Notebook Spec

Vernon Chalmers asked:


Buying a notebook computer is a serious decision and should be done after proper needs analysis, research and consultation. Herewith a synopsis of five criteria to assist new buyers to make an informed decision to achieve maximum return on their investment.

Price

To buy the cheapest notebook computer available on the market today may not necessarily meet individual performance / connectivity / mobility / warranty requirements over the primary lifespan of the product. Notebook pricing generally range from R4 800 to approximately  R20 000 and it’s not to say your choice should be at the extreme ends of this pricing continuum. A notebook should be acquired to fulfill a specific personal / business requirement and a three year ownership period should be considered to provide the required Return On Investment.

Recommendation: The Acer notebooks in the R5 500- R7 500 range will be a solid investment for the serious student and / or Microsoft Office user. Backed with the standard one year warranty or extended three year on-site Acer Advantage Fetch, Repair and Return warranty these products will want to “work” for you long past your daily bedtime.

Performance

Notebooks today are as powerful as most desktop models and will provide an excellent mobile and integrated platform for an array of high intensity Central Processing Unit (CPU), graphic and memory applications. Acer notebooks will either be configured in an Intel Celeron or Intel Centrino solution. The Intel Celeron CPU product is for entry-level and value users, whereas the Intel Centrino solution will provide for higher level CPU and graphic applications.

Recommendation: Acer notebooks configured with the Celeron CPU is an excellent choice for students and Microsoft Office users. The Centrino-based TravelMates will provide superior performance with a choice of optional graphic / rendering possibilities. Be prepared to pay a premium for high-end graphic / gaming functionality. In most instances the Celeron-based notebooks will be the intelligent choice for students and Microsoft Office users.

Connectivity

Today most notebooks are configured with state of the art connectivity options. It is important that your notebook is configured with your current and future requirements in check. Standard on all Acer notebooks will be Wireless Networking / LAN / Modem / USB ports. Other options to consider will be Bluetooth and embedded 3G HSDPA.

Recommendation: To buy as much technology as you possibly can - stretch your budget a little for this. Bluetooth should be a serious consideration as it allows for excellent synchronization with most cellular phones. For 3G HSDPA your Cellular Service Provider will either provide an Express card or USB modem. It will work on all Acer Extensa and TravelMate notebooks.

Mobility

This is one of the main reasons for acquiring a notebook. Generally the Acer notebooks will vary from about 2.5 - 3.5 Kg in weight. In notebook terms the latter is heavy. Decide on your normal day at the office / work. How often do you need to lug the computer between meetings / clients / home and office? The lighter notebooks are not necessarily the cheapest as they have smaller technologies embedded to keep the weight down.

Recommendation: Buying a notebook with a bigger LCD screen than 15.4″ will make the notebook not just heavier but will also drain the battery much faster. 15.4″ is more than adequate and currently the main stream standard. Consider a 12″ or 14″ for ultra-portability.

Warranty:

All Acer notebooks come standard with a 1-year warranty which for R995-00 can be upgraded to a 3-year on site warranty.



Recommendation: Seriously consider the 3-year warranty if you can afford it. Notebook parts can be very expensive to replace once the product is out of the initial warranty.

Copyright Vernon Chalmers © July 2008

http://www.vernonchalmers.com



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

Paul E Steinberg asked:


Your current notebook may meet your needs quite adequately when it comes to word processing and e-mail. But if you want to expand into digital photography, create your own music CDs or home movie DVDs, get into more elaborate gaming, or surf the internet in more places using broadband, it might be time to buy a new notebook. This article will explain to you some of the features to consider in buying your next notebook. It will explain: Processor, Operating System, Memory, Size and Weight, Display, CD/DVD Writer Drives, USB 2.0, IEEE 1394 Firewire, Network Interface Card (NIC), and Wireless.

Processor

The processor is the “engine” in your computer. I recommend buying a new notebook with a processor speed of atleast 2.0 GHz. You can take advantage of several new processor technologies by replacing your old system. AMD’s Turion 64 X2 mobile technology and Intel’s Core 2 Duo processors both offer significant gains in performance over previous generations. Since the processor is the “engine” of the notebook PC, these latest versions give you a much-improved experience across a wide range of activities, such as web surfing over broadband connections, 3-D gaming, printing digital photographs, and making videos and music.

