How to chose a Laptop? Guide and Tips!

Today’s laptops are much more powerful than even the hottest desktop computers of yesterday. They’re also lighter and much more stylish. Many people are opting out of desktop computers altogether and use a laptop for all their computer needs. So notebook PCs are the perfect choice. Light, powerful, durable…and affordable!

Reasons to buy a laptop

Mobility

The need of carrying the computer along with you arises many a times. For example, you want to work in your office, your home, while traveling, and while making presentations to your potential clients. At such times, you need a computer that is mobile, and portable. To address such needs of the consumers, a notebook computer was invented and came into the market. The laptop notebook was initially targeted at business travelers. With changing times, the laptop is now available for multimedia specialists, and gaming enthusiasts also, giving a serious challenge to desktops.

Dimensions

All notebooks are designed to be portable, but just how portable they are for an individual comes down to the size and weight of the machine. The smaller and lighter the more portable it will be, but the less computing power and functionality will be placed into that computer.

Size

The size of the notebook refers to the base systems external physical dimensions. Of course there are other items beyond the unit itself that need to be carried as well, so this should be taken into consideration as well when looking at the computers. Ultraportables often remove CD/DVD drives to save on space. This means that if you need this ability, then you also have to carry these external devices or a docking bay.

Weight

The weight of a notebook is what tends to directly impact the portability of a computer. The dimensions may determine what type of bag the computer will fit into when it is being carried, but the weight is what physically impacts us the most when we carry them around. A system that is heavy will cause fatigue and strain on the individual carrying it. Any frequent traveler who has to bring a notebook around airports and hotels will attest to the fact that the lighter systems are much easier to bring along even if you don’t have all the functionality of the larger systems.

Ease of use

The laptop notebook is easy to use, and has the same programs as in your desktop. Therefore, it feels as if you are using your desktop, only that it is traveling with you all the time.

Ability to connect

A laptop can be configured to remotely connect to your desktop within a certain range. Therefore, if you need some data from your desktop, then you can easily access it.

Connecting through ports

Modern computers come with serial ports, parallel ports, 10/100 Ethernet port for cable/DSL, USB (Unversal Serial Bus) ports, FireWire (IEEE1394) ports, S-Video and VGA-out (monitor), and PCMCIA PC card slot. These ports can connect to any external device like camcorders, digital cameras, printers, modem, memory cards, mouse, and keyboard.

Big range to choose

The laptop notebook market offers a big range. There are cheap computer notebooks, cheap laptops, cheap notebooks, notebook PC, gaming notebook, used notebook computer, used notebook, refurbished notebook, refurbished notebook computer, laptop notebook computer, wireless notebook, web cam notebook, and tablet notebook. Notebook computer accessory is like a notebook battery. Other important accessories are notebook case, notebook bag, notebook drive hard, notebook backpack, notebook memory, notebook mouse, and notebook cooler.

laptop hp pavilion

How to choose your machine

Needs and wants

Every laptop has its advantages and disadvantages. Every laptop is suited for simple business needs like typing a letter, printing a letter, making a presentation, sending and receiving emails. Besides these basic functions, if you want some specialized functions, like playing multimedia games, or designing which involves two or three-dimensional graphics, or for video production, then you need special laptops which cater exclusively to your special needs. Based on your needs and wants, you should decide which kind of notebook computer to buy. The types of notebook computers available are mainstream notebooks, desktop replacements, thin-and-light notebooks, ultraportable notebooks, tablets and convertible notebooks, and gaming notebooks.

Commercial purposes

Most business functions like attending phone calls, receiving and sending emails and faxes, typing out letters and printing them, making presentations with pie and bar charts, and moving from one place to another can be achieved by any standard laptop notebook computer. You need special software for dialing and receiving phone calls, similarly if you have any voice recognition software or handwriting recognition software installed, then your letters are typed out by your dictation or by your handwritten notes. Types of notebooks suited for your purpose would be thin-and-light notebooks for the high flier, and ultraportable notebooks for regular office work. Both are wireless notebooks so that they can be remotely accessed.

Artistic purposes

If you are an artist, then the computer can help you in many ways. Animation, 2D and 3D drawings, and interior & exterior designing are some of them. You can arrange your own music compositions. You can also do post-production audio-video work in your computer. In almost all branches of art, the computer can effectively be used. The types of laptops suited for your needs would be desktop replacements, gaming notebooks, and mainstream notebooks.

Education purposes

For an educational institution. Educational institutions normally do not prefer laptops due to its high chance of being stolen. Additionally, they prefer that their assets do not move around within the premises in the hands of students who may be careless. However, to keep up with the times, and to be considered as techno- savvy, they do invest in laptops. The types of laptop computers best suited would be mainstream laptops, and desktop replacements.

Entertainment purposes

For family. You already have a desktop computer at your home, and now you need a second PC so that you can take it from room to room if required. You want the laptop to perform all the functions that your desktop computer does. You use the computer to write letters, make budgets, make study notes, make projects, play games, surf the Internet, check your emails, and watch movies. The types of laptops suited for your needs are mainstream laptops, and desktop replacements.
For professionals. In this category come persons using the laptop for creating complex audio-video games, doing post-production audio-video editing work, or hardcore gamers. The ideal machine for such persons is a high-end desktop computer. In laptops, the best choice would be a desktop replacement.

laptop hp pavilion

Which is your priority??

