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Laptops Buying Guide
February 28, 2010
Laptops came into being to make computation – mobile. Initially, designers had to sacrifice on performance and power, in-order to bring about portability. However, the development of technology in leaps and bounds has catapulted these mobile computers to a level where they stand abreast with their desktop PC counterparts. With the market being flooded with various kinds of mobile computers, it is important you know which is the right one for you. There are various aspects to consider when deciding on what laptop to buy. This laptop buying guide explores the requirements of different people, while also suggesting which laptop could be ideal for them.
IN A NUTSHELL…
- If you are looking for a portable solution for light usage, like browsing the internet and keeping in touch through emails, instant messengers and so on, you can consider netbooks of 10-12″ screen sizes.
- If you are looking for a portable solution for heavy usage, like running data intensive and demanding applications, downloading ample amount of content from the internet, you can have a look at the 13-15″ screen notebooks with powerful specifications.
- If you want a computing solution for your home for light usage, the 15-17″ laptops should be ideal.
- If you want a computing solution for your entire family, which is power packed for entertainment, then the 16-19″ display desktop replacement laptops are what you need to look at.
- If you are a gamer who wants a hard-core gaming machine, then the powerful 16-19″ desktop replacements should suit you as well.
- If you are a gamer who wants an easily portable gaming machine, then there are 10-12″ gaming netbooks available in the market.
DETAILED…
First and foremost before buying a laptop, it is necessary to chalk down your requirements. Why do you need one? This laptop buyer’s guide also lists down a few categories of buyers. You could fall into one of the following categories:-
Student
Portability and affordability will most probably be top criteria for students when buying laptops. If it is just a matter of taking down notes, surfing the internet for information, preparing presentations, and working on projects, then a 10-inch or 11-inch screen netbook should be the best laptop to buy.
Typical specifications of 10″/11″ netbooks – A single core processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, a screen resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, WiFi, wired Ethernet connectivity, Bluetooth, a web camera, 2-3 USB ports, about 5-6 hours of battery life and a weight of less than 2kg. The price of such netbooks lie in the £250 - £350 range.
In case you want a more powerful and better performing laptop, more storage space and don’t mind spending some extra £s, while also gaining some extra pounds (lbs) on your bag, then you could go for a 12-inch or 13-inch display notebook. Many of the manufacturers allow you to select components to build your laptop depending on your requirements.
Typical specifications of 13″ notebooks – A single or dual core processor, a maximum of 4GB of RAM (typically 2GB), 250GB hard drive, a screen resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels or 1366 x 768 pixels, WiFi, wired Ethernet connectivity, a web camera, 2-3 USB ports, a battery life of 3-4 hours and a weight of 1.5-3kg approximately. The typical price of notebooks falls between £300 and £500.
Business-man/professional
If you require a workstation for meeting your official travel needs, you might probably want a rugged, powerful laptop, with high performance, which will also weigh low for easy portability. In case your main computation tasks include just browsing, emailing and socialising, then a 10-inch netbook or a 13″ notebook, as mentioned above should work for you. If your work requires you to stay outdoors most of the time, then battery life also becomes a very essential criteria. You could find a suitable buy in the 10-12″ netbook range. However, if you’ll be handling heavy data, intensive applications and more while travelling, a beefed up 12-or-13 incher will be ideal. Then again, the 15-inch portable PCs can offer a larger visual interface and perhaps better performance for running some of those demanding applications, but, this would definitely increase the weight of your baggage. In-case you handle confidential and sensitive official data, then ensure that your laptop has security software running on it. Such security utilities allow remote deletion of data and even render the laptop useless, in case of theft.
A beefed-up 13-incher could typically have the following specifications – A dual core high speed processor, 4GB RAM, 250-500GB hard drive, 1366 x 768 pixels resolution, enhanced professional versions of operating systems, 3-4 USB ports, WiFi, wired Ethernet connectivity, a web camera, a more powerful battery for longer battery life and a weight of 2-4kg. The price of such notebooks can lie between £450 and £800.
Typical basic specifications of 15″ laptops – A dual core processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB hard drive, 1366 x 768 pixels resolution, 3-4 USB ports, WiFi, wired Ethernet connectivity, a web camera, a battery life of 3-4 hours and a weight of 2.5-4kg. This notebook can cost £350-£650.
Home User
If you want to buy a laptop for your domestic use, then you most probably might not be keen on portability. An all-rounder system which will meet the needs of all in the family could be a good option for you.
Here again, you might be troubled by the “desktop PC or laptop” dilemma. Here’s how you solve this problem:-
Go for a laptop if :-
- you have plans of shifting base or moving from place to place
- you’re not very keen on regularly upgrading your system
- you want to save space and do away with wires
- you do not mind spending extra on getting a portable workstation
Be aware that desktop computers cost lesser and allow for easy upgradation, than their laptop-counterparts. Performance-wise, initially the desktop PCs were ahead of mobile PCs, but, with advancement of technology, you do get laptops that are powerful like the fixed computers. Hence, such portable PCs are also referred to as desktop replacements.
