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| Look out for features you need when buying the laptop |
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When shopping for a laptop, first consider the use you want it for. Remember to also try it before buying it – feel the keyboard, mouse pad and overall functionality
Laptop computers are gradually taking on the traditionally preferred desktop computers. From being perceived as a statement of wealth, and extravagance, laptop computers are now seen as necessity for business people, professionals and even students.
A misconception however exists about the performance of laptops computers. Contrary to belief, laptops are generally inferior to their desk top counterparts. Most laptops cost twice as much as comparably equipped desktops. So, having two desktops, one at home and one in the office, may be as good as having one laptop!
Upgrading laptops is also very limited. Apart from the hard disk, DVD drives, and sometimes the processor, what a laptop came with is what it will end with.
On the positive, laptop computers have revolutionised the computing experience. The fact that a computer can be portable and have high end capabilities is fascinating. With the current technology trends, such as the dual core processors, laptop computers are standing up to desktop computers.
What to look for
When shopping for a laptop, there are some factors to put in consideration. First, the use for the computer has to be determined. The specifications for a gaming laptop are very different from a laptop used for simple spreadsheets.
An office laptop normally requires modest features. Processor speed of about 1.5 Ghz, RAM of 512 MB and a hard disk space of about 40GB (depending on the data to be stored) should be sufficient. All these specifications work best on the Windows XP or Mac operating system. Operating on the Windows Vista or the new Windows 7 would probably require an upgrade in the features. The dual core processor means that a computer has two processor cores in one. This increases the overall speed of the computer, making multi-tasking easy and flexible.
A gaming laptop can be the hardest to shop for. This is because game graphics often change with new and more complex games. Currently, processors of speeds more than 2 Ghz, 2GB of RAM and hard disk space of more than 80 GB may be needed. Long lasting Lithium batteries are useful for laptop use without power.
A DVD writer is preferred to a CD writer because the former can write all disks while the latter only works with CDs. Wireless laptop connectivity makes the computer use easier in networking and data transfer. The type of the laptop screen makes most sense in entertainment. The VGA has least resolution (640x480) with 16 colors of resolution, while the XGA has highest resolution (1024x768) and more colors of resolution.
Shopping for a laptop can be a big challenge. However with the use of the laptop in mind, shopping should be pretty simple. Remember to try it before buying it. Feel the keyboard, mouse pad and overall functionality; and remember electronics should always have reasonable warranty on purchase.
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