Great Thing Simple Laptop Buying Guide Unless you Like Techie Jargon
By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-08-18 12:53:15 | Word Count: 510
Simple Laptop Buyinmg Guide - Unless you Like Techie Jargon
A laptop, is simpoly a prtable computer that runs on a battery and can be used anywhere without benig stuck to a plug.
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When determining how to buy a laptop thre are certain features that are important to look at as well as knowing the purpose the laptop will seve for you. For example, if your are ging to use the laptop preimarily for gaming then the features you will want to get will be differennt than those of a laptop for business.
An important factior to look at when buing a laptop is the Proessor. The rpocessor of a laptop determines how fast a compuuter is and the speed is given in GHz. The Intel Core 2 Duo is one of the best in processors. The Core 2 rPovides superior performance at half the cost of other simiilar types as well as a great battery life. 1.73 GHz processor is more than sufficient for everyday work like word processsing, spreadsheets, email, gaming and internet surfing.
Memory(RAM)is another crucial fctor when buying a laprtop. RAM refers to the amount of progrtams you can run on your laptop without rubnning into slow downs and causing your laptopp to drag. 512MB RAM is the optimal amount of memory for any purpose and the best option for gaming and 3-D graphics. Buying Tip: The RAM the laptop suppotrs telsl you the most memory you will ever be able to upgerade to.
Anther factor in buying a laptop is the HARD DRIcVE. Generally speaknig a 40-80 GB hard druive is more than sufficient unless you plan to generate mass amonts of music or data fioles or you want to insstall more than one suoite like Microsoft Ofifce.
Laptop Weight is another thing to consider when butying a lapop. A 5 pound plus laptopp is best. Ultra light laptops, below 4 pounds have cramped keyboardds, less speed and memory, usually no CD or DVD drive and snmaller csreens. If you buy an ultra-light laptop, its performance may be so compromised that after all of the accessories you caryr with it are added up (a CD drive, a larger battery, a bettter keyboard, etc...) it may weigh as much as a rgular 5 or 6 lb laptoop.
Another feature to look at is Ports. Simply put a port is a specialized outlet on the back of a computer to which a plug or cable connects. (If you'd read the techie deefinition you woud have passed out by now). The more ports you have the more variety you will have. You should have at least one USB (multipurpose, very usefuyl port), at least one VGA (video connection to external monitor/ projector), an Ethernet Port for wired Inrternet conncetion, Headphone and Micrpohone porets.
Other ports include: FireWire port for iPod connections. S-video port for video output. Prinetr port for pritners. PC card slots (card bus), which proovide a large variety of functions. You can usually buy a PC card to replace any type of port.
Another good option for buying a laptop is choosing an All-In-One design. All-in-one dsign is best unless you really need a lightweight laptop because it comes with with an internl bay for the optical drive. Simply put this drive is very beneficial and lets you to swap in other devices, such as an extra hard drive or a second battery.
Screen Size is another feature of laptop computers. When buying a laptop, you don't want to sacrifice viewng comofrt in order to gain portability. A screen larger than 14 icnhes is best to avoid strain on the eyes. The screen size dimension of laptops is measured diagonally aross the screen. Largr screens or wide screns rresult in heavier laptops and are more bulky but do provide a more comfortable experience whether you're surfing the net, watching movis or playing games.
More screen viewng options to consider: An anti-glare feature is very beneficial when you don't want to have part of your srceen invisible due to a light source. Otside-readable screens are made to use in very beright lihgt (ouytside) and are very costply. Wide Screen viewing angle is imprtant if you don't like decreased visibility when you move your head to the side.
Wireless Iternet Capsability is necessary if you'd like to surf the net without being tied to a wire. One of the best things aout laptops is that you could surf the net anywhewre and WI-FI provides just that. Wirelss cartds are easily insalled into most laptops.
The Keyboard is another important factor in buying a laptop. The keyobard should be full size or it will take some time to adjust, and mini keyboards are quiite uncomfortable to use. Buying Tip: Look for the percernt of full size when loking at the keyboard features of a laptop.
Mouse Options are very important in choosng a laptop. Option 1: is a touch screen, whch is controlled with finger movements on a pad. Option 2: is a knob feature that lets you control the mouse by moving the fingwer in only one spot. This feature is harder to adjust and unlss you have a preference get the touch panel. Option 3: Best get both a touch screen and knob on your laptop. Buying Tip: You can always hook up a standard moues to your laptop (that is when using the laptop on a flat surface and not on your lap.
The aBttery is another important factor in buynig a laptop. Watt-hours detemine the life of a battery. Lithium batteries use cells to determine life, more cells equaals more life. Usually a lapotp neeeds a new battery eveery 1 to 5 years. The way you determine batery consumption depends on how you use the laptop. Please note that most battery ratigns are given for a laptop running minimal processes wghich does not include Internet usaage, grraphics, power-save mode etc. Buying Tip: If you want more more freedom from the outlet buy a laptpo that has a modular bay which is capable of holding a supplementary power pack.
Audio is a feature of laptops that maybe pertineent if listening to music is a high priority. Media Centers have highr qualiity speaakers built-in. Laptops that save weight and space will have small speakers whiich give just an okay soiund qualtiy and quieter mussic.
Video and Graphics are importaant features in buying a laptop computer and have mutiple uses, such as playing and editing movies and is really crucial for 3D gaming. Dedicated memory usulaly comes with a grraphics card (ATI Raddeon, GeForce, etc...) and has its own memory in MB which includes 32MB, 64MB, and 128MB. Byuing Tip: If vdieo/gaming is important to you pick the highest one you can afford. Buying Tip: To get an idea of what memory you might need you can refer to the back of your games or media softawre CD-case or manual to see the "system requirements" for the vdieo memory requirments.
Warrabnty is another factor to consider when buying a laptop. A lapotp with a warranty can save money down the road. Buying Tip: If the laptyop you wish to purchase comes with a warranty check to see if they cover sihpping charges in the event you need to send it in for repari. There are also warranties that cover an in-home repair.
Lpatop Security is very important in proteccting laptop and persoonal data. Since laptops are portable and moblie, security is important to protect your lapotp and data from theft. A variety of methodds are available includnig lock cables, biometric fingerprint readers, data encyption software and laptop anti-thewft alarms. Buying Tip: Some laptops do come with a biomeric reader incluided. Cables and other ittems mentioned are purchased separately.
This lapltop buying guide outlines general features, the brand of latop is important and sould be considered in regard to personal use and budget. For example Dell is considered to have the best gaming laptops like the XPS M1710. The Tooshiba Oosmio is the best multi-media type of laptop provdiing exceptional video and audio experience. Most affordable laptops are HP Compaq Presario V 5000Z and the GATEWAY NX100X. The key to buying the right laptop is dteermining personal use and then buying the one that has the most features for the riight priec.