Priority for the frequent traveler

A frequent traveler is constantly on the move and has to operate in different places and conditions. In this case, size and weight become prime factors for considerations. Thin and light notebooks place a premium on portability but limit the use of some features like optical drives and extended memory. Tablet PCs or tablet notebook are also highly suited for the frequent traveler as they are ultra-portable, has no keyboard or mouse, and writing is accomplished by using a special stylus.

Priority for the student/ mobile worker

You do not travel frequently, but you have to be mobile and have to carry your laptop notebook along with you. You need a balance between portability, price and performance. A regular notebook, would serve your purpose efficiently. Compared with the thin and light range, these are a bit heavier, yet they are powerful enough to execute everyday tasks. They provide the basic features and value for money. However, students should be careful with their notebooks, as they get stolen quite frequently.

Priority for the power user

You need all the features and the power of a true desktop. You cannot compromise on features. You need the connectivity of a wireless notebook. You do not need to carry your notebook computer along with you everyday. What you need is a high-end desktop that is also mobile. This combination is achieved in power and performance notebooks, which are the largest and the heaviest in the laptop notebook computer category. They deliver all the features, fastest processors, largest hard drives and biggest memory. They can rival a top specification desktop computer. Portability is reduced as they provide large screen, and a full sized keyboard thereby ensuring comfort for lengthy work sessions. These high-end power notebooks are appropriate for occasional travel due to their enhanced size and weight.

Notebook Tips!!

Battery

Laptop battery lasts for about 1-hour to 4-hour depending upon the model. With better and efficient battery usage, an hour or two can significantly enhance the battery usage time.
- Remove the battery pack from your laptop, if the laptop is not in use for an extended period to conserve battery power and battery leakage. Store a battery pack in a fully charged state.
- New battery packs need to be charged and drained repeatedly (cycling/ conditioning), to improve their performance.
- Avoid games. Games are multimedia intensive utilizing the maximum battery power.
- Avoid music/ movie CD/DVD. Multimedia applications like music and movies consume a lot of battery power.
- Auto-save features in applications should be disabled, as they start in the background and consume a lot of battery power.
- Adjust the monitor controls like color, brightness, and contrast. Dimming the brightness saves battery power.

Wireless Connection

Wireless connection is most prone to Internet threats, viruses, worms, and hackers while using your wireless notebook. The most pressing concern with all laptop notebooks about wireless connection is security.
- Consider better equipment. Hackers have always found 802.11a and 802.11b very easy to hack. However, 802.11g is harder to crack and you should consider upgrading your hardware to a “g” card. However, 802.11g is backward compatible and will thus not protect you from older Wi-Fi networks. A personal firewall, such as ZoneAlarm or BlackICE can significantly add up to the security level of the laptop.
- Do not send sensitive data over a WiFi hotspot. Practice safe surfing. Do not type your credit-card number, expiration date, passwords, bank account numbers, etc. while you are surfing.
- Stay offline. If the risks outweigh the benefits, then it would be better to stay offline, at least until the new 802.11i standard is not implemented. Even then, the security can be breached, albeit with difficulty. If you do not need the wireless, then stay away from it.

Accessories

Wireless mouse and keyboard

A wireless mouse and a keyboard can be great notebook computer accessories while traveling with your wireless notebook. You get the benefit of a full sized keyboard, and the convenience of using a fully featured mouse without the clutter of wires attached to your laptop. Commonly used programs and files are easily accessed with programmed hot keys, there is better maneuverability with optical technology or laser technology and there is 4-way scrolling. The design is also ergonomic thereby giving total comfort due to natural wrist and arm alignment while working.

Lights and Cooler

The main attraction of a laptop is its compactness and mobility. However, with compactness, comes the problem of heat. With less space inside the laptop notebook to dissipate heat, the notebook becomes heated very fast, and it becomes impossible to keep it on the lap. With mobility, the light conditions are not always good enough to work on the notebook computer. The screen illuminates but the keypad is barely visible in the dark of a car or a plane. At such times, a cooling option for the laptop and a lighting option is a welcome product as a notebook computer accessory.

Filter

Due to constant viewing of the computer monitor, several eye troubles may begin. To avoid these, reduction of the brightness is one way while the other is to use filters. Filters, as the name indicates, filters the light coming out of the monitor acting just like sunglasses.
It makes viewing possible only if someone is viewing the monitor directly from the front. The screen becomes progressively darker as one moves sideways. The privacy filter is a dark sheet of plastic with one side glossy and with the other side having a matte finish. The glossy side is reflective while the matte finish side has an anti-reflective look. You can choose any finish that you are comfortable with. The filter cuts off some of the light passing through it and so the screen looks darker than usual.

Finally…How much should I spend?

Using the cheap option, you shouldn’t look at under £1500 (this is about Ford Fiesta level) but you can spend up to £5000 for a bells and whistles ‘Aston Martin’ style notebook. As a rule of thumb, they cost about three times more than a regular PC.

Source laptopconsumers syschat hp spectrumdatarecovery