Choosing a Laptop
Size matters: Size and weight is likely to be one of the main factors you take into consideration when buying a laptop, especially if you’re going to be carrying it around a lot. When looking at the specification you will see three dimensions - width, depth and height.
Remember that the size of a laptop is determined on the size of the screen and keyboard, and you may not want to sacrifice these qualities for portability.
The weight of different models varies considerably. Netbooks can weigh as little as 1kg while laptops go up to around 3kg if you want a large widescreen display.
Accessories such as a power adapter also add to the weight.
Processor: Also known as CPUs (Central Processing Unit), processors are commonly made by Intel or AMD. The processor is the ‘brain’ of your computer and its speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz). If you want high performance, for downloading or video editing, for example, then the faster, the better. But for day-to-day computing needs 1.8GHz should suffice.
Look for a laptop with a ‘dual core’ processor - most are these days. This means the computer has two processors on one chip - making multi-tasking a breeze.
Memory - RAM and HDD: RAM (random access memory) is an important point to consider if you want a speedy laptop. If you’re going to have a fast processor you need the right amount of RAM to support it. RAM, measured in gigabytes (GB), is the memory installed on the computer system and is used to process and store data that the computer is working with. Look to get a laptop with at least 1GB of memory, but ideally at 2 or 3GB is best
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Your computer’s hard drive (HDD) - which also measured in gigabytes - is where your programs, photos, music, videos and other files will be stored. So, if you will be storing a lot of large files - such as videos and music - get a laptop with as much hard drive capacity as you can afford, or at least 250GB. On the other hand, if you’re only planning to use your machine for surfing the web, vast storage space might not be necessary.
Optical disc drives: Apart from some of the ultra-mobile models, most laptops come with a CD/DVD drive for you to play music or films on. If you want to record on to blank CDs or DVDs look for a CD-RW or DVD-RW drive respectively.
The very latest laptops may also feature a Blu-ray player for HD movies, although these are still pretty rare. BD-ROM drives will play Bly-ray discs, while a BD-RW drive will record on to a blank Blu-ray disk as well as read it.
Operating system and software: Deciding whether to buy an Apple or PC laptop is a big decision, and at the end of the day it comes down to personal choice.
Apples and PCs run different operating systems and each type has its own band of devoted followers. Despite often heated arguments about which is best, it essentially comes down to personal choice and your budget. Apple MacBooks are renowned for being slick and user-friendly, while PCs are considered to be more flexible and open, and there’s probably more software available for the latter.
The latest PC laptops will come pre-installed with Windows 7, Microsoft’s latest operating system but some may still be supplied with Vista or XP. Other built-in software you may recognise includes Adobe Flash Player, Microsoft Works and trials of Microsoft Office.
Apple MacBooks generally come with a suite of Apple’s own brand software, such as Safari and iTunes.
Battery and touchpad: If you’re looking to buy a laptop, you don’t want it to have the restrictions of a desktop. So, considering you may not always have a power socket nearby, a long battery life is essential.
A good battery should last between 5 and 7 hours but it depends on what tasks you are doing - watching a four-hour movie is likely to drain the battery more quickly than a marathon game of Minesweeper.
Most laptops are fitted with a touchpad, which means you can navigate across the screen without needing a separate mouse. Although it may take a little getting used to, the touchpad is the ultimate companion when it comes to wireless portability.
Connectivity: Probably one of the most important aspects in this digital age is the connectivity a laptop can offer. Look for laptops with built-in Wi-Fi, essential to get on the web when on the move. If you want faster speeds, look for a laptop with 802.11n, rather than the older 802.11b/g.
Also, you’ll need at least three USB ports, especially if you want to plug in an external mouse, keyboard or digital camera.
Firewire points can transfer files quicker than USBs. Your laptop and external device will need a Firewire/IEEE 1394 port.
Screen and graphics: If you’re planning on playing a lot of games on your laptop, then ample screen size and a top-notch graphics card will be top of your list. Laptops come with LCD screens, usually sized between 11 and 17 inches. For everyday use a 15-inch screen is generally considered standard. Remember, screens are measured diagonally from the top corner to the opposite bottom corner of the display.
Widescreens are ideal to watch TV or DVDs on your laptop and most laptops now come with a VGA socket to connect a bigger external monitor or TV.
For a quality 3D gaming experience you’ll have to spend a little more to get a separate dedicated graphics card, which displays the image on a computer screen, and ideally you want one with at least 512MB of memory. Integrated graphic cards are usually fine for everyday home and office use, but can eat up a large slice of your RAM.
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