|
Buying The Right Notebook Computer
The single most important reason anyone buys a notebook is for
portability. This is something that you can take anywhere. If you
frequently travel in your work, you need a notebook. If you are
a student going back and forth to the university, you need a notebook.
If you are journalist traveling the world and submitting articles,
you need a notebook. And today's notebooks can be as powerful as
most desktops with dual processors, large capacity internal drives,
and other attractive features. But which one is right for you? How
do you determine what type of notebook will fit your current needs
plus allow you to expand for the future?
And the first part of the answer to the question of which one is
right for you leads to a half-answer: "It depends." It depends on
what you are going to do with the computer. Are you going to use
it for work or recreation? Is it something needed for your profession
or are you a hobbyist? Do you play a lot of games? What level of
internet access do you need? It is also important to remember that
unlike desktop models, notebook computers cannot be upgraded easily.
In fact, they usually have no upgrade path so you should take the
time to get exactly what you need in terms of features and performance.
One characteristic of a notebook computer one should consider is
the screen size. If you need to be able to have a lot of landscape
for projects you are working on then consider a wider screen. Screen
sizes usually can range from 10.4 inches to 17.1 inches. If you
do a lot of work on an airliner in economy class, you are probably
better off with a smaller screen size (because of the reclining
seatbacks in front of you). Also a smaller notebook is just easier
and lighter to carry around. Some who do presentations with their
notebook computers will benefit from larger screen sizes such as
those that use the newer WXGA technology. WXGA notebook screens
can achieve resolutions up to 1366 by 768 pixels.
Battery life in your notebook computer is very important too. If
you move around quite a bit, you might want to consider buying a
notebook with not only a long lasting battery (most go 2-3 hours),
but also one where buying a spare battery is not very expensive.
One very inexpensive solution for the battery problem is to buy
an external universal battery that can last up to 3-4 hours.
Another feature you need to consider when buying a notebook is internet
connectivity. You will find that a popular way for people to work
these days is with a wifi-enabled notebook at a wireless hotspot
(such as in coffee shops, restaurants, libraries and airports).
If you are buying an older used notebook, you may have to get an
additional wifi-card if you want to have the mobile connectivity
provided by this technology. Also, you will find that most hotels
nowadays offer high-speed internet access but it is usually through
a wifi connection.
And lastly, you need to consider what other options you want for
your notebook computer. Do you want a CD writer or will you need
to record DVDs? Do you need premium sound? How large of a disk drive
do you need? When it comes to disk space, CD/DVD writers, sound
cards, memory, and processor speed, it's best to get it now as opposed
to get it later. Here's why: The upgrade path for most laptops and
notebooks is not very long. This is because notebooks are probably
replaced every 2-3 years. They are quick becoming just as expendable
as a set of tires for your car. And if you do not maximize on memory
and processor speed, your notebook may not able run efficiently
the new application and game software. The more your notebook is
adaptable to software upgrades, the longer it will be an effective
tool for you.
Send this page to:
Author Bio
This article can also be accessed in portuguese language from the
News Article section of page www.polomercantil.com.br/notebook.php
- Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for PoloMercantil
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com
- Free Website Content
|
