Some Tips on Purchasing a Notebook
We often get asked many things about purchasing a laptop and what constitutes a good one? The answer here varies from person to person, depending on what your requirements are, and also more specifically what you intend to use your computer for.
Because these and other reasons invariably differ so widely, we will provide you with a generic consensus covering the basics, giving you some knowledge on making the right purchase.
Listed below in point form, is our recommendations for buying a laptop with the current technology available. Given the vast array of notebooks the market has to offer, firstly consider three things, affordability, size and purpose.
- How much can you afford? It is true that you more or less get what you pay for when it comes to new computers. Based on this, it is fair to assume that the more you spend the better the computer!!
- You must also consider `portability,' no doubt having a laptop affords you a very handy and distinct advantage over a desktop. Just imagine carrying your desktop computer to work every day! Not to mention the fact that your computer resembles a wheel chock for a 747!! Because laptops are so portable you will need to consider size and weight? They do get heavy, especially the bigger models when you have to lug them around from place to place.
- Be clear about what you intend to use the computer for? Let’s say for example, you want to edit photos, make movies, and play with all kinds of multimedia programs. Then you most certainly will want a computer with truckloads of RAM (Random Access Memory) and a big Hard Drive (loads of space). I will explain these things in further detail further down the page.
So now you have three very important decisions to make regarding your notebook purchase, thses need to be decided well before you get into the nitty-gritty of technical specifications and performance. And I should let you know, a laptop and a notebook are the same thing!!
And just to confuse the issue, you may have heard the term, "Netbook", well this is simply a much smaller version of a notebook, they are also known as "Ultra-portables", they are a big brother to your fancy ifone, blackberry or other PDA, and the little brother of your notebook.
RAM: Radom Access Memory
Notebook RAM - SODIMM
Let’s begin with memory, this is otherwise known as RAM, and no it’s not sheep inside your computer nor does it make your computer smarter, it basically makes your computer faster. The more you have the faster it goes, well actually, the quicker it can store and process information. We all know someone that has a good memory, these kind of people can retain information better than most, now if they were a computer you might assume they have extra RAM.
There are a couple of things I will tell you about RAM that many folks get wrong, most people think that it’s all about the amount of RAM that makes for a fast computer. While this is reasonably accurate, the truth is you need to be more concerned with the speed of the RAM and not so much the amount.
Ram comes in different speeds, for performance it is best to buy a computer with a minimum of at least 2Gig of RAM and 4Gig is even better. However make sure it has fast RAM, look for something in its specifications that says “2Gig or 4 Gig and PC6400 or DDRII 800”. The higher the number the better, for example: (PC6400 or DDRII 800) is equivalent to the speed of the RAM.
Imagine that these numbers represent how fast the voltage runs around inside your computer, let’s say that PC6400 is the same as 6400 ks/hr and that’s how fast things are going around inside your computer, makes for a pretty fast laptop eh !!
These specifications on RAM vary and you might even get one that has PC1066 or the slower PC5400, just keep in mind that the higher the number the better it is. Unfortunately as this number goes up, so does the cost!!
You may also see the word "SODIMM" written next to the RAM specs, the English version of this goes something like: Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module, just another name for some very small and thin looking Ram. Although, it does sound a little like table salt!
Another thing worth considering when it comes to RAM is the "upgradeability" of your computer; can it be upgraded later on instead of purchasing a new one? Upgrades are the cheaper option and they often come in the form of RAM, we simply "ram it up".
For more information see: Upgrading RAM
CPU: Central Processing Unit
Processor - CPU
“The Brains” That’s all the CPU is, the brains of the operation, known as the "Central Processing Unit", because this part of the computer is an overgrown and lightening fast calculator. Put simply it does all the arithmetic in computing, it also talks to the Ram sending and receiving information back and forth. It works side by side with the RAM and also governs the speed of your computer, so naturally the faster the processor or (CPU) and the faster the RAM, the faster your computer. Easy eh!!
CPU's are labeled a few ways, so how fast is the CPU?
Look for that magic number that has the word "G" or "Gigs" or Ghz after it, this stands for Gigahertz. That’s basically a measure of how fast your CPU can do calculations. The higher this number the faster your computer can think.
You may see this written something like; C2Duo T6600 2.2Ghz, when you break this down it comes out like this:
You may see this written something like; C2Duo T6600 2.2Ghz, when you break this down it comes out like this:
C2Duo = A CPU that is a Dual Core with heaps of memory, (Core 2 Duo)(also has two brains)!
T6600 = The model number of the CPU, (usually the higher this number the better it is)
2.2Ghz = The speed of the CPU, (how fast it can process information), for gaming, graphical and video editing, and if you intend to be a Windows Vista user, you will want a faster CPU and heaps of fast RAM.
So when checking the techno-babble sticker labeling the “specs” of your new laptop, look for something that says, “Core 2 DUO” or “Quad Core”.
It may have some numbers next to Core 2 Duo that look something like, “T4200 or T5800” or “P8700” or something similar, this number tells you about the performance and the kind of CPU. Sometimes you won’t see the words C2Duo etc, but instead just T5800 or P8700 or P or T with a few numbers after them. For the most part this represents the model and whether it’s a Core 2 Duo or Dual Core etc. Obviously by now you get the drift, the higher this number the faster it goes, and so does the cash from your wallet!!
