Been looking for a new laptop and still haven’t decided which one to buy, and where. But I did find this article on HOW TO CHOOSE your laptop and thought it would be good to share it here.
Source: bestbuy.com Accessed: Dec 30, 2006
Notebook Computer Buying Guide
By Paul TanseyÂ
There’s no way around it: you need a computer at home. It’s so easy to stay in touch, stay organized and entertain and inform ourselves when you have one, it’s a wonder we ever did without one.
With notebook technology advancing in leaps and bounds in recent years, there’s no reason you can’t take this power and convenience with you wherever you go. You can stay connected anywhere wirelessly, and most notebooks can do anything a desktop can do, without the bulky tower, and without forcing you to stay indoors. Just because you’re working doesn’t mean you can’t work in the park.
There are just as many different kinds of notebooks out there as there are ways to use them, so let’s look at some key points that will help you decide which one is right for you.
Different notebooks for different needs
Notebooks, also known as laptops, feature a powerful processor, hard drive, keyboard, mouse and monitor all in one package, ready to go at a moment’s notice. How you plan on using the notebook will determine the type you need.
Student life - Student life is all about flexibility. You want to be able to pack your computer away in a bag to shuttle from class to class, so something light and compact is desirable. You also want to be able to afford to eat, so sticking to a budget is essential.
Music and video are important, so be sure to choose a model with enough hard drive space. Leisure time also seems to play a role in the student life, so be sure to get a model that can handle the video demands, with enhanced video cards and high performance displays for gaming and DVD movies.
Most models come with wireless capability, so you can grab a seat in any wireless Internet hotspot and get to work. Intel’s Centrino™ and Apple’s AirPort Extreme both give you the ability to connect to wireless networks anywhere, including in your own home.
Photos and music - These models feature faster processors, more RAM, and larger hard drives to store your always-growing collection of images and music files. They are also enhanced for displaying photos, and you have more options for getting your media into the computer, including additional USB slots and built-in memory card readers to swap images straight from your digital camera or other device.
Thin and light - Many newer laptops are thinner and lighter than ever but still deliver heavyweight performance, packing all of the processing power, hard drive space and versatility you’ll need into a frame that can be as thin as one inch and weigh less than six pounds. You will pay a little more for the size and weight you save, but if you have to carry your laptop around with you wherever you go, you will very quickly appreciate leaving the extra bulk behind.
Home entertainment - These top-end models feature big 17-inch widescreen displays enhanced for crystal-clear, smooth video playback. The video cards, processors and operating systems are also enhanced for high performance video and audio, with Media Center models featuring personal video recorder (PVR) capability, a built-in TV tuner, surround sound and multiple digital and analog video inputs.
PVRs will change how you watch TV. Pause and replay live TV, then skip back to the live feed when you’re ready. You can also program your notebook to automatically record your favorite shows.
About the size of it
Notebooks come in all shapes, sizes and weights. Many are now an inch thick or less, with absolutely every millimeter of internal space used efficiently. These thin notebooks don’t lose a step on their beefier competition, with just as much processing power and a screen size and keyboard that won’t leave you feeling shortchanged.
As notebooks get a little larger, the size of the screen also climbs. You can find high-performance Thin Film Transistor (TFT) LCD screen sizes ranging from 12.1 to 17 diagonal inches or more, most set up as widescreens. Some even feature a tablet display that swivels between a standard keyboard and screen orientation and a tablet on which you can write using a special pen: perfect for jotting down notes or drawing diagrams.
The wireless world
Nearly all notebooks are capable of working wirelessly, with wireless cards and processors enhanced to perform when you’re connected at a hotspot. Many notebooks now include Bluetooth wireless for easy, safe, secure linking with a wide range of other devices, from handhelds to cell phones to wireless headphones.
Instead of confining yourself to your office or den, or inflicting a tangle of wires and computer components on your décor, you can set your family up with a network of wireless notebooks. Everyone gets the access they need, when and where they want it. Plus, if you need your computer for work, you can take everything with you and not worry about leaving a file behind or denying anyone their computer time.
Multiple users can go online at once, and all of the same access protection can be installed to keep your kids away from online dangers. You can all use one central wireless printer and scanner for total convenience.
Memory and power
Processing power can separate the handy from the incredible, so if performance is key, look for more processing power. Most processors will fall within the range of 1.0GHz to 3.0GHz, but different types of processors excel in different ways.
Intel’s lineup starts with the Celeron™, while the Pentium® 4 is peppier and more powerful. The top-of-the-line Centrino™ chipsets feature Pentium® M or newer Core™ 2 Duo processors, built-in wireless capabilities, improved power-saving capabilities and enhanced performance.
AMD also has a good range of processors, which tend to be less expensive than Intel’s, keeping prices down. Their ultra-efficient Athlon™ 64 works with both 32-bit and 64-bit applications and games, so you’re ready for the future. AMD’s Turion™ 64 technology is similar to Centrino and adds wireless performance to their high-end processors.
RAM is also an important performance factor and serves as the real-time memory that makes your applications run faster and makes it possible to work with huge files. RAM starts at about 512MB, but most models can be upgraded with extra memory. You can find some that can be upgraded all the way to 4.0GB, which comes in handy for demanding multimedia applications.
Many of the higher-end models will also include a generous amount of RAM built into the video card for smooth performance, especially for today’s advanced 3D games.
Drives
Hard drive sizes vary considerably, from about 60GB (more than enough for basic computing needs) all the way up to 120GB, ideal for multimedia, home entertainment and games. Faster hard drives (measured in RPM) are better for quick access to data and for smooth video and game operation.
Optical drives - The DVD/CD drive is at least capable of reading DVD-ROMs and burning CDs, but more and more can now work with rewritable DVD±R/RW and even double-sided or double-layered DVDs. If you need better performance, look for write speeds in the range of 24x for CD and 8x for DVD.
Increasing the cool factor, optical drives on some HP computers are outfitted with a technology called LightScribe, which can burn a professional-looking label right onto your disc.
The softer side
The operating systems you can choose from will also impact performance, and will often include software to work with photos, multimedia or even TV. The more basic Windows XP Home Edition does a great job, Windows XP Professional is great for networking (very useful when connecting to campus networks), while Windows XP Media Center Edition is tailored to deliver stellar multimedia performance.
Apple’s Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger also delivers great multimedia and networking performance, and comes bundled with photo, music and moviemaking software.
Staying power
Battery life is also a consideration. Many manufacturers have been working to improve the efficiency of their systems to extend the amount of work you can accomplish per charge. This will come in handy on long trips or when you have to finish a project but can’t find anywhere to plug in, like when you’re on a park bench or a coffee house patio.
Accessories for protection and convenience
First and foremost, a notebook case will not only make it easier to carry around your computer and its related accessories, but it will also protect your investment. Notebook cases range in size, with some designed for style and others for capacity, and many for both.
A small notebook mouse will give you a welcome break from your current pointing device, making it easier to navigate your screen. They come in either wired or wireless versions. An extra power adapter - one in the bag and one for the office - and back-up battery are also a good idea, so you never get caught without power.
A flash drive that plugs directly into a USB port is an inexpensive and efficient way to transfer files. Pop one into your notebook case.
With a better understanding of what separates a good notebook from a great one, it’s easy to find the right one for you.
Shop our current selection of notebooks or check out our Notebook Finder.Â