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A Buyer's Guide to Laptops
September 16, 2004
Today, there are more than 100 different models of laptops from at least 10 vendors using 5 different types of processors. So get savvy before you buy!
This is the dilemma you face when you want to buy a lean, mean machine - which one to choose from?
How do you ensure that you're getting real value for money? The fact that prices range from $1500 to $6000 makes it all the more complicated, right?
Not really! If you just stick to a few basics, decision making is not as difficult as it's thought to be. Let's get straight into it.
Start With 3 Questions
Before you open any glossy laptop catalogue or browse on-line to snap up a laptop, ask yourself 3 simple questions:
- 1. What is my maximum budget?
(Under $2000, $2000-$3000, $3000-$40000, more?) - 2. What do I want to do with this new laptop?
(E-mail,Word & Excel/ Presentations / Graphics & video editing / Other?) - 3. Will I travel a lot with the laptop?
(or will I mainly use it at one location?)
Once you've made up your mind, write down your answers on an old-fashioned piece of paper. I hear you asking "Why do I need to write it down"? The answer is that once you are deep into "purchasing mode", you will very often throw caution to the winds and forget your 3 basic decisions.
It's easy to get carried away with the features of all the different models. In fact, you may spend a considerable amount of time before you realize that the model that seems picture perfect is way beyond your maximum budget.
Here are some facts that will help you cut down the long list of laptops and zero in on the one that's right for you:
Fact No.1: If you want to use your laptop for essential office applications and communication - E-mail & Internet, Word, Excel etc - then even the lowest priced laptop may be capable of meeting your needs.
Fact No.2: If you're a frequent traveler and take your laptop with you, the two most important things to look for are (a) the weight of the laptop and (b) how long the laptop will run on battery. These two criteria are inextricably bound to the type of processor used in the laptop, as we shall see presently.
Let's take a moment to talk about the "heart" of your laptop - its processor.
The Processor
These days, you see 5 different types of processors in mainstream laptops. Four are from Intel and one is from their arch rival, AMD:
- 1. Intel Centrino
- 2. Intel Celeron M
- 3. Intel Pentium M
- 4. Intel Mobile Pentium 4
- 5. AMD Athlon Mobile
An entry-level laptop with an Intel Celeron M processor is more than sufficient for basic computing (E-mail, Internet, Office apps). Laptops using Intel Mobile Pentium 4 processors are known as Desktop Replacement laptops. These laptops are heavy to carry and consume more battery power. Relatively few laptops on the market currently use AMD Athlon Mobile chips, compared to Intel-based laptops.
What Is Centrino? Centrino is not the name of a chip. It is the name of the technology that uses a set of 3 specific chips made by Intel. With Intel Centrino mobile technology, three components work together to enable outstanding mobile performance, extended battery life and integrated wireless network capability in thinner and lighter notebooks. These components include the Intel® Pentium® M processor, the Intel® 855 chipset family and the Intel® PRO/Wireless Network Connection Family.
Though Centrino delivers superior performance in a lighter laptop, you will pay a premium for Centrino-based laptops. Therefore, unless you really require total mobility with inbuilt wireless, consider buying a less expensive non-Centrino-based laptop instead.
The Myth: The More The GHz Processor Speed, The Faster The Performance
Nothing could be further from the truth. Don't be surprised, there are a lot of "Techies" out there who believe the GHz myth. It's not just you :-)
Ever since Intel designed their Pentium M chips from scratch, GHz is not the only thing that decides the speed of a laptop. The type of processor determines the speed of the laptop, more than the GHz rating alone. For example, provided all other components remain the same, a laptop running Pentium M 1.6 GHz is as fast as a computer running Pentium 4 2.4 GHz! So watch out, don't be fooled by the GHz rating when you decide on the speed of your Laptop.
How Much Memory Is Enough?
Almost all laptops come with at least 256 MB of memory, while some have even 512 MB. Remember, as far as memory is concerned, you needn't worry too much about future-proofing your laptop. You can easily add extra memory if you need to, in future.
Having said that, it's nice to have 512 MB of memory if you tend to open multiple applications and work simultaneously on them.You won't be waiting for the processor to catch up with your mouse clicks. If you're a person whose time is money - go for 512 MB, I say! The gain from your improved productivity will pay for the extra memory in a very short time. It really depends on how precious time is, to you.
There are two types of memory currently used on laptops:
- DDR -333MHz (also known as PC2700)
- DDR -266MHz (also known as PC2100)
As you can see from the specifications, DDR-333 runs at a higher frequency. This means that DDR-333 will run about 25% faster than DDR-266. Don't dwell on this too much, it's just good to know what type of memory you're getting for your money.
CD-ROM, CD-Writer, Combo drive, DVD-ROM, DVD-Writer - Haaalp!
This is where you may really get lost. But let's try to crack it, shall we? The choices are simpler than they seem.
Virtually every laptop is shipped with at least a CD-ROM drive. Today's most common standard is a Combo drive which can read CD and DVDs and can also write CDs. DVD-writers, on the other hand, are fast becoming the norm and are more affordable, too, as prices keep falling. Please note that DVD-writers can write CDs as well.
Where Did The Floppy Disk Drive Go?
It isn't missing; it's fast disappearing from many new models altogether. More and more laptops and even desktops have started to ship without the old familiar Floppy Disk Drive. As an alternative to the floppy disk, you can use a USB memory stick to transport data easily and reliably between computers.
Screen Size - The Bigger The Better (If You Can Afford It!)
Laptop screen sizes start from 12.1" and go all the way up to 17". The norm is either 14.1" or 15".
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