Laptop Guides Archive

Which Type Of Storage Device and Drive Do You Need For Your Laptop?

Posted in: Laptop Guides

Cloud computing and online storage have become increasingly popular as a way to cut back the requirement for physical storage device, but a large hard drive is still a good feature for any laptop. Optical drives, once a standard feature on many laptops, are now treated as an optional storage device especially for the ultraportable laptops or netbooks which sport a much smaller display, a mere 13 inches or even smaller.

Hard Drives

The classic hard drive (HDD) is a simple and relatively cheap way to provide space for programs and key files for as long as you need them, or at least until the hard drive dies. This type of “spinning platter” drive is commonly found on both desktops and laptops, with enough space to hold up to 500GB worth of files in the largest drives. A good hard drive is more than just storage space, however. Check the rotational speed as well; a higher rotational speed, say 7,200 rpm, will give you a much faster performance rate though it will also probably reduce the lifespan of your battery.

Another type of hard drive, SSD (solid-state drives) has no moving parts like you have with an HDD that might be damaged by constant motion. Also, SSD generate relatively less heat compared to HDD. You’re probably already familiar with this type of drive since it’s closely related to the SD cards for digital cameras and the internal memory for devices like the iPhone and PSP Go. The disadvantages of the SSD drives are the price, which is usually higher than the HDD, and the capacity, generally less than the HDD. SDD’s would seem to offer many advantages on paper but the results are more mixed in a head-to-head comparison.

Whichever hard drive you select, you should always install more capacity than you think you’ll really need.

Optical Drives

Optical drives like DVD or Blu-ray were once common features on laptops and most models even came with a CD/DVD-burning drive. Many of the computers today like the netbooks and thin-and-light laptops however do not include optical drives. The ability to download various media from the internet has largely eliminated the need for optical drives, as they are largely used for activities like installing software, burning backups, creating music CD’s or just playing DVD’s.

Blu-ray drives are still very popular for their high-def capabilities and are often included in the more exclusive multimedia notebooks. But keep in mind that you must have a screen that has a 1080p (1,900 x 1,080) resolution or you won’t be able to enjoy your high def at its best.

External Drives

All of those devices for storing media or burning discs that you connect to your laptop using FireWire, USB or eSATA are considered external drives. They come in many shapes and sizes and can be the traditional spinning platter type drive, a solid state drive or an optical drive.

The USB flash drive is one of the most popular external drives, thanks to its low price and small size that make it easy for anyone to pick one up whenever they visit the local electronic store. It’s also a handy way to store data — you can attach it to your keychain so that you will be able to access your data wherever you are.

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What CPU Do You Need For Your Laptop?

Posted in: Laptop Guides

The most critical aspect to your laptop is the CPU (central processing unit). Working as the computer’s central brain, its processor plays a major role in which applications are able to be run, the smooth quality of their processing and how many you are able to run at one time.

Several of the largest participants in the world of CPU’s are AMD and Intel. Between the two of them, Intel’s CPU’s are presently made up of the market’s lion’s share. Almost all laptops come with dual-core CPU’s, including Intel’s Core 2 Duo. Affordable laptops, on the other hand, utilize single-core CPU’s like the Atom from Intel.

Intel Processors

Core i7: The Core i7, which is Intel’s most recent addition to the mobile CPU, takes on the most advanced gaming and video graphic functionality from the Core i7 desktop series; it is exclusively meant for people interested in top-end power, particularly the gaming fanatics who like desktop-level graphics processing power. The Core i7 Mobile series possesses greater power administration than any predecessors, but still they bring in greater aptitude than additional laptop CPU’s and are usually sold with just the bigger desktop-substituting laptops.

Core 2 Duo: The Core 2 Duo is Intel’s pervasive, typical processor that is available in many different designs founded on manufacturing size and processor speed. The more recent Core 2 Duo consumer ultra low-voltage processors (CULVs) series addition present slightly more sluggish performance while enabling extended battery life, and they have been incorporated into brand new ultra-thin laptops that focus on expansion of memory space, battery life and proper ventilation.

