Buying a Laptop? Read this first.

Getting a laptop computer
is something to consider for several weeks before making your purchase. They
look great, sitting on the coffee shop table, a fresh brew steaming beside it,
and some guy looking thoughtfully at the screen. We think "yeah, that's
the ticket", but like just about everything else in this world, all
is not what it seems.

Physical Aspects

The first thing to consider is the physical aspects of the laptop, and the
primary one is weight, and then heat. Next we want to consider the size of the
lap top, what shape of screen we are going to take, and the size of the keyboard.

After that we are going to want to consider things like RAM, Hard Disk size,
wireless connections, battery life, battery cost, and graphic acceleration.

Size

The size of the laptop is a major choice with several alternatives. Keep in
mind that you are getting a laptop to carry around with you. If you don't plan
on carrying it around then you should consider a nice desktop, because a laptop
is generally about twice the cost. They also are less powerful on the whole,
with less hard disk capacity. The only real advantage to a laptop is the portability.

I've seen some that are the size of a brief case, and some that are half the
size of what most of us would consider a 'normal' laptop size. What ever size
you are thinking about, consider your carrying distances, modes of transportation,
while remembering that these things are not good with being bumped or dropped.

Heat

Laptops are not really "lap
top" computers. You don't use them in your lap. For one thing, the blowers
are generally on the bottom (so they can blow the hot air from inside the computer
directly into the desk they are sitting on). Exhaust fans are required for these
small beasts, because they do build up heat during normal operation.

Something the topic of heat brings up is that you are never just walking around
with the laptop itself. You need spacers for the desk (allowing the laptop to
breath), power cords, external mouse, external wireless (if you don't have internal
wireless), and what ever else you decide you need.

Heat also brings up the topic of where you are going to be working. Inside
an air conditioned area, with a nice flat desk is a good place. Outside by the
beach... not so good. Sand and salt air aren't the best things for them, and
direct sunlight on the screen, tends to make them unreadable. Because of the
exhaust problems, direct sunlight and warm rooms tend to over heat them quickly.

Most laptops now have a BIOS setting to turn off the computer automatically
if the unit gets dangerously hot. Make sure yours is turned on. Replacing these
toys gets expensive.

Weight

Weight is something almost no one considers and it is the first thing they
wish they had considered. These things require luggage. There is no other way
to look at it, you need luggage. And walking around with luggage is a hassle.

I found a great laptop backpack about 10 years ago from Jansport. It was perfect,
comfortable and easy to get my computer in and out of. It also was designed
for the laptops, with padded areas housing the unit while it was in the bag.
I've worn the backpack out now, and can't find its equal. It is something to
consider before going too far on the purchase. Find luggage.

Backpacks are great, but most professional positions don't allow the causal
image of a backpack, so you are stuck with the brief case.

Get a case or bag that has padding for the unit on all sides, especially the
corners. Make sure that if some other bag is set on top of yours, it won't instantly
crush the screen. Factor in the weight of your bag with the weight of your laptop
choice.

Screen Size

Screen Size is a difficult
decision. There are the square types and the increasingly more popular wide
screen types. The square ones are easier to read, and the wide screens have
more room for side-by-side programs. Also you have the advantage of DVD display
and high resolution.

Screen size also effects the size of the keyboard. So that might be a factor.
Many people say they don't like the small keyboards some designs have, but most
people get use to them quickly.

Since I don't want to start a new section just for internal mouse pads, I'll
throw this in here as well. There are two main types of built in mouse controllers
with laptops. One is the pad type, that you move your finger across to move
the mouse, and click largish type buttons for activation. The other is a very
small joy stick type that is installed in the middle of the keyboard (between
the G and H), with you move with a finger and thumb-click the largish buttons
at the base of the keyboard. Preferences vary, and it comes down to personal
tastes. I prefer the keyboard joy-stick type, because my hands don't have to
leave the keyboard to use mouse commands. Takes a while to get use to them,
because they move across the screen like a ferret on caffeine, but once you
get the hang of them, they help work flow.

The pads are another story. Most are able to be customized, and some have interesting
features. I know people who swear by them (and people who swear because of them).
The best thing to do is to sit down with one and write a page of text, and then
format the page. You'll go through most of the operational needs of the laptop
doing this, allowing you to ge the feel.

Hard Drive Size

You want 80 gigs. Most laptops come with 40 gigs standard, but you want 80
gigs. You also want to look into external drives soon. Trust me, these things
fill up fast. I have no idea why the laptop fills up faster than the desktop,
but they do. They are like little data magnates.

Battery Life

You want a laptop that can
run for at least four hours on the battery. There are setting in the Windows
XP that help keep the laptops from using a great deal of power while you are
working on them, but you want a battery that can last for at least four hours.

The length of time advertised by the laptop marketing departments is usually
measured with the laptop just sitting on the desk doing nothing. Not playing
a DVD.

Lithium batteries are superior to other kinds.

Battery Cost

Right up there with weight. Sooner or latter you are going to need to replace
the battery, or you are going to want to have an extra available.

Some of these batteries run $200-$600. Check to see what yours is before you
buy the laptop. If the battery cost is reasonable, get one as soon as you can,
you'll be happy you did.

Wireless

I didn't get the wireless model when I bought my current laptop. I've regretted
that decision ever since. It wasn't that I thought I wouldn't use the wireless
connection, it was that having it internal added $300 more to the laptop price,
and a wireless PCIMA card cost $60.00. So I got the laptop and the external
wireless adapter. Saved $240 on the cost, and I would give twice that to get
an internal wireless now.

Laptops are fragile, they aren't meant to be banged into or pulled and pushed.
So with the wireless card sticking out of the side, you are constantly getting
"snagged" on things. It is nerve wracking.

The less USB things sticking out the side of the laptop, the better.

Operating System Requirements

RAM

At least a Gig. When laptops are unplugged they tend to run a bit slower. So
having as much RAM as you can is a good thing. I wouldn't settle for less than
a Gig these days. Most laptops don't come with a Gig, standard, so you will
probably need to add this in as a customization, but you do want it, never the
less.

At least make sure that you can upgrade the laptop later to over a Gig.

Graphics acceleration

If you are a gamer, or are doing heavy graphics work, then you want a laptop
that has a discrete graphics accelerator chip along with dedicated video memory.

Such a chip takes a lot of the graphics load off of the laptop’s central
processing unit. All Apple Macintosh laptops (that I am aware of) include such
a chip. Many Windows laptops use an embedded graphics solution in which a big
chunk of your laptop’s main memory is used to manipulate the graphics
to be shown on screen.

Embedded solutions do not perform nearly as well as discrete solutions. However,
the difference does not matter to most people. Gamers notice it, because game-playing
taxes a computer’s graphics ability to the limit.

Ports and connectors

Laptops come with a variety of ports, connectors and features. At a minimum,
I’d recommend at least the following:

• At least two USB ports (one for a mouse, another for, perhaps, a printer)

• A drive capable of playing DVDs and recording CDs. (Look for "CD-RW/DVD-ROM"
in the feature list)

• An external display connecter so that you can plug in an external monitor.
For example, you might want to plug in to an overhead projector for a presentation.

Most laptops will come with all of the above.

Every year lap top computers have new features added to them. Some are time
savers, some are just in the way. Consider your choice, and check out the reviews
on the Internet regarding your choice before you buy.

If you have any specific questions you can always pop into our Help Forum and
ask one of the experts.