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Laptop Shopping Tips
Before shopping for a
laptop, consider how you'll be using it. If your primary
goal is to get some word processing or spreadsheet work done
while staying on top of e-mail, a $1000 Core Duo model with
a 14.1-inch screen and a 40GB hard drive will be plenty fast
and will save you hundreds of dollars. Sexy lightweight
laptop and models with top-notch processing power and big
screens cost much more.
Keep in mind, however, that most vendors let you
custom-build and -price your own laptop by picking from a
mind-boggling array of features, which gives you a lot of
control over the final product. You may be able to afford a
faster notebook by accepting a smaller, less-expensive hard
drive or DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, instead of a Double Layer
DVD+/-RW SuperMulti driver.
Unlike those on desktop PCs, only some of the components
(such as memory and the hard drive) are upgradable; others
(such as the graphics board) are permanent once they're
installed at the factory. That's slowly changing, as some
manufacturers begin to incorporate upgradable graphics. But
take your time and pick only what you need. Below is a rough
breakout of some configuration options.
Important consideration:
Installed memory. The more
installed memory your laptop has, the more applications you
can run at once, and the better your notebook will perform.
Ease of access aside, upgrading memory in a notebook is a
bit trickier than with a desktop, so buy as much memory
preinstalled as you can afford. Notebooks with 512MB or 1GB
of RAM are optimal.
Important consideration:
Processor. The CPU determines how
quickly a laptop runs applications and performs on-screen
tasks. Core Duo and Core 2 Duo processors are good choices
for speedy processing. (Check latest prices for recommended
laptops.)
Important consideration:
Screen size. The specified size of
a laptop's LCD screen represents a diagonal measurement. The
larger the screen, the higher the maximum resolution and the
more information you can view at once. At this point, most
notebooks are wide-screen models; if you want a notebook
with a standard-aspect screen you'll have to search a bit,
but they are still available. (Compare laptop with
recommended screen sizes.)
Somewhat important:
Hard-drive size. The larger the hard
drive, the more data you can keep on your laptop. Most
people don't need more than 80GB. If you plan to work with
databases, spreadsheets, or digital photo or video files,
opt for a large drive.
Somewhat important:
Expansion bays. The more expansion bays,
the more options you have for switching in new optical
drives or other storage drives; but switching drives takes
time. Though high-end ultraportables typically have no extra
bays, you can purchase external drives for them.
Somewhat important:
Optical drives. Most manufacturers offer
laptops with rewritable DVD drives, which give you the most
flexibility. Alternatively, you can purchase a laptop with a
DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, to save money.
Laptop Shopping Tips
Are you ready to buy a laptop? Here are our recommendations
for specifications that will fit the needs of the average
user.
A 1.73-GHz Core Duo processor. For everyday work--word
processing, spreadsheets, e-mail--you don't need the latest,
greatest (read: "most expensive") processor, but thankfully,
with the Core Duo, you get strong performance and great
battery life. (Check latest prices.)
512MB or more of memory. Anything less will slow your work.
(Check latest prices for notebooks with 512MB or more of
memory.)
Supplemental battery. If you want more time away from an
outlet, buy a higher-capacity supplementary battery when you
purchase the notebook, or buy a notebook that has a modular
bay capable of holding a supplementary power pack. Secondary
batteries usually cost between $99 and $200.
A 14.1-inch wide screen. A screen larger than 12.1 inches
eases eyestrain. Unless you're really pinching pennies,
bigger is better. (Compare prices for notebooks with
14.1-inch screens.)
A 80GB hard drive. Unless you generate multimegabyte music
or database files, or install more than one office suite,
80GB is plenty big.
Touchpad pointing device. Pointing devices are a matter of
taste. Most people, however, find a touchpad easier to use
than a pointing stick. For people who can't decide between a
touchpad and an eraserhead pointing device, some notebooks
include both. If you buy one of these, make sure that it
provides two sets of mouse buttons--one for the touchpad and
the other for the eraserhead--so you don't have to stretch
to reach.
Multiple USB ports. Many laptops now come with two or more
USB 2.0 ports, useful for connecting more of the latest
peripherals.
All-in-one design. Unless you need a lightweight laptop, opt
for one with an internal bay for the optical drive. This
design enables you to swap in other devices, such as an
extra hard drive or a second battery.
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