Atom: Intel’s preliminary Atom, a single-core processor, is included mainly in the well-liked Netbook class. The restricted performance levels are most appropriate for easy, straightforward tasks like exploring the Internet, sending and receiving e-mail messages and office document production. They are alright for the simpler, more modestly budgeted computers but cannot play the majority of HD videos and 3D games. Most Atom chips come with the N450, and it would be wise to avert the more sluggish Atom Z-series, which is meant more for the handheld mobile devices instead of computers. In the later part of 2010, there will be some changes made to the Atom series.

Core 2 Quad: Just as the name infers, the Core 2 Quad processors are 4-core CPU that stand out in multitasking and processing data that needs to run numerous applications at one time.

The Core 2 Solo: Several of the Intel company’s ultra low-voltage processors, aka “ULVs”, have just one core. They are found at one point between the dual-core ULV CPUs and the Atom. These are usually found in the smaller ultra-transportable laptops with long battery life, but they exclude such features as the optical drive. Even as these chips serve as a slight step above the Atom, the retail value for these models puts forward the thought of waiting to get a dual-core ULV processor.

The Pentium Dual-Core: Multicore CPUs that fail to meet the requirements for the Core 2 Duo will be sold under the brand of a Pentium Dual-Core. We have found these built into incredibly cheap mainstream laptops, and they are of reasonable worth if you are looking for a dual-core 14″ or 15″ laptop for just under $600.00.

The Celeron: As of today, there are still plenty of Celeron processors being built into the most reasonably priced conventional laptops. As upgrading to a Pentium Dual-Core laptop could end up costing as little as an additional $50, our recommendation is to stay away from the Celeron CPUs altogether.

AMD Processors

The AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core: The AMD replacement for the Core 2 Duo processor from Intel added up to a reasonable budget change for conventional laptops, but it is our firm conviction that the CPUs from Intel operate on a much smoother level amongst the other closely priced systems. However, this isn’t always the case — both of these corporations have traded their “top performance” rank on more than one occasion throughout the years.

The AMD Athlon Neo: The Neo, which is built into thin-and-light Netbooks and notebooks, is one of the most recently released processors from AMD. This model boasts extensive battery life and minimal power expenditure that is much like the Atom processor from Intel. Regrettably, the systems with single-core Neos that we had come across turned out to be pricier than the Atom Netbook series and of poorer performance augmentation. The most recent X2 Neo edition is a dual-core processor with considerably prospective capability.

The AMD Turion X2: This is a model from AMD featuring low-power utilization when contrasted with the conventional laptop CPU.

VIA Processors

Via Nano: This is one of the Netbook’s third low-power processor alternative, and it was released from a chip manufacturer called Via. This Netbook selection from Nano provides somewhat similar, as well as improved, performance capacity than Intel’s Atom; Via remarked that this CPU would become the center for various products rather than an exclusive Netbook benefactor sooner or later.

A memorandum regarding Netbooks and GPUs – Even as isolated video graphics chips like Nvidia’s and ATI’s GPUs are crucial to the world of gaming and video editing, it would be wise to take note of several new units that were released by Nvidia that will augment specific merchandise of the Netbook variety, as well.

The Nvidia Ion: The Netbook’s first graphic feature from Nvidia, which is called the Ion, is partially founded on the Apple MacBook series’ GeForce 9400M GPU. This additional graphic capacity will aid in the smoother playback of HD video on Atom-based Netbooks while also managing gaming to a certain extent.

The Nvidia Tegra: The built-in CPU/GPU in hybrid machines released by Nvidia are more compact and reasonably priced than any Netbook; they also run hybrid units from the smartphone operating systems. The Nvidia Tegra is exclusively devoted to providing flawless HD video playback along with a selected amount of graphics capacity, and it is also included in mobile entertainment units like the Zune HD.

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How to Choose the Right Type of Laptop to Suit Your Needs

Posted in: Laptop Guides

There are many different models and types of laptops to choose from, so it is important that you spend at least some time researching the various types available before making a decision.

This guide will detail the different types of laptops available in today’s market and give you an idea of which type was built for which type of user. In addition to this overview, we will also give detailed information on the networking, CPU and hard drive options available.

Here are some typical user experiences which outline the various needs that affect the way that most consumers choose a type of laptop. These “types” are not rigid, in fact it is highly likely that you will feel as if you fit between two or more categories, so it is important to think about what, where and how you will be using the new laptop.

