How to Choose a Laptop?

A laptop (also known as notebook computer) is a small mobile personal computer usually weighing from 1 to 3 kg. Laptops nowadays are becoming increasingly more powerful and feature packed. They are now capable of many of the same tasks that desktop computers perform. And they come with large screen sizes too. Models that have 17" widescreen LCDs are becoming popular, even replacing desktops in some homes.

First, decide on what features you need and make notes of your preferred features and the reasons for them. These are the important features you will need to consider:

• CPU (Processor) - this is the engine that will drive your laptop's performance. Ideally you should choose the fastest CPU available.
• Memory (RAM) - the on board memory is another important feature (the more the better). Not having enough memory will significantly affect your laptop's performance. A recommended minimum nowadays is 1 Gigabyte of memory. Consider that Windows Vista can require about 500 megabytes (1/2 a Gigabyte) of memory for the operating system.
• Hard Disk (HDD) - the hard disk capacity and speed are important features. This is where you will have all your installed software and data like photo or video files. The bigger the better as you will need enough room for your ever increasing data.
• Screen - this is what you will be looking at and you need to be comfortable with the size and resolution. You would want to choose one with a bright crisp screen with good viewing angles. If you are a road warrior I would suggest screen sizes 14" or below. If you are heavy into graphics work, 17"gaming laptops. would be a minimum. Same goes for

Another important consideration but often overlooked when choosing a laptop is battery life. Don't believe what the manufacturer says. Always look for objective, independent tests instead. A laptop is just about useless if its battery lasts less than 2 hours, unless you only plan to use it in places where there's a mains power supply nearby.

If you plan to lug your laptop around everyday, it is crucial to consider the laptop's weight. If the laptop is too heavy, it will eventually end up acting like an overpriced desktop system, or perhaps breaking your shoulders when you try carrying it around. It is far better to sacrifice a little speed for a lighter weight. And if you travel a lot, it will save you some heartache by choosing something with a more durable outer casing like the latest Panasonic Toughbook.

Other features like mobile computing capabilities should also be considered. Ideally you want a laptop with built in wireless networking (WIFI) and Bluetooth. This will allow you to be truly mobile and connect to trusted networks at airports. While wireless networking technology isn't unique to laptops, it is much more important in laptops than it is for desktop PCs. You are certainly going to want to need it with more and more wireless hotspots sprouting up. You should choose a laptop that makes this as painless as possible.

Ensure enough ports for external devices. You will want to connect a mouse, printer, memory stick, external portable disk drive (for backups) or scanner to your laptop. This is usually via USB ports. Make sure the USB ports are USB 2.0 and not USB 1.0. USB 2.0 is dramatically faster than USB 1.0. You should consider at least 2 to 3 USB ports. A digital media slot for reading digital camera cards will also be useful if you need to frequently access photos taken with your digital camera. Lastly if you need frequent access to CDs/CD-ROMs/DVDs consider a built-in CD/DVD drive.