Operating System

Microsoft® Windows® Vista lets you get things done, stay connected, and enjoy a variety of entertainment in a secure environment. Choose from Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business or Ultimate. You may still have certain applications, particularly business, that are not Vista compatible . If that is the case then there is a way to be able to dual boot your computer with the option of either Vista or XP which can be found.

Memory

I recommend buying a new notebook with a minimum of 2GB of Ram. Many mainstream notebooks now offer DDR SDRAM memory, which provides much higher bandwidth, and therefore better system performance, than older SDRAM technology. You get a better PC experience regardless of which applications you use.

Size and Weight

Notebook computers come in a wide variety of sizes and weights, with most at about 14 x 10 x13 and 5-8 lbs. They range from ultraportable notebooks that weigh as little as 3.00 lbs to powerhouse desktop replacements. When choosing a new laptop, consider the ways you’ll use it most of the time. If you’re using it to replace a desktop computer, a larger, high-end notebook will give you the most versatility and expandability. A few extra pounds won’t make a significant difference if you’re moving it around your home or office. If you’re looking for something to supplement a desktop computer or if you travel a lot, consider a smaller notebook.

Display

In recent years, Active matrix (or TFT, thin film transistor) displays have become the most popular because of their bright, vivid images that can be viewed from any angle. The most common notebook screen sizes are 14.13 and 15.43, though some ultra-portable models have screens as small as 12.13 or 13.3″. The midrange screens are generally satisfactory and easy on the eyes, but if you’ll use your notebook primarily as a desktop replacement or for PowerPoint presentations on the road, choose a 15.43 or larger screen. The higher the resolution, the more information can be displayed and the sharper the definition and color. If your budget permits, shoot for a minimum of a 12.13 active matrix display capable of WXGA resolution.

CD-Writer Drive (DVD/CD-RW)

A CD-RW is great for backing up data, saving digital photos, and creating mixed-music CDs. A single CD-R disc gives you up to 650MB of storage (equal to 451 floppies). Plus, this combo drive allows you to play movies.

DVD-Writer Drive (DVD +/-R/RW)

I recommend going with a Blue Ray Drive for the High Definition DVD Drive in your new note book computer. A DVD writer and companion software let you create interactive DVD movies viewable on most DVD players or DVD-ROM drives. Edit and enhance your home videos, add music or special effects, and burn all your great content onto DVD for future enjoyment. On a single long-lasting, rewritable DVD disc you can store up to seven times more information than you can on a CD. For enhanced entertainment, choose the Lightscribe option, which allows you to label discs by burning silkscreen-quality graphics on them.

USB 2.0

Great for digital photography enthusiasts, USB 2.0 ports allow you to connect to devices such as digital cameras, scanners, and printers, and transfer files up to 40 times faster than with USB 1.1-standard devices (if the devices support USB 2.0). USB 2.0 is also backward-compatible and can be used with devices featuring USB 1.1.

IEEE 1394 (FireWire)

Want to create home movies on your notebook? An IEEE 1394 port allows you to quickly move digital videos from your digital camcorder to your notebook, where you can edit them and produce the perfect home movie.

Network Interface Card

Most notebooks now come with integrated network interface cards. Not only do these give you a direct network connection, but they let you connect to the latest modems, such as high-speed DSL and cable modems, without having to purchase or install a separate card.

Wireless

Since one of the main advantages of a notebook is being able to pick it up and go, wireless technology has become a key benefit of high-end notebooks. Wireless capability allows you to avoid continually connecting and disconnecting cables in order to access the Web, synchronize with your handheld, print a document, or use another peripheral by ensuring that your notebook is ready for the wireless world. For even more wireless flexibility, choose a Broadband wireless option to work wirelessly without the hassle of finding Wi-Fi hotspots.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

Roberto Sedycias asked:


Wi-Fi or Wireless Fidelity features started appearing on notebooks around late 1998. Today Wi-Fi notebooks are a popular choice among the tech-savvy generation. The standard of the Wi-Fi notebooks have been certified by the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance. The IEEE 802.11b is the latest wireless networking specification standard for them. As per this standard, Internet at speeds of up to 11 megabits per second or Ethernet networks such as corporate LAN can be accessed with Wi-Fi notebooks.

