Laptop computer guide

Laptop and desktop computers are similar. They both have the same basic hardware, software and OS. The main difference is how their components fit together. A desktop computer includes a motherboard, video card, hard drive and other gears in a case. The monitor, keyboard, and other peripherals bond with cables or even wirelessly. Whether the case sits in a vertical or horizontal way, it has lots of room for cards, cables and air circulation.

A laptop is much smaller and lighter than the most compact PC tower. Its monitor is an integrated part of the device, and the same happens with its keyboard. Instead of a roomy case with lots of room for air circulation, a laptop uses a small, flat design in which all the parts fit together closely.

We'll talk about the rest of the elements you might find in a laptop later, but first, here are some questions you should consider before buying one.

• How much do I want to spend on my laptop? Usually, laptops are more expensive than desktop computers. Although they are getting cheaper, a configured laptop can be twice as much as a desktop. You can still find some good bargains if price is your most important concern. Laptops start out at around $600 for basic models that most likely won't have dual-core CPUs or DVD writers. Most mainstream laptop currently sell from $800 to $1,000.

• What other options should I think about in a laptop computer? Laptops can be just as flexible as desktop computers. You can find ones that offer television tuners so you can watch your favorite movies. Make sure that the connectivity ports such as USB or serial, match electronic devices. And gamers will want extra video memory in the graphics for gaming on the go.

The processor, or CPU, works with the OS to control the laptop. It essentially acts as the computer's brain. The processor produces a lot of heat, so a traditional computer uses circulating air, a fan and a heat sink to cool off. Since a laptop computer has far less space for each of these cooling systems, its processor usually:

• Runs at a lower voltage so this reduces heat production and power utilization but slows the CPU down. Most laptop computers also run at a higher voltage and clock speed when plugged in, and at lower settings when it uses the battery.

• It has a slow-down mode. The laptop and the OS work simultaneously to reduce the processor speed when the laptop is not in use or when the CPU does not need to work as quickly.

Buying a Laptop computer

After you've decided on a CPU, the next part to consider is memory, and to be more specific, how much memory to get. 512MB of RAM is fine, but you'll be much better to have at least 1GB. Memory comes in different speeds as well, so you have to look thoroughly at the fine print: 533MHz or 667MHz DDR2 memory is some of the fastest available. Also verify and see how many memory slots are open, so you can upgrade memory without having to replace the current RAM.

Hard drive space is another important consideration for most costumers. You want to make sure you've got a lot of room for all the information you want to store, but unless your laptop will be your only computer, you don't need as much storage room as you have on your desktop computer. Most new laptops come with at least 80 or 100GB hard drives. If you'll be gaming or using a lot of multimedia files on your laptop, you may want to decide on for a larger hard drive. As with desktop computers, take into consideration the rotations per minute on the hard drive as it will give you a clue of how fast the hard drive can read and write your data information. Most users will want a 5,400rpm or faster hard drive in their laptop.

Most laptops have gone to widescreen format, which is great for watching DVD movies and having various programs open side by side. Normal laptop computers usually have 15 inch or larger screens, while the smaller top out at around 12 inches. 12 inches can be too small if you're gaming or editing a text document, but may be big enough for browsing the Web. Many vendors offer improved displays on their laptop computers, giving you a brighter image that may be worth the extra cost for some costumers.

Almost all new laptops computers feature several USB 2.0 ports, letting you connect in everything from external hard drives to cameras, and some offer a Firewire port, another high-speed connection for your devices. Many new laptop computers feature flash memory cards so you can transfer music files, photos and other things from your PDA, digital camera, or MP3 player easily. Since everything is built into a laptop, it's a good plan to try out the keyboard before you buy it. While it's easy to plug up a mouse - and there are a lot of mice designed specifically for this sort of computers - you are caught with the keyboard that your laptop computer comes with. Make sure it's comfy for long-term typing if that's what you'll be using your laptop for. Most laptop makes use of a touch pad for mouse cursor. Be sure that what you are buying is what you want.

Rent a laptop computer
You don't necessary have to buy new computers for your business or office. You can rent a laptop computer instead of buying one. We will talk about this in this article...

Computer crashes
Computer crashes and how to fix them...

Custom Search