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