If you have decided to go ahead with buying a mobile workstation… In-case you are a light user, who uses the internet for surfing the web, checking emails, paying off bills, buying stuff online, keeping in touch with pals via the social networks, and maybe watch movies then a typical 15″ notebook should be ideal for you. Most of the 15-inchers come with an integrated DVD drive. Such laptops could work out to be budget friendly too. However, if you have an inclination for gaming and entertainment, you should consider those desktop replacements in the market. Even among the desktop replacements, there are the very powerful high-priced laptops and the relatively lower powerful, lower priced ones.
Typical specs for entertainment-centric desktop replacements - 16-19″ screens, full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, a powerful high speed dual core or even quad core processor, up to 8GB RAM, a powerful graphics processor with dedicated graphics memory, 500GB – 1TB (1024GB) hard drives, either a DVD drive or a Blu-Ray drive, 4-5 USB ports, HDMI port, FireWire port, multi-format card reader, HD audio with powerful speakers, WiFi, wired Ethernet and a web-cam. Desktop replacements are heavy and weigh about 5kg. The battery life they offer will be very low – a maximum of 2 hours. However, since portability is not the top priority, you could stay closer to the mains for regular charging. The typical price ranges from £1500 - £2300.
Also be aware that 3D laptops are slowly seeping into the market. They usually are high-end workstations and ship with the viewing spectacles.
You can even get lower priced desktop replacement laptops, with less powerful components, like a regular dual core processor, 4GB of RAM, 320-500GB of hard drive, a screen resolution of 1600 x 900 pixels and a less powerful graphics processor. The price of such devices could vary from £500- £600.
Kids – You can even find a kids’ laptop in the market. Such ultraportables comes in a variety of colours and look like toys. They even offer parental control settings and cost below £100.
Gamer
Hard-core gaming laptops are quite similar to that of the entertainment-centric desktop replacements mentioned above. Then again, if you’re confused about getting a gaming PC or a gaming laptop, then the aforementioned section on “desktop PC or laptop” dilemma holds good.
However, if you want something more portable, you do get 10-12inch gaming netbooks and notebooks too, in the market. Such gaming netbooks merge portability, power and performance.
Here again, many of the manufacturers usually give you the option of choosing components, like the processor, the RAM, the hard drive, the OS edition and other software, when buying a laptop. You can even opt for a 3D laptop if you desire. The top-range components can push the price of the device to a high value. The lower-range components can keep the price low.
Typical specifications of a portable gaming netbook – a 10-12″ screen, a high definition resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, a dual core processor, a powerful graphics processor with dedicated graphics memory, an option to upgrade RAM to 8GB, option to upgrade hard drive to 500GB, WiFi, wired Ethernet, 2-3 USB ports, HDMI, multi-card reader, HD sound, a web-cam, a weight of about 2-2.5kg, a battery life of 2-3 hours. The price can fall between £370 - £750.
Buying a Cheap Laptop -
Be aware that you can compare laptop prices, check reviews, get cashback laptop offers or mail-in rebates, online or even get a free laptop with certain deals (for example mobile broadband packages).
Note: Words like mobile computer, mobile PC, portable computer, portable PC, portable workstation, mobile workstation refer to laptop.
Buying Laptops - The basic terminology
May 29, 2006
What is computer hardware?
All those components of computer system that are tangible and on which either input could be given (like keyboard and mouse etc.) or output could be received (like monitor and printer etc.) are known as computer hardware.
The term computer hardware includes following parts in computer system like: keyboard, mouse, floppy drive, hard disk, CD Drive, DVD rewriter, Printers, scanners, RAM etc.
But do the hardware alone makes the computer system not it is wrong.
What is Software?
Software is a term used to denote the programs which run on a computer..essentially, it makes the hardware work and perform certain tasks. Hardware and without software is life less that means it is same as like a skeleton without life. To make a computer system fully functional software is essential with the hardware. The very basic software that is required for making computer to work in a friendly manner and making it to support all the user activities is operating system.
What is an Operating System?
Operating system is the software that brings life to computer system. Operating system itself does not do any thing but it provides an environment in which other software programs could execute. It provides an interface between the user and the computer hardware. It provides guidelines to user on how to work on computer. Operating system is the software that makes other hardware work in an efficient manner.
Example of an operating system is Windows – which most of us are familiar with.
What is RAM?
Random Access Memory : As a rule of thumb, the more the RAM, the more programs computer can run at the same time – and faster it is. Gone are the days where the 128 and 256 RAMs are sufficient. Nowadays the programs we run on the computer are bigger and with the growth of broadband internet and people gaming online, atleast 512 MB RAM is what is needed for a fast performace.
There will be more to come when I have time..
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