Laptop Buying Guide
Before you start shopping, ask yourself what kind of programs you will be running and what level of performance you'll need. Think about how often you need a laptop on trips, for work, etc., as its weight and size will affect its portability. Laptops are built with the same basic components as desktop computers; they're just a little more compact. And just like desktop computers, laptop components make for a wide range of possibilities, so knowing your needs before you buy will help you make a wise purchase.
Laptop buying tips
The smallest laptops are made for frequent fliers or others who spend a lot of time traveling and need an extra-portable computer. They will efficiently run most office programs and Web browsers, as well as media players and basic photo programs. Some of the smallest laptops are also tablet PCs. Tablet screens rotate 180 degrees and fold back over the keyboard. The user can then make selections and take notes with a stylus pen. These handy computers are great for those who do a lot of work standing up or who need a more versatile laptop for note taking.
Just be aware that what you gain in portability you loose in performance. Some of the smaller laptops won't have DVD drives, for example, and they won't have as much space for memory and graphics cards. However, you can connect external DVD burners and other drives to a small notebook computer if you need more versatility. A smaller laptop also equals a more compact keyboard.
Most laptop users will want something in the middle -- a laptop that can be used for doing a little bit of everything while remaining small enough to easily take to class or work. With most mid-size laptops, you can burn and play DVDs, surf the Web, handle digital photos and maybe even edit a little video. They may strain to run professional graphic design, video editing and other complex software, but these mid-size notebook computers will get you the biggest bang for your buck.
Laptop components
Processor: The processor, or "central processing unit" (CPU), is the brain of a notebook computer; it's what makes everything tick. Processor speeds for most new computers are usually measured in gigahertz (GHz). A really fast computer will be 2.0GHz or faster. Most range from 1.4GHz to 1.8GHz.
Laptop processors employ special battery-saving measures. Intel laptop processors will be designated with an M (for "mobile") or "core." AMD notebook processors are usually designated with the "Turion" name. Most laptops will have these mobile processors, but some of the larger, desktop replacement notebook computers will have desktop processors that run faster (and hotter).
Hard drive: The hard drive is the memory storage of a laptop. A big hard drive allows you to install more, larger programs and save more files. Today's high performance laptop computers feature more than 120GB of storage space or even two high-capacity hard drives. For those who like to store lots of movies and music, these mammoth hard drives are great (and more expensive). For most folks, a 60GB or 80GB will be much more practical. The hard drive's rotation speed is also important. A fast-rotating hard drive (say, 7,200 rpm) will improve the computer's overall performance. At the same time, though, it will use more battery power.
System memory: Even if you don't know much about electronics, you've probably heard of RAM. It stands for "random access memory" and is one of the main components that will make your laptop run fast or slow. A lot of RAM, which today equals 1GB or more, will allow your computer to run more programs simultaneously, as well as work with larger multi-media files.
Screen: Laptop screens are thin liquid crystal display (LCD) screens that in the past have been difficult to see. This has changed, however, and most laptop screens are now much brighter and sharper. Some are even backlit with LEDs that keep the screen bright while using less energy.
The screens on notebook computers are measured diagonally. A few run small, around 10 inches. Large screens on multimedia laptops will usually measure around 20 inches. Most run around 14 inches -- an optimal size for most operating systems and programs. If you plan on watching movies on your laptop, think about getting a widescreen.
Battery: Most notebook batteries on the market are lithium-ion batteries. That's a good thing, by the way, because you don't need to worry about "memory effect" with these laptop batteries. This occurs when non-lithium-ion batteries are recharged before being completely run down, diminishing their overall charging capacity. Lithium-ion laptop batteries can be recharged at any time without affecting the capacity. Of course, over time, all rechargeable batteries begin to loose their charge, but a lithium-ion laptop battery will keep it much longer.
Optical drive: The laptop's optical drive is its DVD or CD drive. Most new laptops come with a DVD+/-RW drive, or burner, which reads and writes blank DVDs and CDs in all formats. These are handy for backing up your important files as well as putting your home videos onto a disc. Be aware that a DVD- or CD-ROM drive will only read discs. If you make sure the drive on the laptop you want is compatible with both DVD+RW and DVD-RW, you won't have to worry about getting the right format when you're shopping for blank DVDs. You may find a few of the smaller laptops that don't have an optical drive to save on space and weight, but the vast majority of notebook computers will have them.
External ports: The number of external ports varies from laptop to laptop. All will have at least a couple of universal serial bus (USB) ports. You will probably want as many of these as you can get, however, since most computer accessories connect through USB these days. You might also look for a VGA port if you want to connect to a separate monitor or a projector. Other connections you might consider include a FireWire port for capturing video from a digital camcorder. Some new laptops also feature media ports, which read flash memory cards from digital cameras and other devices.
Virtually all laptops also feature PC card (also know as PCMCIA card or cardbus) slots, where you can insert network cards, memory expansion and a whole lot more. You'll see PC card slots in three different sizes, designated as type I, type II and type III. Type II slots will also fit type I cards, and type III slots will fit both type I and type II. Newer laptops may also features ExpressCard slots, which are basically faster versions of the regular PC card slot. If you really want to get into all the technicalities, just visit www.pcmcia.org for more information on these different formats.
Networking: A laptop's network interface controller (NIC) allows you to connect to a local area network of other computers and high-speed Internet. You'll want a laptop with a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port as well as an 802.11g or 802.11b wireless networking card. Many companies, colleges and libraries have set up wireless networks which allow people to log on to the Internet from anywhere in the building. Lots of families now set up home wireless networks, too, so they can use their laptop to surf the Web from the sofa or at the breakfast table. Laptops also feature internal modems, so you can connect to a phone line for dial-up Web service, sending faxes, etc.
Video card: Also called graphics cards, video cards generate graphics in the laptop display. All laptop CPUs have a graphics controller, which allows the computer to display basic video and graphics. A video card, however, is an extra device that takes the load off of the processor, allowing the laptop to run smoothly and quickly when playing movies or working with photos. Some video cards have their own system memory, which makes for faster, more seamless performance.
Touchpad: Most laptops today feature a touchpad, which allows you to move the pointer with your finger. Some also feature small rubber joysticks, or "pointing sticks," in the middle of the keyboard that respond to the direction in which you push or pull your fingertip. Most touchpads can be adjusted for sensitivity. Look for laptops that feature a touchpad with a designated scroll area. These allow you to easily scroll up or down in a window without having to hold down a button at the same time.
