DISCOUNT LAPTOPS / NOTEBOOKS BUYING GUIDE
Since laptops are not so customizable compared to desktop computers, I
will list down the important aspects all in a page.
Computer laptops or notebooks are becoming more popular these days due
to the portability they offer. They are also alternatives to buying a
computer. These are several factors that you need to look out for when
buying a laptop.
Size and Weight
Often, the size and weight is the most important factor to consider when
buying a portable laptop. Compact laptops are small and light, but
usually have to sacrifice components such as optical drive. On the
other hand, bulky laptops are bigger and heavier, but they offer better
performance.
CPU / Processor
The slowest clock speed of about 1 GHz is sufficient for word
processing, web surfing, and e-mailing.
Memory / RAM
The least amount of RAM in the market now is 256 MB DDR SDRAM, which is
just nice for simple computer usage. Also, check on the maximum amount
of RAM the motherboard can support.
Display (LCD)
Standard laptop LCD sizes come in 12.1, 14.1, and 15. Choosing
bigger screen size such as 17 would mean bigger laptop size and weight.
Graphics Card
Laptop graphics card cant perform as good as desktop computers. You
can get as high as 64 MB shared memory nowadays. If you need to use
loads of multimedia applications and dont want to tax your RAM portion,
go for dedicated graphics card of 16MB or 32 MB DDR VRAM.
Network Card
When you have the mobility, you certainly want portable network
connectivity. Try to look for laptops with integrated 56k modem, 10/100
mbps NIC, and 802.11b wireless card.
Hard Drives
It really depends on your needs. Light users may find 20 GB or 30 GB
capacity sufficient for usage.
CD / DVD Drives
If you like to burn CDs and watch DVD movies, try to get a combo drive.
A combo drive is a combination a CD-RW drive and a DVD drive.
Battery Life
Make sure you look for a system with battery that supplies power for
about 2 hours under normal usage. The components that consume the most
power are graphics card, LCD, hard drive, and optical drive.
Warranty
The standard warranty period is 1 year. Since laptops are usually on
the move, they are more prone to breakdown. Therefore, most retailers
allow you to upgrade your warranty plan for additional years.
Dell Home Systems
Dell Inspiron Notebooks are high in performance yet affordable.
Make sure you check out free gifts such as shipping, printer, and
wireless card.
Fujitsu Computer Systems
Fujitsu's LifeBook is one of the world's lightest notebook.
However, it can be quite costly too. They also have other
ranges of notebooks.
Some of the systems are bundled with free shipping, printer or
carrying case.
|