When you see the C2DUO or Core 2 DUO or Quad Core, this means that instead of your computer having just one brain or CPU, it has two in the case of “Core 2 DUO” and four with the “Quad Core”. The idea behind this is that the computer is capable of doing much more at once, we have all heard the old saying, “two heads are better than one”.
You might also see the words "i3, i5 or i7" or perhaps even "i9", this again represents the kind of CPU your notebook has. Basically, the higher the number, the better the performance. Intel is the company which make and build these super fast processors, to date these are my personal favorite.
To find out more about Intel CPU's click this link: Intel Processors
You can also purchase a computer with an "AMD" processor going by names like "AMD Turion or AMD Athlon, Sempron, etc. This is another brand of CPU built by another manufacturer called Advanced Micro Devices.
To find out more about AMD CPU's click this link: AMD Processors
Having two or four or more brains in your computer does not necessarily make it faster, but it does give it the ability to process more information simultaneously, for example, you might perhaps burn a DVD while you surf the net and print something all at the same time. This works quite well when coupled with lots a RAM.
HDD: Hard Disc Drive
Notebook Hard Disc Drive
This is the library for your computer where all your information is stored. It is often referred to in terms of “Gigs” or Gigabytes. Much like the RAM and CPU the higher the number the better. So the more Gigs, the bigger your library. If you have a computer that is advertised as having a 250 Gig HDD, this means that it has a capacity to store 250 gigabytes of data, that’s a reasonably big library, but if you intend to work with photos, store movies, music etc, you can pretty soon chew up all of your reserve space in your library.
Here again is that golden rule of thumb that implies the higher the number, the bigger, better and faster it is, and the size of your HDD is no exception. Its all about speed and capacity.
Try and get one that has at least 320Gig or bigger if possible, these days 500Gigs is the norm, but soon enough with advancing technology, we will see 1Terabyte drives, that's a over a 1000Gigs!
But that old familiar snag rears its ugly head as the new technology enters the market, and the Gigs, bits and bytes go up, so does the spending!!
You will also come across the term SATA, this is just a word that means the hard drive or "HDD" talks a little quicker to the rest of the computer, but by all means make your purchase one with a SATA HDD as nearly all are now days.
Another term to look out for is “SSD” and this describes a Solid State Hard Drive. This kind of hard drive is seen in the so called “tough book” computers because it has no moving parts. So if you dropped the computer, you wouldn’t damage the drive as you would an optical one that has a spinning glass disc with moving parts.
The SSD is basically a RAM drive, it also allows faster access and read-write times speeding up your computing experience. They are slowly increasing in capacity steadily catching up the their old counterparts and you can expect to pay a small fortune as the gigs increase.
Hard drives are also often referred to as "Storage", and again it’s just another term for your library, it is also the place where all of your data or documents, files and photos live or are are"stored", and this is also where Windows resides on the computer.
CD DVDRW: Compact Disc/Digital Versatile Disc Re-Writable
CD DVD Drive
Well this one almost speaks for itself, it is basically a CD player and a DVD player that also records both CD’s and DVD’s. It is usually advertised as being a “Multi” or “SuperMulti” drive and the plain English for that equals a DVD player that can read and write (record) in many different formats. Ideally it is often best to choose a laptop that has the words “DVDRW Multi” and 22x written next to the information about the DVD drive. Not unlike the above the higher the number here as in “22x” equals a slightly faster computer as far as burning goes.
Although the good news is that the higher this numbers goes up it does not impact your purse strings as much as RAM, CPU etc.
Although the good news is that the higher this numbers goes up it does not impact your purse strings as much as RAM, CPU etc.
FSB: Front Side Bus
No its not a bus that parks at the front or around the side, but it is a bus!!
The bus speed is usually written something like 1066FSB or 800FSB.
When we talk about busses or a bus in computers we are talking about the wiring inside the computer and how it allows tiny voltages to move around. I often make reference to the wiring inside your house, now let’s call this wiring a “bus”, and now let’s also measure how fast the voltage goes through these wires. This speed we can measure is the front side bus in your computer, and as you can imagine, the faster this speed, the faster your computer.
So the quicker these tiny voltages or messages move from one part of your computer to the next (like from the HDD to the RAM) the faster it goes. !!
This also ties in with the speed of the CPU and the RAM, if you have read the above it will make some sense now that you can see that all the internal components of your computer are all connected via a “bus” or series of tiny wire traces. The CPU, the RAM and even the HDD are all connected to this bus, and the faster these components and the faster the bus, the quicker they can share and exchange information.
There for if you want a quick computer, get one that has a fast FSB. !!
The bus speed is usually written something like 1066FSB or 800FSB.
When we talk about busses or a bus in computers we are talking about the wiring inside the computer and how it allows tiny voltages to move around. I often make reference to the wiring inside your house, now let’s call this wiring a “bus”, and now let’s also measure how fast the voltage goes through these wires. This speed we can measure is the front side bus in your computer, and as you can imagine, the faster this speed, the faster your computer.
So the quicker these tiny voltages or messages move from one part of your computer to the next (like from the HDD to the RAM) the faster it goes. !!
This also ties in with the speed of the CPU and the RAM, if you have read the above it will make some sense now that you can see that all the internal components of your computer are all connected via a “bus” or series of tiny wire traces. The CPU, the RAM and even the HDD are all connected to this bus, and the faster these components and the faster the bus, the quicker they can share and exchange information.
There for if you want a quick computer, get one that has a fast FSB. !!