Student
Most students are looking for laptops that are extremely portable and affordable. These types of laptops can be easily carried between classes, libraries and dorm rooms, so the new Netbook style laptops that sell for under $500 have become quite popular with students. The only downside to these mini-laptops is that they have smaller screens (10 to 12 inch) than other laptop models and are powered by single-core Atom CPUs which are less powerful.

The 13 inch thin and light laptop is another option, it’s still portable, yet a bit bulkier than the Netbook, but it gives a noticeably improved and powerful experience. The average thirteen inch laptop has a dual-core CPU and comes with an optical drive standard. A great example of the popular thirteen inch model is the Apple MacBook.

Basic requirement for student laptops: 13-inch or smaller screen size; 160GB or larger HDD; at least 1GB of RAM.

Gamer
PC gamers are some of the most intensive users in the market for laptop computers today. Traditionally, serious gamers will choose to purchase high-speed, powerful desktop computers, which can offer easy upgrades, super fast components and a more efficient cooling system. However, laptops have grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, making them more attractive to gamers.

The release of Intel’s Core 2 Quad and the Core i7 CPUs, which have the power needed to effectively run 3D games, coupled with the industry leading Nvidia GeForce N260 GPU, give even the most dedicated gamer a ton of power. Brands like Alienware offer the gamer a high-end, flashy experience with tons of customization options, are packed with the latest high-tech components and come at a price, while budget-conscious models like Gateway’s P-series feature slightly older parts, but offer a full-size 17 inch screen and lots of value.

Basic requirement for gaming laptops: 17-inch or larger screen size; 320GB or larger HDD with 7,200rpm speed; 4GB to 8GB of RAM; discrete graphics GPU.

Photographer or Videographer
Powerful processors, discrete graphics and super fast hard drives are what is required for the photographer or videographer. Especially photographers who work with High-Definition video or large-quality, high-resolution photos have become some of the most demanding laptop users.

The 15 and 17-inch MacBook Pro are counted as one of the most popular models for photographers and videographers. One of the top video editing software programs, Final Cut, is only available for use on Mac laptops, while other software like Adobe PhotoShop works with all computers.

For this type of user, a 17 or minimum 15 inch screen that provides a high resolution is your best bet. Photo and video professionals should also look for a laptop that has a lot of power, including 6 to 8 GB of RAM and a large 500GB+ hard drive that runs at a higher 7200 rpm speed.

Basic requirement for Photographer / Videographer laptops: 17-inch or larger screen size; 320GB or larger HDD with 7,200rpm speed; 4GB-8GB of RAM

Business Travelers
Those who work on the go quite a lot or travel regularly for work require a robust computing experience — they need a sturdy, secure machine, as well as good security management software installed in their system in order to protect their data.

Two great examples of this Business Traveler laptop category include the Dell Latitude and the popular ThinkPad from Lenovo. Both the Dell and the Lenovo boast robust security features like the Intel vPro platform and TPM chips along with hardware components and internal software solutions that work well with the operating system.

Basic requirement for business laptops: 12 to 15 inch screen size; 160GB or larger HDD; 2GB to 4GB RAM; Windows 7 Professional; mobile broadband modem.

Home User
If you aren’t a gamer, photographer or student, you will probably fit into this category. This category encompasses both adults and children, and can be used effectively for a wide range of tasks including educational purposes, such as homework or research, or entertainment such as watching web-based videos in a static location such as a desk, den area or even on family trips.

The 15 inch laptop is the most common size in this particular category, however there are 14 and 16 inch versions also available as well. You can find these standard laptops available from just about every PC maker, and for the most part, these laptops generally offer the same features.

You can pick one of these models up for under $1000 that will feature at least 2GB of RAM, a hard drive that is at least 250GB or larger, a DVD burner and the popular Intel Core 2 Duo CPU. These laptops are typically the most versatile and have the ability to add specific options such as Blu-ray or more advanced graphics cards with ease.

Basic requirement for home-use laptops: 14- to 16-inch screen size; 250GB or larger HDD; 2GB to 4GB of RAM; DVD burning optical drive.

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Different Types of Laptops Available in Today’s Market

Posted in: Laptop Guides

Because technology continues to change and evolve, the various categories or types of laptops available to consumers continues to expand and grow. One new category is the recently introduced market of Netbooks, which has subsequently turned into the fastest growing demographic within the entire personal computer market.

