Laptop Computers

Laptop computers are becoming more and more popular since they first appeared as an office tool for businessman.

There are many laptops on the shelves these days as demand for them grows. Of course, the main advantage of a laptop is that it is portable. Coupled with wi-fi capabilities this makes it an indispensable tool whilst on the move. Another advantage when buying a laptop is that it is usually preloaded with the latest operating system, currently Windows 7. Be careful though, if the operating system that is on the laptop is the one that you want to use as they are difficult to change.

It is worth paying attention to the CPU when purchasing a new laptop. Typically, the lower end price range might not have the best CPU. You really want a CPU that can cope with the rigors of mobile computing and won’t suck your battery life. Intel’s new Core 2 Duo CPUs perform exceptionally well, it has considerable processing power and use less energy and generates less heat than its predecessor, the Pentium CPU.

Most users would need at least 2GB of RAM. This should allow you to access most Office systems, check e-mails, edit digital photos and play games. Video performance can be diminished on lower price models where stronger video cards are needed. When purchasing a new laptop select a model that has at least 256MB of RAM if you want to play games.

Something that is often overlooked when buying a laptop is the number and type of ports it has. Many companies reduce the amount of ports to keep costs down, but most laptops will come with 2 USB ports and a VGA as a minimum.

Think about the screen size that you require. You may think that bigger is better but if you travel a lot it may be better to go for the smaller screen. Your laptop will be lighter and more compact making it easier to use on a train or plane and easier to carry. Of course, you can always have a bigger screen on your desk assuming you have the right ports to attach it.

Wi-Fi is a must have on today’s laptops but not all of them have that capability, so check before you buy. Bluetooth technology is another handy addition that might be useful to use a wireless mouse or to connect your phone to access contacts, calendar or e-mails.

Your new laptop may have a track pad or pencil-eraser pointer, check out the model you are buying so that you know these are easy to use even if you are going to use a mouse the majority of the time.

Finally, battery life is of utmost importance. It may be that the battery provided does not give you the time you need and it is always an option to purchase another battery to use in conjunction with the original. Bear in mind that you would have to carry the extra battery too.