LCD Screens: Liquid Crystal Display
This screen is dull runnig on Battery
Probably one of the prime reasons people choose a laptop comes from the screen size and the overall look of the laptop. Many people make these decisions based on how smart, stylish it is, or in the case of some girls I know, its all about “how pretty it looks”!!
There are a few things people need to know about notebook screens and what can happen when things go wrong. Before choosing one, you must consider the purpose for the computer, this alone can deduce the best outcome for your spending if you follow a few rules of thumb.
Rather than throw money away on something you really don’t need, let’s look at what your intentions are and how you might expect to use your computer.
Firstly, are you intending to use it for photos, graphical and video editing, movie making etc. If the answer here is yes, then you will most certainly want a wide screen computer, but the wider and bigger the screen, the more you will spend. !
If you intend using it for simple email, netsurfing, handling documents etc, then you might be better off not spending up on a wide screen.
Screens come in different sizes and screen resolutions, the size of the screen is actually measured from the bottom left corner to the top right corner. Let’s say its a 17 inch screen (17”), then draw a straight line from the bottom left to the top right and it will equal 17 inches.
The resolution is about how clear you can have the image on screen, a good rule of thumb to remember is, “the higher the screen resolution the sharper the image”. Resolutions is also noted as “res” for short, and incase you were wondering, yep the higher the res the higher the price tag !!
Screen res is how many pixels you have horizonatlly along your screen and how many down . If you look at a 14” screen, its standard resolutions is 1024 x 768. This means that it has 1024 pixels across the screen (1024 wide) and 768 down (768 tall). These pixels make up the image on screen, they are tiny dots of light that light up in certain patterns to form an image. The more of these dots or “pixels” you have all jammed into the one space, the better the image quality.
You may also see XGA written next to 14” or WXGA written next to 17”.
The XGA means a slightly stubby screen while the WXGA means a wide screen, the “W” almost always indicates a wide screen.
You will also most likely see something called “Aspect Ratio”, this works in with the resolution, so the above example is a 14” with 1024 pixels wide and 768 pixels tall, its aspect ratio is 4:3. So for every 4 pixels that lay horizontal, there are 3 vertical. An easy way to look at it mathematically is, lets divide the higher res by 4, and then divide the lower res by that answer and you get a ratio.
Now that we have the technical bit out of the way lets take a look at warranties. Getting back to pixels, you now know what they are for and occasionally one or more become stuck.! We call this a “stuck” or “dead” pixel, they look like a bright red or yellow dot and sometimes even a black dot when displayed on a bright screen.
Unfortunately where warranties are concerned, you may find that your computer comes with a 7 or 14 day “dead pixel warranty”, this means that you have this amount of time to take it back and hopefully get a replacement. !!
Some vendors and manufacturers also have a warranty that might require so many dead or stuck pixels before they will offer and exchange or replacement.
The long and the short of this means that you must inspect your screen and look for these dead pixels as soon as you get it, in fact I usually recommend people do this at the place of purchase if you can. There is also a program you can download for free called "Dead Pixel Buddy" that will test your screen for dead pixels. If you are the extra cautious type that wants absolute assurance about the integrity of your new pixels, then download install this program. You can get it by clicking this link: Dead Pixel Buddy
Not withstanding the above, be sure to enquire about the dead pixel warranty. !!
There are a few things people need to know about notebook screens and what can happen when things go wrong. Before choosing one, you must consider the purpose for the computer, this alone can deduce the best outcome for your spending if you follow a few rules of thumb.
Rather than throw money away on something you really don’t need, let’s look at what your intentions are and how you might expect to use your computer.
Firstly, are you intending to use it for photos, graphical and video editing, movie making etc. If the answer here is yes, then you will most certainly want a wide screen computer, but the wider and bigger the screen, the more you will spend. !
If you intend using it for simple email, netsurfing, handling documents etc, then you might be better off not spending up on a wide screen.
Screens come in different sizes and screen resolutions, the size of the screen is actually measured from the bottom left corner to the top right corner. Let’s say its a 17 inch screen (17”), then draw a straight line from the bottom left to the top right and it will equal 17 inches.
The resolution is about how clear you can have the image on screen, a good rule of thumb to remember is, “the higher the screen resolution the sharper the image”. Resolutions is also noted as “res” for short, and incase you were wondering, yep the higher the res the higher the price tag !!
Screen res is how many pixels you have horizonatlly along your screen and how many down . If you look at a 14” screen, its standard resolutions is 1024 x 768. This means that it has 1024 pixels across the screen (1024 wide) and 768 down (768 tall). These pixels make up the image on screen, they are tiny dots of light that light up in certain patterns to form an image. The more of these dots or “pixels” you have all jammed into the one space, the better the image quality.
You may also see XGA written next to 14” or WXGA written next to 17”.
The XGA means a slightly stubby screen while the WXGA means a wide screen, the “W” almost always indicates a wide screen.
You will also most likely see something called “Aspect Ratio”, this works in with the resolution, so the above example is a 14” with 1024 pixels wide and 768 pixels tall, its aspect ratio is 4:3. So for every 4 pixels that lay horizontal, there are 3 vertical. An easy way to look at it mathematically is, lets divide the higher res by 4, and then divide the lower res by that answer and you get a ratio.
Now that we have the technical bit out of the way lets take a look at warranties. Getting back to pixels, you now know what they are for and occasionally one or more become stuck.! We call this a “stuck” or “dead” pixel, they look like a bright red or yellow dot and sometimes even a black dot when displayed on a bright screen.
