Looking
for the perfect notebook PC to suit your needs? With LAPTOP's
Laptop Buying Guide, we’ve made selecting the best machine for
your needs easy. Here you’ll find tips, advice, and all the
information you need to make the smartest buying decision.
What Are Budget Notebooks?
As the name implies, budget notebooks are models aimed
at price-conscious buyers who need a basic computer at an
affordable price. For our definition, we look for a price of
$999 or less, but you can find very good deals in the $799 to
$899 range.
What Are All-Purpose Notebooks?
All-purpose notebooks represent the sweet spot for the
industry. This category comprises thin-and-light models with
13.3-inch or 14-inch screens, as well as the typical mainstream
portable with a screen up to 15.4 inches in size.
What Are Business Notebooks?
Business notebooks are thin-and-light or mainstream
models that include the security, connectivity, and durability
features a professional user would need. Notebooks intended for
corporate use have all that, plus manageability features and a
stable platform so the OS image of units deployed now will match
that of machines ordered six to nine months from now.
What Are Ultraportable Notebooks?
Thinner and lighter than even a thin-and-light notebook, an
ultraportable notebook is a machine that weighs less than 4
pounds but still delivers the functionality of a full PC.
Screens are smaller, keyboards are tighter, and processors are
generally less powerful than with a full-size notebook.
What Are Desktop Replacement Notebooks?
A desktop replacement is a notebook with a 17-inch screen or
larger. While panels that size in a portable were unthinkable a
few years ago, they are now commonplace-and some laptops have
19- and even 20-inch LCDs. With such a screen as the
centerpiece, most desktop replacement machines focus on the
video, multimedia, and gaming experience.
What Are Gaming Notebooks?
A gaming notebook puts 3D graphics performance above all else.
That means a powerful GPU (or two) and top-of-the-line CPU, of
course, but also fast memory and hard-drive subsystems. A large
LCD with fast response times and good grayscale performance (to
better render shadow detail) is also a must, and a good audio
system doesn't hurt.
What Are Tablet PCs?
Tablet PCs are arguably the most versatile machines in
the laptop genus. Their screens react to input from a finger or
stylus, letting you enter notes and drawings freehand. Light
weight and long battery life make them suitable for life on the
go.
What Are Rugged Notebooks?
Rugged notebooks are machines that have extra
protection against a range of environmental and situational
hazards. They are designed to work in harsh conditions: dusty
construction sites and factories; outdoors in the heat, cold,
and wet; and in moving vehicles where they are subjected to
shock and vibration.
Who
Are Student Notebooks For?
Student notebooks are designed with high-school and
college attendees in mind. They can be used for both schoolwork
and play (more of the latter, we suspect), so they need decent
power and components good enough to let them act as music
library, stereo system, DVD player, and YouTube-creation
stations.
Thermal
dissipation - Laptop cooling
Never use your laptop directly on a surface that prevents proper
air flow, such as inside the laptop case, on a blanket or
pillow. Periodically check that vents are not obstructed. Use a
mobile cooling pad if necessary.
Battery charge -
Laptop autonomy
Discharge completely your battery at least once per month.
Security - Laptop tracking
Use the CyberAngel security solution to track your laptop in
case it is stolen.
Viruses
It is not enough to have an antivirus program installed. It
needs to be kept up-to-date, and we recommend to update it at
least once per week.
Windows Updates
Make sure that your computer downloads Window Updates
periodically and frequently. This will enhance stability and
security of your operating system.
Carrying
Always use an appropriate carrying bag when traveling, to
enhance shock absorption. Whenever you need to ship your laptop
through a carrier (SUPS, FedEx, UPS, etc...), always use
packaging specifically designed for laptops transit.
Shocks
Because of they are designed to maximize mobility, laptops are
prone to shocks. Always turn your laptop OFF before you move
your notebook from a place to another, unless it is well
stabilized on a stand that is designed to absorb shocks.
Humidity
Laptops are very sensitive to humidity. Avoid liquid exposure as
much as you can (water, wine, etc...).
Dust
Laptops are very sensitive to dust. Make sure the laptop is
never left on a floor, but that it is always high on a table,
desk, stand, etc... Check vents frequently to see if they are
not obstructed.
Preventing Laptop
Computer Theft
Laptop computers are easy targets for thieves. Laptop computers
are small, valuable, can be removed quickly, and are easily
hidden. Laptop computers can be worth up to $5000 or more. The
laptop computer can be pawned at a pawnshop for half its value.
Here are a few tips to reduce the risk of having your laptop
stolen.
-
Don’t leave your laptop out in the open even for a second.
-
Remember extreme temperatures can cause damage to your laptop.
-
Transport your laptop in a nondescript case.
-
Write down the serial number and keep it in a safe place.
-
Always back up your information on disks and store them in a
safe place.
Upgrade with care:
Support
techs report that the most troublesome laptop components are the
hard drive, screen, and keyboard. While you probably won't want
to replace an expensive laptop screen, anyone with the right
tools and even a slight mechanical inclination can replace the
hard drive, keyboard, and other components, with some patient
tinkering.
Opening your laptop case may void the warranty, so if your
system is still under warranty, let the manufacturer deal with
repairs. Notebooks are delicate, so never force anything. Vince
Dougherty, who has repaired countless laptops for Wine Country
Computers in Healdsburg, California, says the most common
mistake is using the wrong-size screwdriver. One slip and your
motherboard is ruined.
Before doing anything else, remove the notebook's battery and
disconnect its power cord. Remember to ground yourself before
you open the case, either with a grounding strap (the safest
way), or by touching a piece of grounded metal (a lamp or water
pipe will do), while touching a metal part on the case's
exterior.
Replace your hard drive:
Adding a
new hard drive to a laptop is usually easier than doing the same
thing on a desktop PC: You just remove a few screws from the
bottom of the case, slide or lift the hard drive assembly out of
the system, and swap a new drive into the assembly (always
handle drives by the edges).
Most notebook PCs use a standard 2.5-inch hard drive, but
ultralights and other diminutive systems may use a smaller
1.8-inch drive. Drives also come in different heights; the most
common are 12.5 millimeters and 9.5 millimeters. Check your
laptop's documentation, or visit the vendor's Web site to
determine the drive size compatible with your machine.
A 2.5-inch, 100GB drive costs less than $200. Third-party
vendors such as Drive Solutions and NewEgg.com often charge less
than laptop manufacturers. Check with your notebook vendor to
find out whether you need a SATA or parallel ATA model. Buy only
from vendors that offer a money-back guarantee--any reliable
seller will provide one lasting at least 30 days.
Boost your RAM:
Most
laptops come with only one or two memory sockets, which may
leave no open slots for upgrades. Adding memory may require that
you discard at least one existing memory module. The RAM on most
laptops resides behind a removable panel. The modules slip into
a slot and are secured at the ends by clips or retainers.
Crucial offers an excellent tutorial on installing laptop RAM.
Crucial and Kingston will tell you the type of RAM your laptop
needs. The high-quality modules they sell are well worth the
small, additional expense over no-name RAM.
Change your keyboard:
Installing a new keyboard usually requires disassembling the
laptop's case, but in other respects it is straightforward:
First snap the old keyboard out, and then snap the replacement
keyboard in. You can expect to pay $50 to $100 for a new
notebook keyboard. Appropriate replacement keyboards may be
available only from the notebook's vendor.
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