Laptops
Laptops are more popular than ever. Laptops are now more affordable which has meant more and more people have purchased a laptop instead of a desktop computer. Our guide to laptop computers will explain what all the jargon means and also recommend a minimum laptop specification.
Recommended Specification
Dual Core Processor (Intel Dual Core, Intel Core 2 Duo, AMD X2 Dual Core)
1024MB (1GB) RAM or more
80GB HDD or more
Wireless enabled
Bluetooth enabled
Widescreen display 12" - 15.4"
Battery Life 3 hours plus
CPU
The CPU, Central Processing Unit, is the main part of a laptop computer. The CPU handles all the calculations and overseas all parts of the laptop computer. Ultimately their overall performance largely depends on the performance of the CPU. The latest CPU technology features Dual Core technology. Dual core is pretty much 2 processors within one CPU unit. This improves the computers performance because the load on the CPU is shared.
RAM
Random Access Memory is a temporary storage area, which is used to operate the current running programs. The more RAM a laptop computer has the more programs you can run at the same time. As technology develops programs require more and more RAM.
HDD - Hard Disk Drive
The hard disk drive is used for long term storage. When you save a document it is saved onto the HDD. The larger the hard disk drive the more files you will be able to save.
Screen Size
The most common screen size is 15.4 inches. It's become common to have widescreen displays as a preferred shape to standard 4:3 displays. Larger screens allow you to display more on the screen at any one time. However the larger the screen the larger and heavier the laptop is in general. Screen sizes range from 10" to 17".
Laptop Battery Life
Depending on the use of your laptop the battery live could be one of the most important things. Be careful with budget laptops, the battery life is normally much lower than what you would expect, it's a great way for the manufacturers to save money because the customer doesn't normally consider the battery life as being part of the specification. Battery life is normally over rated in the laptop specifications. You would have to have the screen on very dim, run simple programs and have the wireless turned off to achieve the quoted maximum battery life. We recommend that if you half the quoted battery life you should be able to expect your laptops battery to last at least half.
Wireless
The main advantage of a laptop is that they are portable. Wireless allows Internet or network access without having to plug a cable into your laptop. There are many wireless hotspots in public areas, which you can connect to for a fee. If you want to use wireless in your home or office it will require purchasing additional hardware to provide a wireless service to your laptop.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a simple short range version of wireless. Bluetooth was developed so that devices near to each other can communicate wirelessly. You can connect to a bluetooth enabled mobile phone, which could be used to connect you to the Internet while you're out and about.
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