Laptop Computers
Buying a notebook computer may seem like a simple task, but as one goes to a store and realizes the number of different options available, this apparent simplicity may quickly turn into a maze of complicated technical terms and uncertainties. We will attempt to guide you through the process of choosing an adequate laptop for your needs by considering a number of important factors.
Extensive Description
What do you need a computer for?
This is the most important question you should ask yourself before beginning your search for a computer. Are you looking for a notebook to replace your desktop at home? Or perhaps you are a student using the notebook mainly for taking notes at classes and making assignments? You could also be a businessman in need of a computer that serves as a mobile workstation to take on your travels. Finally, you may simply want a notebook that delivers cutting-edge technology for gaming and other multimedia tasks.
Mobility
If you won't be traveling frequently with your computer, then battery life and weight will not be a primary concern and you should give priority to factors such as hard drive capacity, screen size, processor speed and RAM memory. On the other hand, if you are planning to constantly carry your notebook around with you, the size and weight of your notebook, alongside its battery life, become a crucial factor.
Notebooks weighing less than 2 kg are considered to be light, those between 2 and 3 kg are the norm, and the most powerful ones can weigh as much as 5 kg.
Generally, the less powerful a computer is and the fewer drives it has, the lighter it will be, and the longer its battery will last. There exist exceptions to the rule, but they are usually very expensive. If mobility is an important issue, you should consider skipping on accessories such as built-in DVD player/burner drives and multiple high-capacity hard drives.
An option to combine mobility with versatility is to acquire external drivers and only carry them with you when needed. Consider buying a basic unit and adding to it. It could work out a lot cheaper to obtain things such an external TV card and DVD burner when the need arises.
Screen and graphic options
Notebooks make use of LCD screens, which are usually sharper and cause less eye-strain than traditional desktop CRT monitors. Technical specs say little about the quality of a screen, so the best thing to do is to check picture quality in person at a retailer.
The screen-size of a laptop plays a significant role in determining its weight, therefore if you want a light notebook you should opt for a 12-14inches instead of 15-15.4inches or 17inches widescreen varieties. Of course, if graphic capability and screen size are important, this may not be the best option. If you don't play games, edit video or watch DVD movies, there's little point buying a model with the latest mobile graphics card because a built-in chip (integrated graphics) should meet your needs.
Processor
When purchasing any personal computer, one of the fundamental factors to consider is the central processing unit. In a notebook computer this is even more important, as the CPU also determines how long the notebook will operate while running solely on the battery power. Some newer processors come with advanced power management technology, mixing both high speed and low energy consumption. Of course, they also come with a higher-price tag. Intel and AMD processors are the most common in notebooks, and are both usually a safe bet, offering good performance and running well on all versions of Windows and on most of Linux. Examples of low-performance, cheap processors are the ones using AMD Turion and Intel Celeron chipsets. High-end processors include the AMD Athlon 64 and the Intel Pentium M, the last one offering particularly good performance.
Memory
Every computer comes with a certain amount of physical memory, usually referred to as main memory or RAM. The more RAM memory a computer has, the faster it will be, but quantity is not the only factor involved, as there are three different kinds of RAM memory. SDRAM is an older type of memory, not usually used in newer computers. DDRSDRAM is the current standard, offering a good trade-off between price and performance. Finally, DDR2SDRAM is the most advanced kind available, offering a performance increase of almost 60% if compared to standard DDR.
Those using a notebook for gaming and other advanced graphics software such as Photoshop should buy as much RAM as they can afford. For using only simpler software, such as Windows XP, web browsers and Microsoft Office, 256MB of RAM the minimum required, and 512MB is usually enough.
You should also be aware of how many free RAM slots the computer has in case you want to upgrade your memory in the future.
Hard Drive
A Hard Drive stores the data used by a computer. Most notebooks come with 20GB or 40GB hard disks. This is enough unless you are using the notebook for storing a big amount of multimedia content such as movies and music. In this case, you should consider buying a HD with a larger capacity, which can go up to 200GB. An option is to buy an external HD, which is usually cheaper, but not as portable.
In addition, the speed at which a HD rotates is important, since it affects the overall performance of the computer. This is measured in RPMs, usually varying between 4,200RPMs and 5400RPMs.
Connectivity
All computers, particularly notebooks, need to be connectable to other devices, such as mice, digital cameras, etc. Most modern peripherals are connected via USB 2.0 or FireWire.
Some notebooks have a single FireWire connection (enabling peripherals like video cameras to connect at approximately 400Mbps) but nearly every new notebook will have around three USB 2.0 ports, while older notebooks will have approximately two USB 1.1 ports.
Also known as Hi-Speed USB, USB 2.0 allows data transfer at 480Mbps (instead of USB 1.1's 12Mbps).
Another common task is to connect an external monitor using a notebook's VGA-out port.
PC Cards are a notebook's equivalent of a desktop computer's PCI slot - both are used for expanding a machine's capabilities by introducing new hardware. PC Cards are shaped just like a card and have for years been the preferred means of connecting notebooks with add-ons such as sound cards, extra ports and more. However, now PC Cards are making way for a smaller, faster, and more desktop-friendly format called ExpressCard.
If you’re going for a graphic-intense notebook, you should invest in a top-end graphics card, either NVIDIA or ATI, with at least 128MB DDR video memory. In addition, you should choose a screen that supports high resolutions, as most screens offer a maximum resolution of 1024x768 pixels. For gaming in particular, external speakers are also a must.
Laptop Computers Deciding Factors
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