Laptop Buyers Guide - Part 2

• 1. Should I buy a used laptop?
• 2. Size and Weight
• 3. Processor Speed
• 4. Memory
• 5. Hard Disk Drives
• 6. Display
• 7. Battery Life
• 8. Expansion Ports and Slots
• 9. Network and Connectivity
• 10. Disk Drives
• 11. Direct Input Options

Memory

Random Access Memory (RAM) is the temporary store for programs and other data. Your laptop stores all applications and program data you are currently using in this area. How much RAM your computer has will influence how fast your computer works and the number of programs it can run simultaneously. Some laptops will come with only 32 MB. But, given the needs of most modern programs, you should look at getting at least 64 MB. For more intensive applications, 128MB is recommended.

Hard Disk Drives

The Hard Disk Drive (HDD) stores files and any document you save to the computer. The size of HDD, measured in Giga Bytes (GB), determines how much data you can save. The more hard drive space you have, the more data you can store. The minimum space you should look for is 4Gb, but ideally 10 - 20Gb is recommended. Some high-end laptops have as much as 60 – 80Gb HDD, probably more space than you’ll ever need.

Display

Laptop screens these days start at 12 inches and go up to 16 - 17 inches measured diagonally. A larger screen is more comfortable to work on but will contribute to the overall weight and price of your laptop. There are two types of display to consider:

• Passive matrix – This is the older technology and is less popular these days. Passive matrix does not offer as good a display as active matrix, and doesn’t allow you to view the screen from many angles though it is the cheaper option. There are two types of passive matrix screen: DSTN and HPA, with HPA being the superior.
• Active matrix – This offers a faster screen refresh rate than passive matrix and allows you to view your screen from all angles. Superior image quality comes at a higher price however. The most common form of active matrix screen is TFT (Thin Film Transfer).

Something else to consider regarding display is your monitor resolution. Resolution measures a picture’s sharpness in terms of pixels, measuring the number of horizontal pixels by vertical pixels. The larger the number the sharper the picture. You should consider nothing less than 800 x 600, though 1024 x 728 is preferable.

Battery Life

Battery life will vary depending on the type of battery that comes with your laptop. There are three types of battery on the market today:

• Lithium ion (Li-Ion) – This is the latest technology and is touted as superior to its predecessors. It is more durable and holds the charge for longer. It also tends to be the more expensive alternative.
• Nickel cadmium (NiCad) – NiCad offers a shorter life than Lithium and seems to be falling into disuse. It is however cheap to replace and holds a charge well, though is doesn’t react well to under- or over-charging.
• Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) – NiMH offers 10% more power than NiCad, but does not hold a charge as well.

You should note though that although Lithium ion is the superior battery, today’s laptops are more sophisticated and thus demand more power. You will thus not experience much more battery life from Lithium than you would from an older model laptop running a NiCad or NiMH battery.

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