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With the many different brands and models on the market, buying
a <a href="http://www.myshopping.com.au/PT--3_Lap tops">laptop or
notebook</a> computer may at first seem confusing. But simply
breaking down the process into a few key areas and using
Myshopping.com.au to search for the most suitable features and
pricing makes it much easier to access exactly the machine
you're looking for.
<b>How important to you is mobility?</b>
Mobility in laptop computers is a combination of size, weight
and battery life: how often you carry it around, and if you will
be relying mainly on the notebook's battery, or whether you will
access an external power source. Laptops can weigh from a little
over 1 kg up to 6kg, depending on the model and features
included. The screen, storage space and disc drive all affect
the weight.
Battery life is shortened by bigger screens and multiple disc
drives. Manufacturers advertise the weight of the laptop in
their specifications, but it is important to consider whether
that specification includes batteries and other peripherals such
as external drives that you may be lugging around. The most
common battery type is Lithium Ion (Li-Ion), which can operate
for one to three hours under normal working conditions. But many
power saving options available and higher celled batteries can
extend the discharge time considerably. Battery life
deteriorates over time however, and as your laptop ages; the
discharge rate of the battery will diminish. Sometimes it is
worthwhile carrying an additional battery.
<b>Application and cost</b>
If mobility is of a lesser concern, then battery life and
weight will be less important. You may be more inclined to have
a bigger processor, screen size and memory capacity. The type of
work you do can affect the screen size and type that is most
suitable for you. For a lighter load, and less graphics
intensive applications a 12-14in screen instead of 15 or 17in
widescreen will be more suitable. If, on the other hand, the
graphics capabilities and size of the screen are important then
the best screen you can afford will be more of a priority. It
may work out cheaper to buy a basic unit and add such things as
an external TV card and DVD burner when the need arises.
How much you need to spend is closely related to how you use
your <a
href="http://www.myshopping.com.au/PT--3_Lap tops">laptop</a>. If
you only want to access your e-mail, browse the Web and do word
processing, then you can consider lower budget machines with
smaller processors, screens and facilities.
A medium-level user, perhaps playing games or working in
multimedia applications, will need a powerful processor,
graphics controller, storage space, and a bigger screen. The
more features your laptop has, the more expensive it will be.
Including a DVD-burner instead of DVD-ROM, hard drive capacity
of more than 40GB, a 17in widescreen screen and wireless
capabilities results in a more expensive machine.
If you are not looking for high power and graphics
capabilities, then you may find a suitable laptop for around
$1500. The latest processor, full blown graphics capability, DVD
burner, widescreen and wireless connectivity may cost over
$4000. Use Myshopping.com.au to search with different price
ranges.
<b>Other key components</b>
Having determined by what you will do with it, and how mobile
you need to be that you are definitely buying a laptop, you now
need to get down to the nitty gritty and find the specifications
that will meet your needs. So, what to look for? Essentially,
you are considering differences between the following
components: display, graphics controller, memory (RAM), hard
disk, removable storage, networking options, peripheral
connectivity, sound and battery.
<b>Display and Graphics</b>
Notebooks now all feature LCD screens (Liquid Crystal Displays)
presenting crisp text and reduced eyestrain. These screens
display sharper text than standard CRT monitors, but are less
capable of displaying well-rendered graphics. If you will be
using your notebook for graphics work, it may be worthwhile
having a CRT monitor to connect to. Screen sizes for notebooks
range from 12.1in to 17in (widescreen). A 15in display or 15.4in
widescreen alternative is the most common in notebooks today.
Widescreen is quickly becoming more common, partly to
accommodate playback of DVDs and also because widescreen
proportions make it is more durable.
On-screen graphics are affected by both the size and type of
screen as well as the graphics card. It is reasonably safe to
assume that larger displays offer higher on-screen resolution.
Screen brightness (measured in nits) is another specification
that can vary between makes and models. Brighter screens impact
less on eyes and can be more easily read in bright conditions.
Some manufacturers have a glossy, reflective coating over the
display improving contrast and colours. But, because it
increases the reflectivity of the screen, it can show you
reflected in the screen. Surface scratches may also show up more
readily. Not all LCD screens have the same viewable angle, with
some screens not easily viewed from a side angle.
Graphics performance in laptops is still inferior to that of
desktop machines. All graphic controllers easily render 2-D
images and if you don't need more from your graphics, then an
integrated graphics controller is ample. However, if you want to
play the latest 3-D games at a decent resolution and frame rate
or you're a CAD designer, then you'll need a discreet graphics
controller with a dedicated DDR video memory.
<b>Memory and Storage</b>
In all computers RAM chips keep the CPU efficiently fed with
data or instructions from programs on the hard drive. Notebook
computers now commonly use DDR SDRAM (Double Date Rate SDRAM),
the default standard, and DDR2 SDRAM which is a next-generation
memory type offering considerable performance and power benefits
over SDRAM. Either way, when it comes to RAM, more memory is
better and you should consider 256MB as the absolute minimum.
Upgrading memory can achieve better performance, and quite a
number of vendors offer higher RAM configurations as a 'deal
sweetener' at the time of purchase. Search through
Myshopping.com.au for bundled extras such as more RAM.
The hard drive provides the long-term storage and is the centre
of program control. There are two critical specifications of
hard disks. One is disk speed, measured in revolutions per
minute (rpm). Faster disks speeds provide quicker access for
loading and saving and 'file swapping'. The other is storage
capacity, and drives are now available for notebook computers
with 120GB capacity. If you work with large file sizes, then you
will probably want at least 40GB of hard drive space. You may
also want to consider the type of removable storage such as a
DVD writer, removable hard disks and media or 'flash' card
systems that will suit your use best.
<b>Networking and connectivity</b>
Laptop computers now include 56Kbps modem (RJ-11) and 10/100
Ethernet (RJ-45) connections as standard features. Some feature
an Infrared port and you can use it to connect your mobile
phone. Other wireless technology for connecting mobile phones,
printers and PDA devices includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, allowing
connection at certified public access points and home wireless
networking.
Most laptops use USB 2.0 or FireWire connection for connecting
keyboard, mouse, printers, cameras and other peripherals. Nearly
every new notebook will have around three USB 2.0 ports, and one
FireWire port and a VGA-out port to connect an external monitor
to.
Notebook computers have traditionally been able to expand their
capability through simple plug-in PC Cards. Recently a new
standard has emerged called ExpressCard, a smaller, faster and
more portable plug-in card to provide such things as expanded
video and sound capacity.
Choosing a laptop becomes much easier once you've decided on
these basic requirements. You can search Myshopping.com.au to
compare makes, models, prices, accessories and all the important
specifications. You can also compare vendors and their prices
and service.
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