| Taking the time to review laptops is time well spent | | | | likely to be much happier with 256 MBs. As well |
| especially when wanting to have the best working | | | | Power users would benefit from a notebook with at |
| laptop for all your specific needs. | | | | least 512 MB or more. |
| When reviewing consider these things; | | | | 6. Batteries - Lithium batteries are superior to others. |
| 1. Screen - What are you looking for in the Screen., is | | | | 7. Hard Drives - 20 GB is a minimum. Of course as |
| it resolution, size, definition. | | | | they say, larger is better. |
| 2. Portability - Are you carrying it around a campus or | | | | 8. Hardware - (DVD/MPEG-2) - All DVD drives rely on |
| is it mainly home and hotel? | | | | MPEG graphics compression to display video. The |
| 3. Speed - Laptops are generally 20-30% slower that | | | | present standard is called MPEG-2. |
| Stationary Computer with the same features. If | | | | 9. MPEG-2 compression can be provided by software |
| speed is a necessity be sure to check out details | | | | which is slow or by hardware which is fast. Needless |
| such as; CPUs, motherboards, hard drives, and video | | | | to say, hardware MPEG-2 is more desirable, and will |
| systems. These all contribute to the speed loss. | | | | provide a smoother playback. Hardware MPEG-2 is a |
| 4. Upgradability - Likely there will not be a lot that | | | | video chip function in laptops. |
| You can upgrade on your laptop so it is good to | | | | 10. Expense - Laptop computers can cost almost |
| know what you need for the long run. Upgrades can | | | | twice as much as similarly equipped desktops. You |
| be pricey and some almost not worth getting when | | | | can actually purchase two comparably equipped |
| You could just get a whole new laptop...so get a | | | | desktops for the price of one laptop. So if you have |
| good one to start. | | | | to have a computer in two separate places, you |
| 5. Memory - This is So Important! Most lower-priced | | | | would be better off with two desktops. As well if |
| laptops are sold with 128 MB of system memory | | | | they were reasonably close together you could |
| (RAM). That is not enough for running applications | | | | connect them together in a wired or wireless local |
| efficiently under Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows | | | | area network (LAN). Buying a laptop is great if you |
| Me, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. If you use | | | | are on the go. The more you need in it the more |
| your laptop for occasional typing and web surfing you | | | | you'll pay but it will be worth it! |
| could get along with 128 MB of RAM but you are | | | | |