| 1. Processor
speed, a much used sales point, is not as important as most
people think. Unless you are running high end graphics you can
easily use a Pentium III or equivalent. often test so that
systems with P4 chips actually run no faster than Pentium III
configurations in laptops. People who have modest computing
needs can save a lot of money by sticking with a PIII-M
notebook. Use that money for other things, like RAM.
2. System memory:
Don't settle for anything less than 256MB of system memory if
you want to do more than word processing and e-mail, because
Windows XP and newer applications quickly chew up memory and
threaten to slow down your work. Memory slots are usually fairly
easy to reach on notebooks, if you wish to upgrade.
3. Graphics memory:
You'll want 32MB or 64MB of video RAM if you plan on using your
laptop to drive external monitors for presentations. Make sure
that the memory is dedicated rather than pulled from main
memory; this is sometimes referred to as a universal (UMA) or
shared (SMA) memory architecture.
4. Screen: Some
portables with 14.1-inch and 15.1-inch screens now cost as
little as $1200. But business-class fliers who prefer a more
compact notebook screen size of 12.1 or 13.3 inches may soon
have only ultraportables to choose from.
5. Battery: In
battery tests conducted by the PC World Test Center, battery
life in units equipped with the new P4-M chip averaged roughly
2.5 hours. While Intel and notebook manufacturers try to iron
out the P4-M's power consumption kinks, consider buying a
notebook that uses the older Pentium III-M chip; these portables
posted battery lives of between 3 and 3.5 hours in most cases.
Most notebooks come with a lithium ion rechargeable battery,
which lasts longer than the less common nickel metal hydride
rechargeable and doesn't need to be replaced as often.
6. If you want more
time away from an outlet, buy a notebook that has a modular bay
capable of holding a supplementary power pack. Secondary
batteries usually cost between $100 and $200.
7. Keyboard and
pointing device: A thin-and-light notebook usually has
smaller-than-average keys spaced more closely than the ones
found on a desktop-replacement model. Even notebooks with the
same standard 3mm travel (the distance a key depresses) and 19mm
spacing (from the center of one key top to the next) can feel
different, however, and their layouts may differ significantly.
8. For people who
can't choose between a touchpad and an eraserhead pointing
device, some notebooks include both. If you buy one of these
dually equipped portables, make sure that it provides two sets
of mouse buttons--one for the touchpad and the other for the
eraserhead--so you don't have to stretch to reach.
9. Optical and
other drives: Built-in rewritable DVD drives aren't likely to
arrive in notebook PCs anytime soon, but if you can afford it,
the next best thing is a combination DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive.
Midrange machines usually feature a DVD-ROM drive or a CD-RW
drive, and only the least-expensive notebooks come standard with
just a CD-ROM drive.
10. The floppy
drive has outlasted its SuperDrive and Zip drive challengers and
continues to appear in many notebooks. Some "legacy light"
portables have phased it out, but you can buy a USB add-on
floppy drive for less than $100. |