Unfortunately where warranties are concerned, you may find that your computer comes with a 7 or 14 day “dead pixel warranty”, this means that you have this amount of time to take it back and hopefully get a replacement. !!
Some vendors and manufacturers also have a warranty that might require so many dead or stuck pixels before they will offer and exchange or replacement.
The long and the short of this means that you must inspect your screen and look for these dead pixels as soon as you get it, in fact I usually recommend people do this at the place of purchase if you can. There is also a program you can download for free called "Dead Pixel Buddy" that will test your screen for dead pixels. If you are the extra cautious type that wants absolute assurance about the integrity of your new pixels, then download install this program. You can get it by clicking this link: Dead Pixel Buddy
Not withstanding the above, be sure to enquire about the dead pixel warranty. !!
Onboard video: Video Equipment
Onboard Video
Onboard video is basically a “video card” that enables you to see what’s on your screen. It is the go-between that sits in the middle with your computer's mother board on one side and the screen on the other. This is also known as “integrated video” and with out this device all you would see is a blank screen.
We mentioned things like screen resolution when it comes to LDC monitors, this resolution is also affected by the video card.
The better the onboard video and the higher the res, usually equals better graphics. So if you are going to be using your notebook for photos and graphics etc, ideally you should choose one that has powerful onboard video.
Things to look for is the amount of “VRAM” and also the numbers next to the words “Nvidia” or “ATI”. Generally the bigger the numbers the better it is. !!
For example: Nvidia GeForce 7000M 256Mb, as these underlined numbers go up, your graphics improve.!
Nvidia and ATI are different video card manufacturers, almost like Holden and Ford. These numbers indicate what kind of onboard graphics equipment the computer has, and much like the CPU an onboard video card also has its own dedicated brain.
We call this the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and in much the same way that the CPU utilizes the RAM for increased performance, the GPU does the same thing.
If the GPU uses the RAM installed in the computer we call this “system memory” or shared memory, (sometimes also referred to as shared grpahics.) However to make things move along quicker and give better performance, in some cases these GPU’s have their own dedicated RAM called VRAM. What does this mean ? Read on....
“Video Ramdom Access Memory”. You may see numbers like 256MB VRAM or 512Mb VRAM written alongside the Nvidia or ATI specs. Basically these numbers represent how many MB’s “megabytes” or MB’s of VRAM or dedicated memory your onboard video has. Sometimes it won’t have the words VRAM and just the number of Megabytes like 521Mb, either way it’s all the same thing.
No doubt you have it figured by now, the higher the amount of Ram the GPU has to play with, the better the graphical performance of your computer. If you wanted a computer that is good for 3D gamming, you would be looking for a large amount of VRAM and a fast GPU, and again the bigger the numbers the higher the price.
We mentioned things like screen resolution when it comes to LDC monitors, this resolution is also affected by the video card.
The better the onboard video and the higher the res, usually equals better graphics. So if you are going to be using your notebook for photos and graphics etc, ideally you should choose one that has powerful onboard video.
Things to look for is the amount of “VRAM” and also the numbers next to the words “Nvidia” or “ATI”. Generally the bigger the numbers the better it is. !!
For example: Nvidia GeForce 7000M 256Mb, as these underlined numbers go up, your graphics improve.!
Nvidia and ATI are different video card manufacturers, almost like Holden and Ford. These numbers indicate what kind of onboard graphics equipment the computer has, and much like the CPU an onboard video card also has its own dedicated brain.
We call this the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and in much the same way that the CPU utilizes the RAM for increased performance, the GPU does the same thing.
If the GPU uses the RAM installed in the computer we call this “system memory” or shared memory, (sometimes also referred to as shared grpahics.) However to make things move along quicker and give better performance, in some cases these GPU’s have their own dedicated RAM called VRAM. What does this mean ? Read on....
“Video Ramdom Access Memory”. You may see numbers like 256MB VRAM or 512Mb VRAM written alongside the Nvidia or ATI specs. Basically these numbers represent how many MB’s “megabytes” or MB’s of VRAM or dedicated memory your onboard video has. Sometimes it won’t have the words VRAM and just the number of Megabytes like 521Mb, either way it’s all the same thing.
No doubt you have it figured by now, the higher the amount of Ram the GPU has to play with, the better the graphical performance of your computer. If you wanted a computer that is good for 3D gamming, you would be looking for a large amount of VRAM and a fast GPU, and again the bigger the numbers the higher the price.
Networking
Most new notebooks come already equipped with network capability, the networking ability varies from one laptop to the next but you will most likely see 802.11 or 802.11g or 802.11n written next to the network specs.
If your thinking, “what the hell is that” ? I’ll give you the easy explanation, 802.11 is a standard developed by the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE). All this means is that new computers that have wireless network capability built-in, must comply with this standard. This is not that far different from the energy star ratings you see on most modern electrical appliances these days. 802.11g and 802.11n is also known as (Wi-Fi) or wireless Fidelity.
Anyway, when you see 802.11 it means that the laptop has built-in wireless technology that enables you to connect to wireless hotspots or even to the wireless modem in your house.
If your thinking, “what the hell is that” ? I’ll give you the easy explanation, 802.11 is a standard developed by the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE). All this means is that new computers that have wireless network capability built-in, must comply with this standard. This is not that far different from the energy star ratings you see on most modern electrical appliances these days. 802.11g and 802.11n is also known as (Wi-Fi) or wireless Fidelity.
