[SeniorTech] Buying a laptop??
- From: "Jerry Taylor" <jerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <jerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 19:02:14 -0500
Buying a Laptop: Netbook or Notebook?
The major division among portable laptop computers is the notebook
versus netbook distinction. Basically, a netbook has just enough
computing power and storage space to connect you to the Internet; there,
it finds computing resources to do serious work. A netbook also has a
small screen and keyboard; it's designed with heavy emphasis on
portability at the expense of usability. Often a netbook will not have a
CD/DVD drive, so you it won't double as a portable DVD player, and you
won't be able to install new software from a CD.
A notebook has lots of disk storage, CPU processing power, etc., to do
work locally even if you can't connect to the Web. It's screen and
keyboard are big enough for extended periods of video viewing and
typing. Naturally, a notebook is heavier and more expensive than a
netbook. Netbooks can be found for under $300 now, but a quick scan of
the shelves at local retailers tells me that there are plenty of bigger
and more functional notebooks in the $400-$500 price range.
If your primary considerations are price, a light weight machine, and
small form factor, then a netbook may be just the ticket. I travel on
business 3-4 times a year, and I'm getting tired of lugging my old Sony
VAIO, which weighs in at over 10 pounds. And since I use it mostly for
webmail when travelling, I'm thinking about an Asus, Acer Aspire, or an
HP Mini netbook. But if you're buying a laptop to function as your
primary workstation, you'll want something a little beefier.
Recommended Specs For Notebooks
Within the notebook genre are several subdivisions based upon features
and performance. Generally, you don't want to mess with a notebook that
has less than these core features:
CPU: 2.0 Ghz or faster
RAM Memory: 2 GB or more
Hard Drive: 160 GB or larger
Optical Disk: CD/DVD read/write drive
Screen: 15+ inches, 1440x900 resolution minimum
Ports: Ethernet, USB, PC Card, Firewire, SD
WiFi adapter: 802.11G or 802.11N
Operating System: Windows 7 or XP (avoid Vista)
If you find a good bargain but the notebook's hard drive seems too
small, ask about upgrading to a bigger one free of charge. The
difference in cost per gigabyte is truly tiny these days and a motivated
vendor should be negotiable.
A faster hard drive is another upgrade you may want to negotiate before
you buy. Normally, notebooks ship with 5400 rpm drives. Upgrading to a
7200 rpm version improves data read/write speed by one-third; programs
load and execute faster, DVD movies stream more smoothly, etc.
(thanks to Bob Rankin for this info.)
Jerry Taylor
SeniorTech
http://www.seniortech.us <http://www.seniortech.us/>
Personalized In-Home Computer Lessons
for Senior Citizens and Retirees
585-964-3319
"Computers are not just for kids"
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