Laptop Buyer's Guide

When shopping for a laptop, a buyer must balance features and performance with cost. Choosing the right model depends on how you will be using the laptop. Frequent travelers will want a model that bundles all the features they need in a thin and light unit, while home users looking for a desktop replacement will want more power and storage with less concern for portability. Identifying the features most important to you is the first step in choosing the right laptop model.

Processor

The core of a laptops power is the central processing unit, or CPU. The overall power of a CPU is determined not only by the processor speed, but also the system bus speed (or front-side bus), and cache memory. Available budget will be a major factor in determining what type of processor you get, but in general, most users looking for a basic unit for email and web browsing will find a budget or mid-range processor will suit their needs. For travelers, a mobile processor with reduced power consumption will increase battery life. Business users and users involved multimedia editing or gaming will want as much power as they can afford, for it is impossible or difficult to upgrade laptop processors.

Memory or RAM

Random Access Memory, or RAM, is vital in determining laptop performance, as it stores and manages data used by the CPU. RAM is also the easiest component to upgrade later.   Regardless of budget, 256MB should be the minimum installed RAM, but most users will want 512MB or 1GB if possible. Cost-to-benefit ratio is most noticeable with RAM, so installing as much as your budget will allow is recommended. Overall RAM capacity also varies by model, so if you intend to add more at a later time, be sure the model you purchase can handle the upgrade.

Display

Selecting the right liquid crystal display, or LCD, is another major decision for laptop buyers. Not only will the LCD be used view everything your laptop doing, but it will be the major factor in determining overall weight and portability of the unit. Most of the smallest full-featured portable laptops use a 10.6” or 12” display, mid-size laptops most commonly have a 14” or 15.4” display, while desktop replacements typically use 17” or even 20” displays. Users that require more on-screen real estate for graphics intensive applications or viewing multiple spreadsheets will want to weigh the benefit of more viewing surface with the additional size and weight required to support such a screen. For most casual home users, a 15.4” screen should be plenty for web browsing or watching DVD movies. In addition to size, maximum resolution will determine how much will fit on the screen.

Graphics Card or Video Adapter

A graphics card gives the laptop its capability to convert applications the laptop is performing into an image on the screen. A graphics card requires RAM to function, and in general, the more RAM, the more powerful and expensive the laptop will be. Some laptops use shared video RAM and some use dedicated or discreet video RAM.   Cards using shared RAM borrow memory from the main system, while cards with dedicated or discreet RAM have memory installed directly on the card, which keeps the main memory available for use by the laptop. Users running graphics-intensive applications, gaming, or running presentations will benefit from a graphics card using 256MB or more of dedicated video RAM.

Hard Drive

The laptop hard drive serves as permanent storage for all programs and data the laptop will use. Hard drive size determines how much data can be stored, while hard drive speed determines how fast that data can be written to the drive and accessed by the laptop. Users that need to store multimedia files such as music and videos will want more capacity. Most laptops have a minimum of 40GB hard drive while larger drives have 160GB and higher. Most users will opt for a capacity somewhere in between.

Optical Drive

An optical drive gives the laptop the capability to read data from optical media such as CDs or DVDs. A rewritable optical drive with CDRW or DVDRW capability gives the user the option to create CDs or DVDs. Most laptops include a combination drive called CDRW/DVD which allows creation of CDs and reading of DVDs. DVDRW drives that allow creation of DVDs as well as CDs are fast becoming the norm because of the high storage capacity of DVDs. If possible, a DVDRW drive is preferred. Some of the most portable laptops do not have an internal optical drive to save valuable space, and instead use an optical drive connected externally.

Removable Storage

Many laptops come with a standard removable storage slot for use with Compact Flash, Secure Digital, or Memory Stick media. This removable media slot is a must for users that want to easily transfer images from their digital camera, and has also replaced floppy drives as a simple method of transferring data files from one PC to another. Many MP3 players also use removable storage for music files.

Networking Options

Just like desktops, laptops require a network connection to access the Internet. All laptops currently include a built-in 56Kbps modem to connect to internet service using a phone line, as well as a 10/100 Ethernet port to connect using cable or DSL. Most also have a wireless network adapter built-in which allows connection to the internet at wireless “hotspots”. Ideally, all buyers will want a wireless network adapter that supports 802.11 a, b, and g.   Bluetooth is a short range wireless networking protocol that is primarily used for device-to-device communication.

Keyboard

Because a laptop keyboard is not replaceable, it is important to choose one that is comfortable for your use. Many smaller laptops use reduced size keyboards, and some laptop manufacturers slightly alter the key layout. Nearly all laptops except larger desktop replacements do not offer a separate number pad. If you are using the keyboard for an extended period at home, you will find an external keyboard will reduce strain on your hands and wrists.

Input Device

Laptops use a built-in touchpad or pointing stick instead of a mouse. Most users will find connecting an external mouse will ease use of the laptop pointing device. Smaller mice are available for travelers.

Battery

Using a laptop without plugging the unit into a wall outlet is one of the primary benefits of laptops, so battery charge life is an important consideration. All laptops use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, but the amount of time the charge lasts will depend on a number of factors, including the laptop power settings, the LCD size, the processor type, and the application being run. Larger LCD screens, powerful processors, faster hard drives, and external peripherals will drain battery charge more quickly. Most manufacturers also offer variable battery sizes based on number of battery cells. If you will be running the laptop from battery power most of the time, get the largest battery available or a second battery to keep as a spare.