Anyway, when you see 802.11 it means that the laptop has built-in wireless technology that enables you to connect to wireless hotspots or even to the wireless modem in your house.
Sometimes you may see “802.11g”, this means the connection or signal between your computer and the wireless modem or router or "Access Point" runs at a maximum speed of about 54Mbs per second. Let’s just assume for example sake that this is in ks/hr instead, so the signal leaving the modem travels at 54ks/hr to your computer. And conversely the signal also travels back to the modem or router at a similar speed.
The 802.11g signal only has a maximum range of about 50 meters, so this does limit how far you can take your computer from your router.
Now if you see “802.11n”, this means that the speed of this signal is even faster, and can go further than the 802.11g standard. The 802.11n standard goes at a maximum speed of about 248 ks/hr (using our above anallegy), and also travels a maximum distance of approximately 70 meters. This distance is of course provided you have an unobstructed path between the Acess Point (modem/router) and your computer.
In general the further down the alphabet the letters are suffixed to 802.11, the later, faster and better the technology.
So you now see what I am saying here, if your new notebook has the 802.11n looking thingy written somewhere near the network specs…...”buy the dam thing”!!
The 802.11g signal only has a maximum range of about 50 meters, so this does limit how far you can take your computer from your router.
Now if you see “802.11n”, this means that the speed of this signal is even faster, and can go further than the 802.11g standard. The 802.11n standard goes at a maximum speed of about 248 ks/hr (using our above anallegy), and also travels a maximum distance of approximately 70 meters. This distance is of course provided you have an unobstructed path between the Acess Point (modem/router) and your computer.
In general the further down the alphabet the letters are suffixed to 802.11, the later, faster and better the technology.
So you now see what I am saying here, if your new notebook has the 802.11n looking thingy written somewhere near the network specs…...”buy the dam thing”!!
Some notebooks have slots for different attachments etc, there is one called a PCMCIA slot that takes a kind of credit card sized device called a PCMCIA card. This card can help your computer talk to wireless routers if the laptop does not already have this ability built-in. You can also access the roaming wireless network via a USB Dongle.
The PCMCIA slot is being replaced by theExpress Card slot, click here for more details.
Meanwhile you may also see things like RJ45 10/100/1000 LAN, this means that it has a port or slot on the side where you plug in the broadband or "Ethernet" cable so it has broadband. Dead simple eh !!
Some will also be advertised with a 56Kbps Modem, this is the old technology known as Dial Up. You know the one, that noisy bleeping modem thingy that farts and screatches when it dials into the internet. It also cost you a phone call every time. !!
Some will also be advertised with a 56Kbps Modem, this is the old technology known as Dial Up. You know the one, that noisy bleeping modem thingy that farts and screatches when it dials into the internet. It also cost you a phone call every time. !!
Batteries
Lithium Ion (Li-Lon) Battery
Another important consideration worth some thought is the kind of battery that comes with your new notebook. Like many of the components that make up a laptop they come in all different shapes, styles and sizes. Some of the more powerful ones are generally much larger and give you longer running time, not to mention additional weight as in the case of many machines with 17inch screens.
Besides the weight factor you must also consider the length of time you expect the battery to power your laptop. They usually last from two to four hours depending on the power consumption, however this time is variable and is usually aligned with your particular settings.
Notebook batteries are actually a series of rechargable cells (batteries) stacked in a row and encased in a plastic box.
There are three types of notebook batteries and probably the most popular that manufactures seem to prefer is the lithium-ion (Li-ion).
You will find these in almost all the latest model notebooks and PDA’s etc. Lithium-ion batteries offer nearly twice the amount of running time and around 500 – 800 charges. They may be slightly lighter than other battery types but are more expensive to manufacture and this incurs a higher cost which dives right into your hip pocket. !!
The shelf life or life expectancy of Li-ion is also a little lower than other battery types, they seemingly suffer from temperatures and aging and inevitably but slowly loose their charge over time. On the upside one distinct advantage of the Li-ion is the fact that it does not suffer the “memory effect”.
The memory effect is where you charge a battery when it is not fully discharged, and then you loose that area that was not discharged.
So every recharge from there on is only going to charge-up that part that was discharged.
Imagine that you fill your car with petrol, drive for awhile, use some petrol and then you have a third of a tank left.
Notebook batteries are actually a series of rechargable cells (batteries) stacked in a row and encased in a plastic box.
There are three types of notebook batteries and probably the most popular that manufactures seem to prefer is the lithium-ion (Li-ion).
You will find these in almost all the latest model notebooks and PDA’s etc. Lithium-ion batteries offer nearly twice the amount of running time and around 500 – 800 charges. They may be slightly lighter than other battery types but are more expensive to manufacture and this incurs a higher cost which dives right into your hip pocket. !!
The shelf life or life expectancy of Li-ion is also a little lower than other battery types, they seemingly suffer from temperatures and aging and inevitably but slowly loose their charge over time. On the upside one distinct advantage of the Li-ion is the fact that it does not suffer the “memory effect”.
The memory effect is where you charge a battery when it is not fully discharged, and then you loose that area that was not discharged.
So every recharge from there on is only going to charge-up that part that was discharged.
Imagine that you fill your car with petrol, drive for awhile, use some petrol and then you have a third of a tank left.
So let’s assume that this part of the tank is now unavailable and we can only top the tank with two thirds from now on and that’s all the motion lotion the car has to run on.