Wi-Fi is a popular and high-end feature on notebooks. However many of us are still confused about how to get the best out of our devices. Security of them is a major concern these days. This article talks all about Wi-Fi notebooks, what to do and what not to do with your them. Following are a few safety tips for Wi-Fi notebooks.

Be careful of your sensitive online transactions when using open Wi-Fi networks:

Do not let your Wi-Fi notebook connect just anywhere. Well it`s a good idea to access internet while sipping your favorite coffee at a Wi-Fi enabled environment, but important online transactions might be tampered. Hence its best to disable the automatic connect feature of your Windows network. You can simply uncheck the box labeled “Connect when this network is in range” when you feel like getting connected.

Turn off the Wi-Fi ad hoc connections option:

A simplest way to prevent penetration attacks to Wi-Fi notebooks is to turn off the Wi-Fi client adapter when it`s not used. Remember, Microsoft Windows default Configuration allows anonymous ad hoc connections. But when disabled, it won`t allow anonymous connections anymore. The turning off of the Wi-Fi client adapter also serves another purpose; it conserves battery life of notebooks.

Disable Window`s file and printer sharing feature:

Many users especially those who work in corporate sectors often use window`s file and printer sharing feature to share printers or files while on a work or home network. But while outside, this could be dangerous as anyone who is on that particular Wi-Fi network can access the important files. But it can be easily prevented. For additional security, you just need to disable the file and printer sharing feature of your notebooks.

Firewall software is a must for Wi-Fi notebooks:

Don`t rely on the basic inbuilt firewall of your operating system. Opt for a good freeware firewall applications which provide additional protection for your notebooks.

Secure any personal, banking, or credit card details:

Don`t let the Web browser to remember personal information. You might think it`s an easier option since no one but you are using your Wi-Fi notebook. But sensitive info regarding bank transactions or credit card details can be easily retrieved if the notebook is lost or stolen. Hence, it is a good idea to use password protected software especially those that requires you to remember only one access password which doesn`t allow unauthorized access.

Keep your Wi-Fi notebook`s operating system up to date:

Just by installing the required firewall, password-protected software or any other software won`t give optimum result of protecting your Wi-Fi notebooks. You need to update your antivirus, Web browser, firewall, and other software including the Wi-Fi client applications of your notebooks on regular interval to get the best benefits.

Verify that the SSID actually represents the provider`s Wi-Fi network:

Often the user gets associated with lots of fake networks who usually falsely represent the Wi-Fi network`s related facility. Hackers use these fake networks to get access to all important info of your device. Verifying the SSID will help prevent associating with unauthorized network especially when you access the Wi-Fi network outside.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

Bob Shanty asked:


A laptop is the ideal replacement for your desktop computer. The greatest advantage of a laptop is its portability. Unlike desktop computers, you can easily move a laptop around your home, carry it to work or class and take it with you when you travel. Laptops are a big investment, so before buying one, you should consider many factors like the manufacturer, performance and features.

What kind of laptop user are you?

A home user wants all the features of a desktop PC in the form of a notebook. If you are a home user, then choose a notebook which is easy to carry and comes with the most basic computer applications. Students should opt for an affordable laptop which is light and durable. Frequent fliers need slim notebook models with long-lasting batteries. A business user should purchase a laptop with plenty of hard disk space and advanced security features while a gamer needs a fast processor and the latest graphics card.

What are the different kinds of laptop computers available?

Laptops for Entertainment:

Multimedia laptops are always more expensive and heavier than your standard model. These laptops come with a powerful processor, abundant memory and a large hard drive. You can use these laptops as a mobile DVD player, MP3 jukebox and a digital photo album. If you buy a TV tuner card, you can even use your multimedia notebook as a television set. These notebooks are ideal for PC gaming.

Laptops for Business:

Laptops especially designed for business use are ultra portable. These laptops are durable and more secure than the basic laptop. They are best suited for consumers who are always on the move. A good business laptop should offer a fingerprint reader or SmartCard support to prevent data theft. These notebooks usually have advanced computer applications and wireless capabilities, so you can work even when you are away from your desk.

