Notebooks for Everyone 

The old adage, "You only get what you pay for" is certainly true when buying a notebook 

Online or at your favourite retail store, brand-name notebooks have a large price range, typically starting at about $500 and going up to $3,000; premium and specialty laptops can cost even more. 

Given the variety of choices, it is often difficult to know what to buy. Businesses may be reluctant to spend more than the lowest price; however, paying for quality is beneficial in the long run because the extra dollars spent will reward with faster processing, more memory, and greater reliability, durability and longevity. 

A $500 notebook may save you money at the outset but if it crashes six months after purchase, the cost of retrieving the information when the Geek Squad looks at it, combined with the need to rebuild data that may not be recoverable, will eat into the savings faster than a raccoon at a fast-food garbage bin. 

When selecting a new portable computer, consider the tasks you need to perform, how often you expect to take your computer with you, and your budget.

Get RAM 

Whether you work with simple office applications or occasionally want to be a gamer, a sure way to improve performance is to go for the largest RAM available. Since two GB is entry level today, you should get at least four GB to make sure your hardware will be able to handle future software applications. And, while you're at it, get a more powerful 64-bit processor to handle future application and operating system needs.  

Screen Size and Resolution 

Screen size refers to the physical size of a computer display, measured diagonally in inches. Resolution measures how much information can be displayed on the screen, effectively by counting the number of pixels that form the image. Both are important considerations. 

Numerous studies indicate that size does matter when it comes to screen "real estate" and productivity - to a point. In the world of mobile computing though, space is at a premium. A desktop replacement, that is, a laptop with a large display and desktop-like performance is certainly an option; however, the increased size and weight tends to make this form far less portable. Conversely, smaller notebooks are lighter and more portable at the expense of performance..

Graphics Card 

Quite separate from screen size and resolution is the graphics card, the device inside the computer that produces the image. The sophistication of the graphics processor unit (GPU) itself and the amount of memory dedicated or allocated to it affect the quality and kinds of images the GPU can produce. A better GPU with more memory is ideally suited to graphics-intensive applications, large high-resolution external displays, and support for multiple displays. 

Better Battery? 

Battery life is a challenge for all notebooks. Many manufacturers advertise battery life in the three-to-five-hour range for a typical 15" notebook, although the way the manufacturer determines this may not match your typical usage. Also remember that battery life will decline over the life of the cell. Depending on the number of charge cycles, the battery will likely need to be replaced at least once over the life of the computer.  

Some manufacturers include a lower-capacity battery by default and offer an upgrade to a longer-lasting battery pack with more cells. Some manufacturers offer models with a built-in battery that cannot be removed or upgraded. This means you cannot "swap out" battery packs if you are working for extended periods without access to an outlet; if the battery is nearing the end of its life you will need to take the complete computer infor servicing to have it replaced.  

Stay Connected 

The ability to connect to the Internet should be "a given" on any notebook. Wired Ethernet is no longer standard on all computers; if you need to plug in to your network, make sure Ethernet is included. In the wireless world, Wi-Fi is king; ensure the computer includes support for at least 802.11n. Manufacturers are also starting to include built-in wireless hardware that connects to the Internet via the cellular network rather than Wi-Fi. Cellular coverage is ubiquitous and can enable Internet access from literally almost anywhere; however, a monthly subscription with your mobile provider would be required. 

While on the subject of connectivity, consider your needs for input and output ports. Many laptops include a sufficient number of USB ports, although some still include only two, or even one port. You can always expand your USB capacity with an external USB hub, but it's far more convenient to eliminate or reduce the need to carry one.

The VGA port has been a standard analogue display connector for more than 20 years; however, in recent years newer digital standards are replacing VGA. Many laptop computers now include a DVI port or DisplayPort connector instead of VGA; these standards are technically superior to the VGA interface, but many older and even current entry-level projectors and displays only support VGA. If you do offsite presentations, always carry an adapter with your computer to ensure compatibility.  

An ExpressCard slot allows for future expandability, although not all models include one. Webcams, biometric fingerprint scanners and flash-card readers are now also popular inclusions on many laptop models and should be considered if you need these features.  

Keyboard and Mouse 

Laptop keyboards are often slightly smaller than you would find on a desktop, and usually do not include a discrete number pad. If your work depends on numeric data entry, separate portable numpad peripherals are available. A touchpad surface or pointing stick is usually provided for the "mouse" interface. Each has advantages and disadvantages and can take some time to get accustomed to. For work in the office or at home you can always connect a full-sized desktop keyboard and mouse if you prefer. 

Hard Drives  

A large storage capacity seems to be a big seller in notebooks; hard drives up to 500 GB are now available. Most business applications will never use all this capacity. Systems with less hard-drive storage are often less expensive. That said, consider the current and future needs of the business and purchase accordingly.  

Solid-state drives, which operate in much the same way as a USB flash drive, are also starting to become more widely available, although still at a premium price. Unlike a traditional hard drive, a solid-state drive has no moving parts that can fail or cause data loss.

Notebooks are, unfortunately, often exposed to extremes of human carelessness. Thus businesses may wish to consider a hard drive that incorporates an accelerometer to detect sudden motion and disengage the hard drive to protect it in the event of a drop.

The "Ideal" Notebook