The Living Guide to Buying LaptopsThis guide will describe the basic components of laptops and how they affect your computing experience.
Processors: This "spec" is first on the list in the description of a modern laptop. The processor is the fastest component of the laptop and it is limited in performance by the cache memory and front side bus (FSB). Cache memory is speedy local memory that allows the processor to keep from accessing slower RAM memory as often, and front side bus speed determines how fast the processor talks to the rest of the computer.The processor is the command center. The numbers they use get confusing, but certain name brands typically offer reasonable performance. The top-end processors to buy are Intel Core 2 Duos (Often labeled Intel Centrino Duo) or Quad Cores or the AMD Athlon X2 equivalent (4200+ or higher). Good reliable lower end processors: Intel Celeron, the best of the cheap. AMD Duron's/Turion's have been less then satisfactory. Lower end or outdated processors such as Pentium 4's put out massive amounts of heat that eventually could damage components in the laptop.
The laptop processor is typically a lower-powered processor than those found in similar desktop machines, although some laptop makers have used desktop processors in their laptops to get a performance edge. Processors designed for mobile computing generally consume less power, and thus run cooler than desktop processors. This is important because you want your battery to last a long time and you also don’t want to burn a hole through your lap. Desktop PCs typically have massive heat-sinks and fans to cool them down, but it’s hard to fit that stuff into a tiny laptop, and fans drain laptop batteries quickly.RAM: Temporary memory. Your Windows (or other operating system) and all your software take up "X" amount of your RAM. The more free RAM you have the better your computer can multi-task. Windows Vista alone takes up almost 100% of 1 gig of RAM. Windows XP takes up about 25% of 1 gig of RAM (256mb). Microsoft Office, Auto Cad, and other major software applications take up a lot of RAM as well. The RAM is a temporary data storage between the processor and the hard drive.
Hard Drive: Where data and software are permanently stored. The true heart of your computer, constantly pumping data from "platters" of spinning disks. Hard Drives are sensitive. They are very very important. Reliability should be prioritized over size. Expect a minimum of 40gigs on a modern laptop and preferrably at least 80gigs. SATA and SATA II type hard drives make for much faster computing then IDE or EIDE.
Video: If you are going to get a large, high-resolution LCD display on your laptop, or you’re planning to attach an external monitor, make sure you get some good video. The standard low-end built-in graphics from Intel or chipset manufacturers will always be listed as “integrated” and will usually be the base graphics offered. Sometimes it’s just a little more costly to get better graphics, and we recommend going for the better solution.For 3D graphics and/or utilization of Windows Vista, the main mobile 3D chips out there are made by NVIDIA and ATI (a.k.a. AMD). NVIDIA has a lot more models to choose from, but it basically breaks down to the GeForce 8000 series (including 8700, 8400, etc.), which is DirectX 10-compatible for the latest games, and the GeForce 7000 series, which is DirectX 9-compatible. AMD/ATI’s Radeon 1000 series (either 1250 or 1100) are both just DirectX 9-compatible. However, at this point the vast majority of games only require DirectX 9, and most people don’t do too much intense 3D gaming on their laptops.
Based on the graphics you choose, you can get anywhere between 128-512 MB or more. “Integrated” or "shared" video uses a portion of your main memory, meaning that not only do you get limited graphics, you lose part of your main memory. That’s not a big deal if you are getting 2 GB+ of memory in your laptop and you don't care much about the latest games or running a huge attached monitor when you are at your desk.
Speaking of running a second monitor, most laptops include an external VGA or DVI port to plug right into an external screen, and you can set Windows XP, Vista, or Linux to utilize both your laptop screen and the external monitor at the same time. That is very useful, and it’s nice to back up your small LCD screen with a nice 24" LCD. DVI is much nicer then VGA. DVI is the future.
Both ATI and NVIDIA also offer “workstation”-class graphics chips for laptops if that is what you need. The more you pay, the better you will get. You typically get what you pay for, but you should make sure you actually need it, as you can spend an extra US$1,000 on graphics if you get a high-end workstation notebook.
Question: If I'm building or buying a fast computer, the most important thing is the fastest possible processor?
The most important thing is understanding how the system will be used and designing a good "balanced" system for that need. Essentially a computer system working on a task can be thought of as like a production line in a factory, and all the steps in the line need to be kept full of just the right amount of material in order for the line as a whole to be working at optimal performance.
Fitting a upgraded packing machine at the end of a factory line will not increase that line's rate of production if the other parts of the factory line are already working at capacity, all that will happen is that the new packing machine at the end of the line will sit idle some of the time.
Installing the fastest processor you can find but fitting the computer with insufficient RAM or a very slow hard disk will constrain the processor and prevent it from reaching its full potential. The same applies of course to neglecting the processor in order to fit very fast RAM or hard disks.
Question: What do I need to do to get the most out of my battery?
Answer: There are several ways of increasing the battery life and getting the most out of your investment. It is recommended to charge your battery up to 100%, each time you charge it. Then, when you use it, do not plug it back in until the power is very low (usually between 5%-15%). Though Li-Ion, Li-Poly, and newer Ni-MH batteries do not require this step, we have found that it does usually help extend the life of the battery.
More tips:
Don't touch the screen - the oils from your fingertips can cause permanent damage. Clean the screen using 10% Windex and 90% Water - spray the solution on a soft cloth, then wipe the screen in a circular motion. Clean the rest of the laptop the same way with the same solution.
Use a strong laptop case, leather is always good for this purpose.
Turn laptop off before removing power cord. Always transport laptop with power cord disconnected. This keeps the little plug from working loose.
Install only the software you need. Less is more. The laptop is the ultimate in entertainment potential, but it is not a toy (not at current prices anyway).