Laptops for Home:

The home user typically uses a laptop for checking mail and browsing the web. These laptops perform general tasks. A high speed processor is an unnecessary luxury and tends to be wasted on most home users. Opt for a notebook with at least a 14-inch screen and a comfortable keyboard. These laptops are generally heavy, weighing more than 4 kg at times. Their average battery life is less than three hours.

What constitutes a good laptop?

Ergonomics:

If you are going to use your laptop extensively, then you need to be comfortable with the keys. Try a laptop with slightly larger keys to avoid straining your fingers from typing. Most laptops come with a touch pad or a tracking pointer instead of a mouse. If you are a PC gamer, buy a separate mouse which can keep up with the fast-paced action on screen.

Operating Systems:

The Windows XP Media Center Edition is a good operating system for entertainment laptops. It makes optimal use of multimedia features like TV tuners, radio tuners and media players. If you are a professional who prefers Apple notebooks but are concerned about compatibility, check out the dual boot models by Apple that allow you to install and run Windows as well as Mac OS X. If you prefer PCs, Microsoft Vista is an ideal alternative to Windows XP. Vista comes in several editions, including Vista Home Basic and Vista Home Premium for the home user, Vista Business for the professional and Vista Ultimate for the best of both worlds.

Memory and Storage:

All data and applications are stored in the RAM (random access memory). Many laptops commonly use 256 MB of RAM. Most business laptops and entertainment laptops come with 512 MB or more of RAM. The more RAM you buy, the more data you can store.

The hard drive stores all programs and files. For the average home user, a 20 GB hard drive will more than suffice. If you buy a laptop for entertainment or business purposes, a 60 GB hard drive will better serve your needs. Some entertainment laptops even have multiple hard drives for better performance. Hard drives come with different speeds. Most laptop hard drives have a speed of 5,400 rpm. However, faster hard drives go up to 7,200 rpm.

Display:

The size of a laptop is based on the size of the screen. Screen size starts as small as 10.6 inches and goes up to 20 inches diagonally. Most laptops have an LCD monitor. However, if you are using your laptop for CAD, a CRT monitor will serve you just as well, if not better. The screen resolution determines the crispness of your image. A 12.1 inch display uses WXGA resolutions (1,280 by 800). A 14 or 15 inch display typically uses WSXGA+ (1680 by 1,050), although a small number of notebook computers use WUXGA (1,920 by 1,200) instead.

Processor:

It is more difficult to upgrade a notebooks processor than it is to upgrade a desktop computer. For this reason, you should buy a processor with a speed that will best suit your use. Also, it is wise to choose a processor with less battery consumption. Processors with 1.4 to 1.6 Ghz are preferred by most users.

Battery:

Lithium ion batteries are commonly used in laptops. The average battery life is about 3 hours. It takes around 75 minutes to fully recharge a lithium ion battery.

Graphics Card:

A graphics card, sometimes referred to as a video adapter, is responsible for generating the images you see on a laptops display. For businessmen who need to do lot of presentations, a graphics card containing 32 or 64 MB of dedicated memory is the right choice. There are also specially designed cards for gaming. These cards are expensive and should be avoided unless you require excellent graphics.

USB Ports:

Laptop computers come with at least one USB port so that you can connect peripherals to the notebook. Recent models have a FireWire connection that lets you transfer digital information from camcorders or MP3 players.

Optical Drives:

Most laptops come with either a CD-ROM (compact disc, read-only memory), a CD-RW (compact disc, re-writeable) or a DVD-ROM (digital versatile disc, read-only-memory). The DVD+RW/+R with CD-RW is a combination drive which will read a CD or a DVD and write data to a DVD as well.

Modem:

Laptops are available with integrated modems for dial-up connections, Ethernet ports for cable internet and DSL and wireless modems for Wi-Fi connections. Many business laptops also have a cellular wireless modem so you can browse at broadband speeds with just a mobile phone signal.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

Paul E Steinberg asked:


Your current notebook may meet your needs quite adequately when it comes to word processing and e-mail. But if you want to expand into digital photography, create your own music CDs or home movie DVDs, get into more elaborate gaming, or surf the internet in more places using broadband, it might be time to buy a new notebook. This article will explain to you some of the features to consider in buying your next notebook. It will explain: Processor, Operating System, Memory, Size and Weight, Display, CD/DVD Writer Drives, USB 2.0, IEEE 1394 Firewire, Network Interface Card (NIC), and Wireless.

