Processor:
Always go for a "M" processor unless budget is
absolutely bottom line first choice. "M"
processors run faster and cooler to an
equivalent and often faster non "M" processor.
Celeron M vs Pentium M:
Celeron M is the Pentium M with half of the L2
cache disabled and no speedstep for built-in
power consumption reduction. A notebook with a
Pentium M CPU is only advantageous with regard
to the battery life. Regarding performance, the
difference for day-to-day use of CPU models with
a similar core clock speed is only marginal. For
the same amount of money, you could by a faster
Celeron but you sacrifice battery life.
Memory:
512mb minimum - period. Higher if gaming or
useing intense graphic applications like AutoCAD
or Photoshop.
Screen Size:
15" unless budget is number one, then 14" is ok,
but no less. Wide format is most useful for
graphics work or a lot of landscape documents
(maybe spreadsheets), standard word processing
benefits from standard width screens as you get
more of the vertical page on the screen at once.
Technology:
Beware passive matrix (DSTN /
HPA)
screens. The standard LCD laptop screen today is
Active Matrix (TFT). For passive matrix
screens, HPA screens are harder to view at
angles, but newer versions have improved greatly
from the vague and translucent image quality of
old DSTN screens. Still, TFT screens are
brighter and sharper than even the best passive
matrix screens. LCD manufacturers don't even
make passive matrix screens anymore, so if you
are buying a new model, you don't have to worry
much about that.
Resolutions:
Besides the type of screen, which should be TFT,
you will want to consider the size and
resolution of the laptop screen. Here's a range
of laptop screen sizes and the resolutions that
are often displayed on the screen: Note that
for many people 1024x768 is the largest
resolution that they can work with - especially
older individuals. If you are buying for an
older crowd, consider a monitor that has a
"native resolution" of 1024x768 as you will find
when it comes ot LCDs that the "native" or
"optimized for" resolution is where the screen
is crispest and clearest. I learned this the
hard way with some recent Dell 17" LCD screens
for our office desktop systems. In order to
look crisp, the screens had to be set to
1280x1024 and then I had to set the them to a
large font setup. Lower resolutions made
the fonts look shaded or blurry.
|
Screen Resolutions (in pixels) |
Possible LCD Sizes (diagonal) |
|
800x600 (SVGA) |
12" |
|
1024x768 (XGA)
(max for older users) |
12", 13.3", 14", 15" |
|
1280x1024 (SXGA) |
14", 15", 15.7" |
|
1400x1050 (SXGA+)
(fonts too small) |
14", 15" |
|
1600x1200 (UXGA)
(fonts too small) |
14", 15", 16" |
|
1600x1200 (UXGA+
/ Enhanced UXGA
- same size, brighter screen) |
15" |
About Resolutions:
Cheaper screens typically have the 1024x768
resolution. For many, this resolution is fine as
text is more comfortable to read. If you demand
more desktop space, look for a 1400x1050 or
1600x1200 screen. For whatever reason, standard
1280x1024 screens are not as common lately as
they once were. You may want to go and look at
different screens at a local computer or
electronics store to figure out what size and
resolution you require.
Physical Size:
A laptop with a 14" or 15" diagonal screen is
going to be physically larger than one with a
12" or 13" screen. The actual size of the laptop
has been increased in order to hold the larger
screen. So, choose wisely if you want a big
screen. As time goes on, larger screens will
keep getting cheaper, and instead of increasing
screen size, laptop prices will go down. I can't
imagine a laptop with a 17" LCD screen, but it
is possible if there is demand for it. If you
are aiming for a very small notebook, you will
most probably end up with a 12" screen.
Hard Drives Size:
Size has not much of an impact for a office
mobile user unless you carry 'everything' with
you - and if so, backup would be a "MAJOR"
concern since laptops are easily damaged, lost
or stolen. Kind of like putting all your eggs in
one basket. Corporate mobile users should not
be as concerned with drive size as much as
speed. Most new systems are going to be 20gig
or bigger which is plenty.
Hard Drive Speed:
Most
laptop drives are 4200rpm with the 5400rpm
option becoming more common - some even offer
7200rpm. The faster the drive, the higher the
performance - Laptop or Desktop. In desktops,
7200rpm should be minimum with the 10,000 rpm
option if it is available. In laptops take the
5400 rpm over the 4200rpm drives if available.
Trade-offs are heat, battery life and of course
initial cost. |
