembly is also provided for locking the keyboard onto the computer in the closed position and for holding the display at a desired angle for viewing when the display swings away from the inner wall of the upper housing in the open position. The latch and detent assembly for the portable personal computer is also described.