Processor

The processor is the “engine” in your computer. I recommend buying a new notebook with a processor speed of atleast 2.0 GHz. You can take advantage of several new processor technologies by replacing your old system. AMD’s Turion 64 X2 mobile technology and Intel’s Core 2 Duo processors both offer significant gains in performance over previous generations. Since the processor is the “engine” of the notebook PC, these latest versions give you a much-improved experience across a wide range of activities, such as web surfing over broadband connections, 3-D gaming, printing digital photographs, and making videos and music.

Operating System

Microsoft® Windows® Vista lets you get things done, stay connected, and enjoy a variety of entertainment in a secure environment. Choose from Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business or Ultimate. You may still have certain applications, particularly business, that are not Vista compatible . If that is the case then there is a way to be able to dual boot your computer with the option of either Vista or XP which can be found.

Memory

I recommend buying a new notebook with a minimum of 2GB of Ram. Many mainstream notebooks now offer DDR SDRAM memory, which provides much higher bandwidth, and therefore better system performance, than older SDRAM technology. You get a better PC experience regardless of which applications you use.

Size and Weight

Notebook computers come in a wide variety of sizes and weights, with most at about 14 x 10 x13 and 5-8 lbs. They range from ultraportable notebooks that weigh as little as 3.00 lbs to powerhouse desktop replacements. When choosing a new laptop, consider the ways you’ll use it most of the time. If you’re using it to replace a desktop computer, a larger, high-end notebook will give you the most versatility and expandability. A few extra pounds won’t make a significant difference if you’re moving it around your home or office. If you’re looking for something to supplement a desktop computer or if you travel a lot, consider a smaller notebook.

Display

In recent years, Active matrix (or TFT, thin film transistor) displays have become the most popular because of their bright, vivid images that can be viewed from any angle. The most common notebook screen sizes are 14.13 and 15.43, though some ultra-portable models have screens as small as 12.13 or 13.3″. The midrange screens are generally satisfactory and easy on the eyes, but if you’ll use your notebook primarily as a desktop replacement or for PowerPoint presentations on the road, choose a 15.43 or larger screen. The higher the resolution, the more information can be displayed and the sharper the definition and color. If your budget permits, shoot for a minimum of a 12.13 active matrix display capable of WXGA resolution.

CD-Writer Drive (DVD/CD-RW)

A CD-RW is great for backing up data, saving digital photos, and creating mixed-music CDs. A single CD-R disc gives you up to 650MB of storage (equal to 451 floppies). Plus, this combo drive allows you to play movies.

DVD-Writer Drive (DVD +/-R/RW)

I recommend going with a Blue Ray Drive for the High Definition DVD Drive in your new note book computer. A DVD writer and companion software let you create interactive DVD movies viewable on most DVD players or DVD-ROM drives. Edit and enhance your home videos, add music or special effects, and burn all your great content onto DVD for future enjoyment. On a single long-lasting, rewritable DVD disc you can store up to seven times more information than you can on a CD. For enhanced entertainment, choose the Lightscribe option, which allows you to label discs by burning silkscreen-quality graphics on them.

USB 2.0

Great for digital photography enthusiasts, USB 2.0 ports allow you to connect to devices such as digital cameras, scanners, and printers, and transfer files up to 40 times faster than with USB 1.1-standard devices (if the devices support USB 2.0). USB 2.0 is also backward-compatible and can be used with devices featuring USB 1.1.

IEEE 1394 (FireWire)

Want to create home movies on your notebook? An IEEE 1394 port allows you to quickly move digital videos from your digital camcorder to your notebook, where you can edit them and produce the perfect home movie.

Network Interface Card

Most notebooks now come with integrated network interface cards. Not only do these give you a direct network connection, but they let you connect to the latest modems, such as high-speed DSL and cable modems, without having to purchase or install a separate card.

Wireless

Since one of the main advantages of a notebook is being able to pick it up and go, wireless technology has become a key benefit of high-end notebooks. Wireless capability allows you to avoid continually connecting and disconnecting cables in order to access the Web, synchronize with your handheld, print a document, or use another peripheral by ensuring that your notebook is ready for the wireless world. For even more wireless flexibility, choose a Broadband wireless option to work wirelessly without the hassle of finding Wi-Fi hotspots.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta