Laptop Buying Guide 2011

Purchasing your own laptop is investing in a device that will provide you with a lot of conveniences. There are a variety of alternatives in the market that you can choose from. Looking for the perfect choice that will suit your needs and purposes, you will have the ability to maximize your productivity and be more active in accomplishing your numerous tasks.

First of all, you have to know what a laptop or a notebook computer is. Simply put, it is a compact device that weighs around 3 to 7 lbs. and performs a variety of system applications. It has the same functionality as a desktop computer but offers more appeal because of its mobility and lightweight. It features LCD screen and keyboard combined in a single device that allows you to achieve productivity and adaptability by bringing it anywhere you want.

Understanding Laptop Specs

You will realize that the different specifications of laptop computers may vary on the model that you will be choosing. You have to understand that finding everything that you need in a single package should be done as much as possible. With most setups, you have to look for a suitable compromise in order to find a device that will suit your needs accordingly.

Learning about the details that each alternative offers can provide you with meaningful information regarding the unit that you are considering. Through these options, you can have a better insight regarding the device and make a sensible choice as to which laptop should you purchase.

Central Processing Unit (CPU/Processor)

Being the brain of the computer, the central processing unit (CPU) is the most important factor to consider in ensuring that you will experience the best performance when it comes to system applications. The CPU can affect you a huge impact on what applications you can run, how smoothly the operation can perform, and how many applications you can run simultaneously.

The CPU of a laptop can vary significantly with a desktop computer in such that it is equipped with the capability to save energy for the maximum and to extend battery life. It uses fewer resources, which in turn eat up a smaller amount of power to perform specific tasks resulting to less heat for the device. The energy saving feature, though advantageous to achieve the optimum use of the laptop, contributes to the weaker performances of the units compared to high energy consuming desktop processors.

There is a wide range of CPUs designed for laptops available from Intel, AMD, VIA Technologies, Transmeta and others.

The leading manufacturer for CPUs in the market today is Intel, which is responsible for the Core, Atom and Centrino brand names while AMD is the runner-up with its Turion, Turion Ultra mobile processors. Other enterprises such as VIA, and other smaller manufacturers are particularly focused in the low-end markets. Performance wise, Intel is currently leading the pack with AMD as its close second. AMD offers a good alternative if you are looking for a capable substitute and are quite conscious about the price range.

For your best options when it comes to laptop processors, proper consideration of the battery saving features and speed are necessary.Because upgrading the system of a laptop computer is more complicated as opposed to desktop units, you have to make sure that you will be choosing a processor that will be suited to your requirements.

Here’s a compare Intel^® & AMD^™ processors.

Memory

The memory in a computer that you always hear is known as RAM (Random Access Memory), which is mainly in charge in processing the tasks and operating the applications. If the laptop has more memory, it tends to perform better by eliminating the need to temporarily save information to the hard disk drive when swapping between applications or handling a complex request and thus the better the performance.

The memory required by your laptop will rely on the operating system and the interface that you intend to utilize. If you are inclined to have numerous applications working at the same time, you need to find an appropriate RAM that can accommodate your multitasking activities.

Laptops today come in 2GB RAM that enables them to run programs smoothly. Having access to higher amounts of memory can be very lucrative as you can find 4 GB packages in budget configurations.

RAM in laptop computers today can either be DDR2 or DDR3. While DDR3 is newer and pricier, DDR2 is more common and still widely used in the market.

Today’s applications can be performed efficiently using DDR2. But if you intend to run software with higher memory requirements, opting for laptops with DDR3 support can be a good investment for you.

Storage

When it comes to storage capacity, you are basically dealing with hard drive space, which is an integral factor in the storage of files on your laptop computer. The hard drive space is measured in gigabytes (GB). Having enough space is necessary in order to run all your software and store all your documents, music, photos, and videos. So, you should go for the largest hard drive if you can afford. However, you don’t need to pay for more storage than you will use.

• Types of Storage Devices
  There are two classifications of storage devices that you can use in your laptop. While most laptops rely on HDDs (hard disk drives), there are newly manufactured models that use SSDs (solid state drives). The SSDs are faster, completely silent and consume less power than the HDDs. So, the SSDs are relatively on the higher end of the market as opposed to HDDs. However, with the much higher price of SSDs, most laptops are still equipped with the HDDs.

• Hard Disk Capacity
  Common laptop HDDs are smaller than those of desktop computers. The storage capacity of the HDD you will need for your laptop can range from 160GB to 500GB. Laptop with 500GB HDD or more is suggested for saving large quantity of files like high-resolution images or movies. The adequacy of the HDD in your laptop is not really a major issue as you can buy an external hard drive if you do not have enough space in your system.

• Hard Disk Speed
  Hard disk speed can affect the data transfer rate that your laptop can accommodate. Choosing a hard drive that has a higher spin rate can provide you with better performance, but larger energy consumption.

  Most laptops today come in 7200 rpm hard drives. If you are likely to use the device on basic applications such as encoding and web browsing, going for a 5400 rpm hard disk is more sensible. If you are involved in heavier tasks like video and graphic editing, choosing 7200 rpm hard drives gives you more advantage, but it will decrease battery life and increase noise levels slightly.

Display

With laptops, you don’t have to choose between CRT (cathode-ray tube) and LCD (liquid-crystal display) monitors as they are commonly characterized by built in LCD displays.

LCD displays can be divided into three types: transmissive, transflective, or reflective. The vast majority of current laptops have the transmissive, active matrix LCDs because of its ability to accommodate the best quality images and its affordability for manufacturers. Active Matrix can also be referred to as TFT (thin film transistor.) TFT screens are designed to perform better in bright light or sunlight and can produce clearer images.

• Display Size
  In purchasing a laptop, you have to take into account the display size of the unit. LCD screens sizes can range from the small 7-inch displays to a hefty 20 inches. Size is measured diagonally from the top-left portion of the screen to the bottom-right.

  The advantage of greater display is that it can allow for broader viewing and higher resolutions. As for the laptop, this can be very limited depending on the classification. This can also be for the fact that the achievement of a portable status is a necessary feature that laptops have to bridge allowing providers to compromise the screen size of the unit.

• Alternatives in Display Size for Small and Lightweight Units
  If you are usually out on trips and have the habit of watching movies on the road to ease off the boredom, a lightweight and small laptop may be the best choice for you.With this alternative, you can choose from the common available sizes that may be suited for your preference:

  1. 8.9 to 11.6 inches
     This display size features smart styling and a relatively impressive battery life. However, it can have several drawbacks such as lower video quality, which can be a consideration that you should think about.
  2. 12 to 14 inches
     You can consider this display size if you are into watching a lot of movies and gaming. You will be able to fully utilize your laptop in these instances because of the appropriateness of the display in the activities you are inclined to engage in.
  3. 14.1 to 17 inches
     This is the perfect choice for wider exhibits.Because of the superior performance that you can achieve with this display size, it is an alternative that will suit your needs when it comes to business presentations and attractive illustrations.

• Between Widescreen and Standard Ratios
  You will also encounter the aspect ratio when it comes to buying laptops. In this accord, you have to understand the terms widescreen and standard to make the right decision.

  Widescreen is used to pertain to the wide aspect or cinema-like appearance that resembles a movie screen. For a lot of laptop models that are coming out in these times, the widescreen display with a 16:9 or 16:10 ratio is a common inclusion. This is very different when compared to the older 4:3 ratio that resembles a television set. Though the option of which ratio to use is up to you as the user, you will find that achieving the standard aspect with laptops is becoming increasingly difficult due to the widescreen alternative. Using this display, you will find that watching movies are more appealing. Also, it is more preferable for some people as opposed to the standard ratio.

  

• Display Resolution
  When it comes to display, you should never forget about resolution. Display resolution refers to the number of pixels counted in the entire area of the LCD. Pixels mean the individual dots that make up the picture.

  You have to understand though that most manufacturers will not relay to you the message using standard human talk. They will refer to the resolution in abbreviations such WUXGA (which is equivalent to a 1024 x 768 resolutions and 4:3 aspect ratio). “1024 x 768” means 1024 pixels across the height and 768 pixels across the widthKnowing what these short messages mean can help you a lot in understanding this aspect of display.

  High resolution allows you to see greater detail in the image and even increase the space that you will be working in. The disadvantage, however, is that everything will look smaller especially with the fonts, which can be frustrating with people who find difficulty in reading and have eye problems.

  Here’s a range of laptop screen sizes and the resolutions that are often displayed on the screen.

  Screen Resolutions (in pixels)	Possible LCD Sizes (diagonal)	Viewable (Megapixels)
  800×600 (SVGA – standard)	12″	0.48
  1024×768 (XGA – standard)	12″, 13.3″, 14″, 15″	0.79
  1280×800 (WXGA – wide)	15.4″, 14.1″, 13.3″, 12.1″	1.02
  1440×900 (WXGA+ – wide)	14″	1.30
  1280×1024 (SXGA – standard)	14″, 15″, 15.7″	1.31
  1400×1050 (SXGA+ – standard)	12.1″, 14″, 15″	1.47
  1680×1050 (WSXGA+ – wide)	15.4″	1.76
  1600×1200 (UXGA – standard)	14″, 15″, 16″	1.92
  1920×1200 (WUXGA – wide)	17″, 15.4″	2.30

Graphics

When you purchase a laptop, you also have to put weight in the graphics. This can depend upon the applications you will be running with your processor. This also means that you have to make the right decision when it comes to the video card for your laptop.

The video card is the controller of everything that you see on your screen. Basically, video cards can be divided into two versions: integrated or discrete. An integrated chip is installed directly into your motherboard and can be very limited if you compare its performance to that of a separate one.

The choice of video card type to use for your laptop should be based on the activities you wish to perform with it. For instance, an integrated chip will be enough to accommodate document processing, internet surfing, and some basic gaming. For the heavier stuff such as multimedia applications and 3D games, using a discrete video card will be usually the better choice and more advisable.

The Differences between the Integrated and Discrete Video Cards

Integrated video cards:

• Are characterized by GPU (graphic processing unit) that is combined directly on the chipset
• Utilize the system’s RAM to perform its function
• Can handle simple applications

Discrete video cards:

• Use a detached GPU that is separate from the chipset
• Have its own independent RAM
• Are relatively more powerful than the integrated video cards
• Can manage heavy graphics and complicated programs

In the industry of graphics for laptop processors, the key players are ATI and NVIDIA.Both of these companies have developed advanced graphic processing units that work in pairs and perform superbly. For ATI, this innovation is called the CrossFireX. For NVIDIA, this technology is referred to as SLI.

The Ultraportable typically feature integrated video cards, while most thin-and-lights and mainstream laptop computers use either integrated or mid-range discrete video cards. Most desktop replacement laptops are installed with mid range or high-end discrete video cards.

Operating Systems

Without software that will handle the different interfaces, using the laptop will certainly be impossible. Operating systems or OS are the managers of the applications that direct the use of the hardware devices and present methods by which you can control the utility of the laptop.

The most preferable OS for laptop computers is Windows. Typically, you will choose between Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

For Windows Vista, you have to make sure that you have at least 2GB RAM in order to efficiently use the OS. If you want a better alternative, you can opt for Windows 7, which is the quicker and reliable version that you can use as your operating system. With Windows 7, you can experience versatility as it can be installed in your low performance laptop.

Optical Drive

You can also have a CD or DVD drive built in to your laptop which allows you to better manage your files and provide you with additional functions that you can use for your maximum pleasure.With optical drives included in your setup, you can listen to your favorite songs, watch movies, install programs, and store your massive file collections in a separate device.

A lot of standard laptops these days come with an integrated optical drive such as a DVD, CD, or even a next-gen optical drive like Blue-Ray or HD-DVD. However, several types such as the ultraportable and the netbook do not provide for this feature. In cases where laptops do not come with built-in optical drives, you can purchase an external optical drive to plug in your laptop in case you may need one.

The optical drives that you will find in the market today are highly functional. They are no longer limited to reading just a single type of format and can process several types such CD and DVD.Choosing the best one which can provide you with more convenience and greater function should be one of your main considerations in purchasing a laptop.

Networking Tools

Connecting to a network or the internet should also be a function that you can perform using a laptop computer. This simple process is accomplished using a modem, an Ethernet hookup, or a wireless device like Wi-Fi or 3G mobile broadband.

There are several types of devices that will allow you to hook up with a network through your laptop.

• Ethernet
  Almost all computers today are supported by an Ethernet to achieve connectivity. For laptops, Ethernet is also widely used to link to a certain network.

  Ethernet has two standard classifications when it comes to speed. The first and more typical kind is the “Fast Ethernet”. Fast Ethernet is also called 10/100 Ethernet. Its maximum speed is at 100mbps on most networking outfits including DSL and cable modems. The other classification is the recent standard referred to as “Gigabit Ethernet”. If Fast Ethernet can support up to 100mbps, the Gigabit standards can do this in as much as 1000mbps.

• Wireless Connections
  Laptops are developed with built-in Wi-Fi that allows you to utilize wireless networking using this tool. Wi-Fi standards have been very popular in the market because of its advantages that they provide to laptop users.

  There are four Wi-Fi standards that are used in the market today. These are 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and draft 802.11n.These references have different transmittal speeds.

  1. 801.11a
     • 54mbps/5GHz in terms of speed
     • Used mainly by corporations and large enterprises
  2. 802.11b
     • 11mbps/2.4GHz in terms of speed
     • most widely used Wi-Fi
  3. 802.11g
     • 54mbps/2.4GHz in terms of speed
     • most common high-speed Wi-Fi
  4. 802.11n
     • 270mbps/2.4 or 5GHz in terms of relative speed (may vary)
     • known as the fastest Wi-Fi standard

  Most Wi-Fi antennas use the 802.11g standard, but the faster 802.11n is becoming increasingly common. Note that you'll need a compatible 802.11n wireless router to get the faster throughput.

• Bluetooth
  It is a networking technology that allows you to connect using a wireless standard within a very short distance. This wireless advancement is supported by some laptops and allows you to swap data and communicate using a close connection. A Bluetooth-enabled PDA or cell phone will allow you to talk and exchange data wireless.

• Wireless Wide Area Network or WWAN (Cellular/3G/4G/Mobile broadband)
  As a fairly new inclusion to laptop computers, built-in cellular modems or 3G/4G networking adapters can be very useful but can also be extremely high priced. Manufacturers often refer to this as wireless wide area networking or WWAN. This can allow a laptop computer to connect to the Internet through a high-speed cellular phone network when no other access is possible.

  This networking standard is usually locked in with a particular mobile service and requires you to subscribe for the services of a specific provider.The access can be limited due to the fact that it can only be used with a high-speed cellular network as its lone provider for the connections.

  If you don’t need to avail of this service and is looking for a network standard that does not carry with it the expenses of a mobile connection contract and the limitations of a locked cellular modem, it will be better to stay away from this feature and to purchase an external cellular modem that uses PC Card, ExpressCard or USB if you really do need such service.

Battery

The idea of portability is of course brought to reality by laptop computers with the help of rechargeable batteries. Without a power source that can function independently, the laptop will be unrealizable.

Achieving mobility for the laptop is greatly influenced by the batteries. With the proper information regarding these power providers, you can make a good choice of which laptop to use.

Lithium Ion batteries are typically the choice for laptop computers because of the inexpensiveness and efficiency of the device. Laptop batteries are usually quoted in terms of the cells.When shopping for a notebook computer, you will likely come across the 6-cells, 9-cells and 12-cells specifications.

For example, a 9-cell battery has 50% more capacity over a 6-cell, but the more cells you have in a battery, the heavier its weight will be. This means that a 6-cell battery will weigh less than a 9-cell battery. Although there will be a considerable difference in the weight of the units, selecting an alternative with maximum cells offered will still be more practical when it comes to buying a laptop.

The average battery life is about 3 hours. This can vary depending on the laptop and also on the applications that you are running. So, if you will be using your laptop away from a power source a lot, make sure that your laptop has power saving features and long battery duration. You can also purchase a second battery just in case to ensure that you will not be inconvenienced by the sudden dry out of the unit.

Currently, some laptop computers can operate longer for about 6-8 hours on a single charge. Other models like new latest netbooks can run longer performance and achieve an 8-12 hours of operation on one charge.

Others

Other than the product specifications that you have to deal with, you also have to put considerable weight in the resources that you have.For example, if you have a lot of USB devices, a laptop that has a minimum of 3 ports is recommended. Other than this, you can also use a USB hub to increase the available ports in your laptop computer.

You should also look for a laptop that can read a variety of flash memories. This can provide you with a practical means when it comes to the transfer of files from your laptop to another device such as MP3 players, digital cameras or personal desktop assistants (PDAs).

Also, it is a must that you buy a laptop carrying case for extra protection. It also comes with a lot of extra compartments and space for you accessories. So, you can maintain your laptop in the best possible condition and bring the device along with you wherever you want without forgetting the accessories that you need in a single holder. With a laptop carrying case, you can also avoid exposing the unit to scratches and heavy impact in case of dropping to ensure its safety.

This only makes it relevant for you to consider all the possible factors when making the ultimate choice.