This is what happens with some batteries that suffer the memory effect. The solution with these kinds of batteries is to always run them almost flat and then fully recharge them.
Nickle-Cadmium batteries suffer this phenomenon but they can give you more charges at the cost of lower running times.
Nickle-Metal Hydride batteries are immune to the memory effect but are known to have a shorter life expectancy.
This is what happens with some batteries that suffer the memory effect. The solution with these kinds of batteries is to always run them almost flat and then fully recharge them.
Nickle-Cadmium batteries suffer this phenomenon but they can give you more charges at the cost of lower running times.
Nickle-Metal Hydride batteries are immune to the memory effect but are known to have a shorter life expectancy.
Ni-Cad Battery
Besides a lithium-ion battery probably the other things to look for are as many cells as possible in your battery, typically 4 to 12 is the norm, some manufactures and vendors will advertise this and others wont. The only drawback with extra cells is weight. !!
The more cells the better the performance, running time, life span and power output.
Also be sure to check for the mAh “milliamp hours”, this is how many milliamps of power your battery can deliver per hour. The higher the number the better, aim for one that is equal to or higher than 4400 mAh.
The more cells the better the performance, running time, life span and power output.
Also be sure to check for the mAh “milliamp hours”, this is how many milliamps of power your battery can deliver per hour. The higher the number the better, aim for one that is equal to or higher than 4400 mAh.
Ports: Where you adapt and connect other devices to your laptop
Notebooks come with many different kinds of “ports” and slots that take a wide range of cables, connectors and devices. These range from USB, Firewire, PCMCIA, Express Card, RJ11, RJ45, Audio Jacks, Serial VGA and Card Readers to name a few. I will give you the layman version of what these ports do and how they can “expand” your laptop. They are also referred to as “expansion ports” because they allow you to connect many other devices, effectively expanding your laptop.
USB - Universal Serial Bus
USB Ports
The term USB means Universal Serial Bus and has become an industry standard for connecting many devices to computers. The USB port comes in two configurations, the oldest and slowest is the USB 1.0 standard and the newest is the USB 2.0 and is the fastest. Almost all new notebooks these days have the 2.0 standard and normally have about 3 to 4 or more ports.
USB ports connect using a USB cable that has one rectangular end which connects to the PC and is called the "A connection", the other end connects to the device and is called the "B connection" and has a sqaure connector. Both ends of a USB cable are male connectors and sometimes come in different configurations and may include a "mini USB" at the B end.
Many devices connect using the USB technology, printers, camers, external hard drives, joysticks, memory drives (USB sticks) also network adapters and many others.
The main things to look for when purchasing your notebook are as many USB ports as possible, but as you can imagine, the more ports, the more you pay. !!
USB ports connect using a USB cable that has one rectangular end which connects to the PC and is called the "A connection", the other end connects to the device and is called the "B connection" and has a sqaure connector. Both ends of a USB cable are male connectors and sometimes come in different configurations and may include a "mini USB" at the B end.
Many devices connect using the USB technology, printers, camers, external hard drives, joysticks, memory drives (USB sticks) also network adapters and many others.
The main things to look for when purchasing your notebook are as many USB ports as possible, but as you can imagine, the more ports, the more you pay. !!
FireWire - 1394
FireWire is a technology originally developed by Apple and then became standard in many computers supporting Windows operating systems. It is also known as the “IEEE 1394” and is basically faster at transferring data from devices or digital video camera's etc than USB. For this reason it has become very popular and in many cases you can simply plug your camera straight into your computer via the 1394 port.
RJ11 and RJ45 - Dial Up and Broadband
The RJ11 is simply a port where your standard telephone line plugs into a dial up modem that is built into your laptop. The RJ45 port is slightly bigger and is reserved for cables that have an "Ethernet" or broadband connector. Most new laptops have this technology already incorporated, however as networks advance the RJ11 might perhaps disappear in the future.
PCMCIA - Personal Computer Memory Card International Association
PCMCIA Card
PCMCIA stands for “personal computer memory card international association”. Basically it denotes a kind of slot in your notebook where a card-like device fits in and then enables you to perform activities you otherwise could not.
These cards do many things, some are for connecting to networks both wired and wireless and others are for extra USB slots etc. Chances are that every new laptop will have one and this technology is being slowly replaced by the express card. For more info on the express card click here. The express card is faster than it’s predecessor and will take on the roll of many devices. Usually the PCMCIA and the express card slots will be located together.
These cards do many things, some are for connecting to networks both wired and wireless and others are for extra USB slots etc. Chances are that every new laptop will have one and this technology is being slowly replaced by the express card. For more info on the express card click here. The express card is faster than it’s predecessor and will take on the roll of many devices. Usually the PCMCIA and the express card slots will be located together.
VGA Port - Video Graphics Array
VGA Port
This port is standard on almost all laptops, it can easily replace a screen should you need one. In my personal experience as a technician one of the first things I do when presented with a faulty laptop screen, is test the onboard video by plugging in another screen. You can in fact run two screens at once provided your onboard video has the capability.
Card Readers
SD Card
Nearly all new notebooks come installed with a “Card Reader”, these are devices that take Memory Cards. They are often called a "5 in 1 card reader", this simply means it can take 5 different kinds of memory cards in the one slot or reader. They are an essential item for photography, many new notebooks have software pre-installed specifically for photo editing etc.
