Buying a laptop (Guide for buying a laptop)

So you want to buy a laptop?

• Decide If A Laptop Is Right For You
• Learn About Special Laptop Features
• Learn About Basic Computer Features
• Decide How Much You Want To Spend
• Find A Vendor And Buy Your Laptop

LEARN ABOUT SPECIAL LAPTOP FEATURES

A laptop is like a pet: you must pick out the right one for you or forever will it dominate your destiny with its demands. Think we're being dramatic? Just wait and see. So we've prepared a comprehensive list of special laptop features so that you'll know what to expect when you set out to buy one. Educating yourself on laptop features also protects you against unscrupulous salesmen who have no qualms about preying on technological innocents such as yourself.

Weight and size
Input devices
Batteries
Display
Other things to look out for (memory, cd and DVD or DVDRW, power pack &Adapter, mainboard type, PCMCIA, LCD screen, power jack, plugs, casing, &clips, microphone jack, speakers type, port replicator, base, slots, hdd type and speed, CPU type, DVI connection, SD and mini card readers, bluethoot, Wifi, graphic card (dedicated or onboard), tablet and pen, keyboard and touchpad, mouse, USB or USB2, firewire,serial, printer, scanner, barcode, industrial use, design use, personal use, sim cards and chipset, network, fingerprint security, bios type, password manager, future repairs and parts, screen resolution, trackball, camera, microphone jack,)

Weight and size

• Weight. Most laptops weigh between 3 - 8 pounds, with the majority coming in at just over 5 pounds. When you're buying your laptop, ask yourself if you'll often be taking it outside your house. If the answer is yes, you'll want to buy a thinner, lighter laptop that will fit into your bag or briefcase. Maybe you can even attach it onto a chain and wear it around your neck for extra easy access (and as a snazzy fashion statement).
  
  On the other hand, if your laptop is going to inhabit your room for the majority of its existence, you might want to consider investing in a laptop that has more features;it'll be bulkier, but at least it won't fly off your desk when a strong breeze blows through the window.
  
  
• Size. The most common screen sizes on laptops are 12.1, 13.3, and 14.4 inches (although some really tiny laptops feature screens that are as small as 8.4 inches). Again, a tiny screen is appropriate for frequent travelers, but it'd be ideal to have a larger, squint-free screen if you're willing to sacrifice convenience (and some extra bucks) to buy it.

Input devices

Instead of a hand-driven mouse, laptops come with other more cumbersome "input devices" for navigating a cursor around the screen. The good news is you can't get carpal tunnel from them, but the bad news is that you just might go berserk trying to edit a 10-page paper. Keep in mind, though, that all laptops allow you to plug in a standard mouse if you so desire.

• Touchpad. A touchpad is a square-shaped surface located below the space bar of a laptop keyboard. It is touch-sensitive and you navigate the screen by moving your finger around the box, as if you were drawing. The majority of laptops sport a touchpad as their input device. A touchpad can be a bit tough to get used to (you have to be careful not to let your thumb fall on it while typing, or it'll move the cursor), but they work quite nicely.
  
  
• Pointing stick or rubberized nipple. Sounds titillating, but this is one pointing stick (or nipple!) you'll wish you never touched. This input device is a tiny rubber nub that sticks out of the keyboard right between the G, H, and B keys, and it responds to pressure from your index finger. So you navigate the cursor by applying pressure in the direction you want the arrow to go (sorta like a joystick). Sounds easy, but most people find pointing sticks very frustrating to use - the slightest touch causes the arrow to go flying across the screen. We suggest you go with the touchpad instead.

Batteries

Sure, you can always plug your laptop into a wall. But you probably got a laptop to give you a bit of freedom, so if you're on a subway or in the park, you'll need a battery to give your computer some juice. There are three main types of batteries:

• Li+. Most people get Lithium-ion (Li+) batteries. These batteries range in quality;batteries with a high milliampere (mAh) and high voltage measurements are best. Regardless of the quality, you're best off with one of these babies.
  
  

• NiMH. If you're cheap, a nickel metal-hydride (NiMH) battery will do. However, be aware that they'll require you to recharge them every hour or so.
  
  
• NiCad. This probably won't be an option, but if a dealer does try to sell you a nickel cadmium (NiCad) battery, run out the door screaming. NiCads are the worst batteries in existence (because of their requirements for recharging), and no decent human being should have to deal with them.

Display

There are two types of displays (that is, screen images) to choose between: active-matrix (a.k.a. thin-film transistor or TFT) and passive-matrix (or dual-scan). Huh? Here's a translation:

• Active-Matrix (TFT). Go for an active-matrix display if you've got some dough to spare. It'll be worth it. Pictures come out sharper and moving images play out smoother. In fact, nowadays most laptops come with active-matrix displays because they're so commonly preferred.
  
  
• Passive-Matrix (Dual-Scan). This is the older and cheaper display. Images that run on this display react more slowly. It's not a pretty sight, but if you're strapped for money, it's tolerable. If you need a laptop purely for word processing, it won't prove disastrous.

To figure out what type of display you're dealing with on a laptop, move the cursor very quickly across the screen. If the cursor disappears while moving, the display is passive-matrix, and if you can keep your eye on it, it's active.

Other things to look out for

• Keyboard. It's a guarantee that all laptops feature cramped keyboards, but at least try to find a laptop with a keyboard with which you can comfortably type. Also, consider getting a spill-resistant keyboard if you're of the klutzy sort.
  
  
• Durability. If you plan on taking your laptop just about everywhere, you might want to consider a model with shock-resistant hard drive mounts. These are specifically designed to protect your laptop from bumpy adventures.
  
  
• Compatibility. If possible, test-drive a laptop before purchasing it. As we'll repeatedly tell you 'til the cows come home, once you get a laptop, you're committed to it until one of you croaks. You can't easily replace an annoying keyboard, an irritating pointing device, or a poor display. So make sure that you're compatible with your laptop by playing around with it. If you're buying your laptop online, try to find the same model in a store and test it out there first.

Buying laptop part 2