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