There are many other ports that can be found on new notebooks, one that practically is (on certain models) and soon will become standard is the “HDMI”, or the “High Definition Media Interface”. This translates to a USB looking port that adapts video cameras and other media devices enabling them to transfer data at accelerated rates.
There will no doubt be additional ports as technology advances, I would say in purchasing a new laptop, definitely make it a point to see what ports are available that best suit your purposes. Having many ports gives you extra flexibility and expansion, you may find however that this benefit adds to the cost. !!
There will no doubt be additional ports as technology advances, I would say in purchasing a new laptop, definitely make it a point to see what ports are available that best suit your purposes. Having many ports gives you extra flexibility and expansion, you may find however that this benefit adds to the cost. !!
Windows Vista or XP or Windows 7 ?
Vista or XP, this begs the question, which operating system is best. ?
First of all what is an "Operating System", well it is the part you see and work with, its this part that sits between you "the user" and the hardware "the computer". It is also commonly called the "OS" and without it your computer is rendered useless.
So back to the question, many folks will say Vista while others will tell you it’s XP,
they both have their pros and cons, but ultimately the decision is yours.
Herein also lies the possibility of other operating systems such as Linux, Ubuntu and Apple. Apple Macs are computers specifically designed to work with Apple operating systems, they can however also operate in a windows environment but they to have their pros and cons.
I will attempt to employ some ideas here that may help you make an informed decision on which "OS" is best suited for your particular needs. Computers just like people come in all shapes and sizes and are many and varied, but even more so however is the users's specific requirements. This aspect alone should form a large basis for which OS you choose.
I will focus primarily on Vista and XP, although now there is a new OS release on Windows called Windows 7. This is more or less an update on Windows Vista and you could in fact download a trial version from Microsoft. Many say it works like XP but looks just like Vista. !
To find out more about Windows 7 click here.
To find out more about operating systems click here.
First of all what is an "Operating System", well it is the part you see and work with, its this part that sits between you "the user" and the hardware "the computer". It is also commonly called the "OS" and without it your computer is rendered useless.
So back to the question, many folks will say Vista while others will tell you it’s XP,
they both have their pros and cons, but ultimately the decision is yours.
Herein also lies the possibility of other operating systems such as Linux, Ubuntu and Apple. Apple Macs are computers specifically designed to work with Apple operating systems, they can however also operate in a windows environment but they to have their pros and cons.
I will attempt to employ some ideas here that may help you make an informed decision on which "OS" is best suited for your particular needs. Computers just like people come in all shapes and sizes and are many and varied, but even more so however is the users's specific requirements. This aspect alone should form a large basis for which OS you choose.
I will focus primarily on Vista and XP, although now there is a new OS release on Windows called Windows 7. This is more or less an update on Windows Vista and you could in fact download a trial version from Microsoft. Many say it works like XP but looks just like Vista. !
To find out more about Windows 7 click here.
To find out more about operating systems click here.
Windows XP
Windows XP comes in two versions, Windows Home Edition and also Windows XP Pro. Windows XP Pro has better security features built in than XP Home. For this reason if you intend using your computer for business, always opt for XP Pro, remember however that there are also other versions of XP. Feedback from our customers has proven the worth of this operating system, we have also produced a book giving some basic instructions on using Windows XP, click the ACS Book for a preview or download. Windows Xp is most popular OS today.
Windows XP is an excellent operating system and does not suffer from the incompatibility issues some other Os’s can and do. For home computers we recommend XP, it is user friendly, easy to learn and you can accomplish many tasks with software, applications, tools and utilities already built in. Very often people do not realize what they can actually do with XP, for example, you can burn with XP, resize pictures, create movies and video. You do not always have to purchase dedicated software, XP has much of it already.
You can also download free additions to XP from the Microsoft Website that allow you to perform extra tasks, Microsoft calls these “PowerToys”. XP is also easy on the computers hardware, it typically does not slow the computer down where as Vista might, for this reason it runs very well on most laptops and can be upgraded quite easily. Of all the operating systems we recommend XP or XP Pro depending on your intended use.
To find out more about Windows XP click here.
Windows XP is an excellent operating system and does not suffer from the incompatibility issues some other Os’s can and do. For home computers we recommend XP, it is user friendly, easy to learn and you can accomplish many tasks with software, applications, tools and utilities already built in. Very often people do not realize what they can actually do with XP, for example, you can burn with XP, resize pictures, create movies and video. You do not always have to purchase dedicated software, XP has much of it already.
You can also download free additions to XP from the Microsoft Website that allow you to perform extra tasks, Microsoft calls these “PowerToys”. XP is also easy on the computers hardware, it typically does not slow the computer down where as Vista might, for this reason it runs very well on most laptops and can be upgraded quite easily. Of all the operating systems we recommend XP or XP Pro depending on your intended use.
To find out more about Windows XP click here.
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is a little different to XP and when it first arrived on the scene people thought they were dealing with a difficult to learn and cumbersome operating system. This is not the case at all, Vista is in fact an outstanding operating system in many respects although like many it does have its short comings. One such is its drain on computer resource, it is hard going on hardware and can slow the computer down. We recommend the minimum specs should include at least 2 Gig of ram although 4 Gig is even better. Should you choose to purchase a computer with Vista pre-installed, be sure to see that it can be either “downgraded to XP” or upgraded with extra ram.
Vista has many features over and above XP and especially where graphical editing is concerned, it also has added security features that XP does not. One drawback of the added security is its drain on resource, again this slows the computer down where XP does not. !
