Attention when buying a laptop

You want to buy a laptop but wondered how to choose the configuration or wonder if you need to buy a laptop? You are one of many people who need to specify the criteria needed when buying this type of computer, that is: purpose of use; configuration; and price.

The first is the purpose of use: you need to buy a laptop for work or simply entertainment (listening to music, watching movies, playing games). If it's a job, choose the right laptop for the job you're doing. For example, if you only work in the office, the laptop has a moderate configuration; but if you are a painter with a job primarily related to graphics, the laptop must be stronger and more specialized; If you are a gamer, then your computer must be stronger to meet the requirements of today's graphics games. In general, the purpose is to govern the configuration and price of the computer.

Why is a laptop not a desktop?

With incomparable advantages, laptops are an indispensable need for businesses and users need a mobile working environment. Sometimes you will wonder why you have to buy a laptop while the price of a desktop computer is usually less than a few hundred dollars?

Advantages of using a laptop:

A laptop will allow you to access your files and applications in every corner of the earth. In other words, your side is always a mobile office ready for you to work wherever you are. You are at the airport, harbor, train, or even . Antarctica, it doesn't affect you very much.

Restrictions of laptops:

Say anything, if your wallet is not so good, it is difficult to buy yourself a laptop. And then, the difference of several hundred dollars will make you switch to using desktop rather than laptop. Another point is the laptop's storage capacity is usually not as desktop, although in recent times, manufacturers have tried to expand the hard drive capacity of this computer line. Laptop limitations include:

- Smaller keyboard, smaller screen and no familiar features like desktop. It will take a long time for you to work quickly with your laptop keyboard.

- Time to use laptop is the eternal problem that you face. Meanwhile, the desktop does not have this concept.

Regarding the configuration of the laptop, you should consider the following issues:

+ Processor (chip):

The best choice is the Pentium M processor (integrated Intel Centrino technology) and PowerPC G4 (Apple product). These two types of chips provide a balance between energy factors, battery life and weight. At the lower level are Intel Celeron and AMD Sampron chips. In general, no matter what brand of processor you have, its clock speed (processing speed) must be at least 1.0GHz.

+ Memory:

Usually low-end laptops only have RAM capacity of 128MB or 256MB; But if you want your computer to handle more applications, your RAM is best from 512MB or more. You may have to pay more for the difference from 256MB to 512MB but you will see the benefits of this investment later.

Laptop: A solution for combining work and entertainment

Your laptop can handle more types of work than is limited to e-mail, spreadsheets, Word documents .

* Presentation: Can present speech by slide anytime, anywhere.
* Watch DVD: When you are waiting for someone or something, a movie opened on a laptop will help you forget the waiting time.
* Play games: Equipped with powerful processors and large screens, a lot of current laptop categories are aimed at gamers.
* Entertainment box: Listening to the radio over the Internet, or a large capacity hard drive to store MP3s will never make you lose interest in work. + Video card:

For most users, video memory (video card) is a component that can be omitted to save costs. Unless you use a laptop for gaming, there's no need to waste money on this card. Ideally, your computer has a built-in graphics card to share memory with the system chipset.

+ Hard drive:

If you only need to store e-mail, spreadsheets, and Word documents, then the hard drive capacity doesn't need to be very large. If you want to store music and videos on your laptop, the hard drive capacity is at least 60GB or more.

+ Optical drive:

Cheap laptop models usually only have a fixed CD-ROM drive (can't be moved and are attached to the device). However, you can also use a removable drive, either a CD-ROM or a DVD / CD-RW combination drive. If you only use the laptop at a normal level, you only need a CD-ROM drive. If you want to watch a movie or need to burn a disc, use a CD-RW / DVD combination drive. This type of drive allows you to watch DVD movies and burn CDs very conveniently.

+ Screen size:

Depending on the type of work you are doing, choose the screen size. In general, graphic or spreadsheet tasks require large screens; only e-mail or other simple tasks need a normal screen.

+ Weight:

The weight of each little plus will make you tired if you have to "wear" your laptop for a long time. Of course, heavy or light laptops also involve price factors. The average laptop is never light, they are only mild when the money you spend must be relatively good. For business users, the best weight level should be limited to between 1.8 and 2.7kg.

+ Battery:

Although it is included in the manual, do not trust the manufacturer's promises that your laptop battery can last for about 5-6 hours. Only the best laptops have 6 hours of battery life; In addition, the limit is only circled for about 3 hours or less. The more you use entertainment applications (listening to music, watching videos, playing games .), the faster your computer's battery will run out.

+ Network:

Today's laptop models are usually equipped with network connectivity, most commonly Ethernet, and then wireless connectivity. Your computer should have both these features, because wireless hotspot hotspots will become more popular in the future and your Internet access will be easier and easier. In general, your computer should have an Ethernet LAN connection and integrated wireless card.

+ Ports and connections:

Mastering the connection ports of your computer will help you connect to other devices more easily and accurately. You should become familiar with concepts such as: video port; digital media card reader device; S-Video output (to connect to TV); DVI port (connected to a digital LCD monitor); FireWire port (recording and editing digital video). Your computer should have at least 2 USB ports; 01 VGA and 01 print port.

What price is suitable?

Like desktops, the price of laptops varies greatly depending on the configuration and name of the manufacturer. Often, IBM's machines are more expensive if they have the same configuration as other categories. And just as many people say, IBM laptops are only for . very money because many models are pricey. If your budget is limited, then there is only sitting water watching IBM laptops from 1,500USD or more only.

However, with the aim of encouraging users to switch to laptops, from the beginning of 2005 until now, many manufacturers have launched more affordable laptop models. Specifically, low-end laptops (only basic and not powerful) have prices ranging from 600 to 700 USD. At this price, you can buy a "good" desktop, but for laptops it is only average, with a normal and above-average processing power.

Better stuff also means more money. For ultra-light, ultra-small, and high-processing laptops (also called ultraportable), the investment amount must be at $ 3,000 or higher. These models often integrate the latest, best and strongest technologies. Therefore, its users are not really popular, only focus on rich entrepreneurs or giants.

Generally, laptops cost twice the price of desktops when compared to prices. Prices are at an acceptable level for the vast majority of users when choosing quite powerful laptop models from $ 1,000 to $ 1,500. This is considered the most appropriate price because at this price, the laptop still ensures the most technological factors and the richest choice for users. At $ 700, you can't expect your laptop to have advanced technologies such as Pentium M chips, wireless connectivity. These technologies are only available in laptop models that cost approximately $ 1,000 or more.