Laptop Computer
The laptop computer today is fast replacing the traditional desktop as it is becoming more economical to purchase. Buyers will be spoil for choices as thin,light and ultra portable laptop computers are everywhere on the market today. How does the bewildered buyer make an appropriate choice? Well most start off by reading opinions and laptop or notebook reviews that are easily available on the web. Some would choose to rely on personal recommendations from colleagues, family and friends.
Portability, processor type (AMD Turion, Intel Core 2 Duo, Celeron etc), brand (Acer, Compaq, HP, Mac, Levono, Asus, Toshiba, Dell), operating system (Windows XP, Windows Vista, Linux, Mac OS X), the storage capacity of the hard drive are important factors to consider. Also screen size, battery life, color, pricing and wireless connectivity are things to look out for when searching for the best laptop computer.
Finding cheap laptops are easy , but it’s also easy to get lost in the huge variety that’s available when you shop online. Today you can get a low-cost laptop in various sizes, from the ultra portable Asus EEE PC and similar Net book models, up to 17-inch or even larger desktop replacement laptops. But keep in mind that you nearly always trade off size for performance, especially if your in a tight budget segment.
Buyers should also ask what kind of laptop user are you ? Are you a gamer, business user, ultraportable, student, home user, etc. By answering these questions it will help you to streamline your search and eventually landing you the right choice of laptop computer that is the most suitable for you.
Gamer
The single most important requirement in a gaming laptop is the dedicated graphics card and it needs to be a powerful one. Because of the heat they generate, you would normally only find these in 15 or 17-inch laptops. Laptops dedicated to gaming are very powerful and tend to drain the battery fast and tend to be pricey.
Business User
If your work only involves basic office tasks, such as editing spreadsheets and checking your emails, then you wouldn’t need a super fast laptop with the latest graphics card. Its important that the laptops have a solid and durable build quality and that the manufacturer provides the right technical support.
Ultraportable
What defines an ultraportable laptop is of course its size and weight; the screen should be no larger than 13.3 inches and should weigh not more than four pounds. Thin-and-light laptops are usually not as powerful as larger ones because of the cramped space and limited cooling options. However, if you travel a lot or you tend to take your laptop to cafes just for some light web surfing to pass your time then the netbook would be your ideal choice, typical example is the affordable Asus EEE PC.
Student
A tight budget doesn’t rule out getting a laptop anymore. Previously you had to pay twice as much for a laptop as with similar specifications equipped on a desktop PC, but all of that has changed. You could still get a good deal with a desktop, but it’s not half as convenient. Laptop computers are easy to move around between lectures, library, study groups, etc. They handle basic tasks like web surfing and word processing which is what the students typically use.
Home User
Home users usually use their computer for all kinds of tasks - surfing the web, paying the bills, writing a few emails, ripping CDs, downloading MP3 & movies, playing casual games, or connecting it to a TV to watch some favorite downloaded sitcom . You will probably need a versatile laptop with plenty of hard drive space, a reasonably fast processor and a fair amount of RAM and if your into gaming then a dedicated graphics card might be a wise choice to be included as well.