Because Vista can be a little power hungry, Microsoft added "ReadyBoost" which means you can use an empty USB drive as extra ram. This is great considering you will want some more, I often say to customers, "Ram just like hard drive space is something you can never have enough of". !!
Windows Vista also comes in a few different versions, when you see "VHB" advertised as the OS this is Vista Home Basic and is mostly standard on many new notebooks. There are other versions like Vista Business etc.
To find out more about Windows Vista click here.
Vista has many features over and above XP and especially where graphical editing is concerned, it also has added security features that XP does not. One drawback of the added security is its drain on resource, again this slows the computer down where XP does not. !
Because Vista can be a little power hungry, Microsoft added "ReadyBoost" which means you can use an empty USB drive as extra ram. This is great considering you will want some more, I often say to customers, "Ram just like hard drive space is something you can never have enough of". !!
Windows Vista also comes in a few different versions, when you see "VHB" advertised as the OS this is Vista Home Basic and is mostly standard on many new notebooks. There are other versions like Vista Business etc.
To find out more about Windows Vista click here.
Warranties
No Problem !!
Perhaps one of the most frustrating things when buying a new computer is understanding exactly what your warranty is and does for you when you need it most. Often many places make promises and offer you the world with their warranties, this is a rather grey area and one that requires much time and research. Do not be fooled by the hungry sales sharks that promise the lot. !!
Because warranties vary from state to state and places to place it is essential that you explore your options before you commit to a purchase. We have all heard horror stories of people that tried a warranty service only to be told that, "it's not in the warranty", these people get angry and some fear they will be laughed at. Warranties are no laughing matter, you paid for it, use it. !!
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There are two kinds of warranty that are of interest, these are the statutory warranty and the express warranty. The statutory warranty covers the retailer’s warranty, for example (exchange or refund) and the express warranty covers the manufacturer’s warranty. Both come with terms and conditions and may differ from retailer and manufacturer.
Be mindful that if you submit your computer for a warranty service or repair and no fault is found, you can be charged for the service. For more information on consumer rights and warranties refer to the ACCC website, click here.
Also be careful not to open or tamper with the internal components of your computer as in most cases this will immediately void your warranty. If someone should work under the hood make sure they are a certified computer technician or a warranty specified technician or your warranty may again be rendered invalid.
You should know that the little accidents like coffee spills, standing on your computer while its on the floor, dropping it etc, are generally not covered in the warranty, so be carefull. !!
Be mindful that if you submit your computer for a warranty service or repair and no fault is found, you can be charged for the service. For more information on consumer rights and warranties refer to the ACCC website, click here.
Also be careful not to open or tamper with the internal components of your computer as in most cases this will immediately void your warranty. If someone should work under the hood make sure they are a certified computer technician or a warranty specified technician or your warranty may again be rendered invalid.
You should know that the little accidents like coffee spills, standing on your computer while its on the floor, dropping it etc, are generally not covered in the warranty, so be carefull. !!
Also consider an extended warranty, consider how long you intend to have the computer and whether the extra cost is better than buying a new one later on. Probably the most important thing is to read between the lines and always keep your paper work. This will place you in good stead and hopefully then should you need to make use of your warranty it results in happy days. For more information on warraties, see the "Office of Fair Trading" website or click here.
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Cash Back Offers !
Many notebook manufacturers’ offer a “cash back” deal that is part of their purchase package, put simply, you pay so much for your laptop and then get some money back later. As great as this sounds it does have its pitfalls, always be sure to check the terms and conditions that apply to your cash back.
Sometimes the manufacturer will offer you a cash back provided you submit your cash back claim within a certain time period, usually once this time frame expires, that’s it you get nothing. In some cases it can take up to three months or more to receive your cash back bonus so be patient. !!
There is not always a cash back bonus sold with every new notebook, so do not be disappointed, sometimes it is worth waiting until there is, most models have it at some time or another.
Sometimes the manufacturer will offer you a cash back provided you submit your cash back claim within a certain time period, usually once this time frame expires, that’s it you get nothing. In some cases it can take up to three months or more to receive your cash back bonus so be patient. !!
There is not always a cash back bonus sold with every new notebook, so do not be disappointed, sometimes it is worth waiting until there is, most models have it at some time or another.
Tips on buying a Notebook
Buying Tips:
· Ask about a spare battery and carry case
· Ask for a mouse, mouse pad and USB drive !!
· Ask for best bundled packages, printer, carry case etc.
· Ask about bundled software, and if disc’s are supplied
· Ask about terms and length of warranty and cost of extension
· Ask if it’s a “RTB”, return to base warranty or send away
· Ask about the dead pixel warranty
· Ask about upgradeability and future proofing your system
· Ask about an XP downgrade if it’s a Vista Operating System
· Ask about including a screen cleaning kit
· Shop and compare, research and more research, its your money. !!
· Ask about a spare battery and carry case
· Ask for a mouse, mouse pad and USB drive !!
· Ask for best bundled packages, printer, carry case etc.
· Ask about bundled software, and if disc’s are supplied
· Ask about terms and length of warranty and cost of extension
· Ask if it’s a “RTB”, return to base warranty or send away
· Ask about the dead pixel warranty
· Ask about upgradeability and future proofing your system
· Ask about an XP downgrade if it’s a Vista Operating System
· Ask about including a screen cleaning kit
· Shop and compare, research and more research, its your money. !!