Some retail sites divide laptops into categories based upon price, weight and available components, however, the industry standard separates devices based upon screen size as the primary dividing factor because it is the most obvious and standard difference between the various types of laptops.

Netbook

To many laptop users, the launch of the Netbook was one of the most exciting releases in recent years, however, others feel that the low-cost factor of these devices is more the result of a downward spiraling price war. Netbooks generally have a screen size somewhere between seven and twelve inches, come with a full keyboard and are built around a low-voltage, single-core CPU.

Most of the early Netbooks came with tiny seven inch screens and were built around Intel Celeron processors, however today’s Netbooks typically come with a 10-inch display, single-core Intel Atom CPUs, an average of 1 GB of RAM, a large 160GB hard drive and a Windows 7 operating system.

The most obvious benefits to these units is their portability and low price. A standard 10-inch netbook can cost $300 or even lower. We can never get a standard laptop at such low price. The drawback is that they are capable only for e-mailing, Internet surfing, running web-based applications, and very basic office programs.

Netbooks are still growing and evolving, with many PC makers working hard to add faster CPUs and larger screens, allowing the portable and affordable Netbook to blur the line with the standard laptop offerings.

Characteristics of netbooks:

  • 9 to 12-inch screen
  • Do not have an optical drive
  • Single-core low-voltage CPU (normally Intel Atom)
  • Cost less than $500

UltraPortable

These devices were popular before Netbooks were ever released. They have eleven to twelve inch screens and low-voltage CPUs, which give them really strong endurance and high portability. In terms of processing power though, they are still underpowered compared to other mainstream laptops.

Netbooks have been a threat to the Ultraportable laptops — when you compare their prices, the Netbook which can handle most basic web and office tasks is coming in at around $300, while the UltraPortable which has almost the same size and processing power cost around $1500 which is five times higher.

However, with the dawning of Intel’s new consumer ultralow-voltage (CULV) processors, the UltraPortable division has a new lease on life with consumers. The CULV processors which are available in both single core and dual core version are somewhat more powerful than the Atom processor, but cost only slightly higher than the Atom CPU.

You may have seen these devices marketed more recently as “UltraThin” rather than UltraPortable, as the PC industry attempts to re-market these laptops as thin, upscale devices. Similar to the Netbook, many of these UltraThin or UltraPortable devices do not have an internal optical drive.

Characteristics of ultraportable laptops:

  • 9 to 12-inch screen
  • Do not have an optical drive
  • Low-voltage ULV CPU
  • Cost between $600 and $800

Thin and Light

This category describes thin laptops that are approximately thirteen inches in size. If you are wondering why there is a specific category for the thirteen inch laptops, it’s because they stand alone against the other types of categories. It is considered by many to be the absolute smallest size that can be worked on comfortably all day, and yet is still small enough to be easily carried around from home to office and back.

Standing between the ultraportable and midsize categories, the thin-and-light laptop works pretty well for users from both side of the world. The thirteen inch MacBook and the MacBook Pro are perhaps the most well-known models in this category and many PC makers have attempted to imitate them and make similar versions.

Characteristics of Thin and Light laptops: 13-inch screen

Midsize (Mainstream)

This category consists of laptops with 14, 15, and 16-inch display. While the midsize unit is still technically a mobile device, it is generally used in a single location – either at home or at work, but rarely both.

There are 3 screen resolution available in this category – The cheaper version with 1280×800 pixel resolution; the wide-screen 16:9 version with 1366×768 pixel resolution; and the high-end version with 1600×900 pixel resolution.

Most of these mainstream laptops come with dual-core preocessors, typically the Intel Core 2 Duo line, and boast anywhere between 2 to 4GB of RAM with a 250GB 5400rpm hard drive and generally come with DVD-burning optical drives.

This is the most popular category of all laptops and can be priced anywhere between $500 to over $1000 per unit. However, the average price is between $700-900 for a typical configuration.

Characteristics of Midsize laptops:

  • 14- to 16-inch display
  • Dual-core processor
  • Internal optical drive

Desktop Replacement

If you are looking for a device that will completely replace your desktop PC in size, power, speed and anything else you could require, this is the model for you.

The basic version of this 17-inch and larger model comes with the Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, with the more powerful versions boasting Core 2 Quad CPUs or even more powerful Intel Core i7 processors. Most of these desktop replacement devices come with discrete graphic cards that enable the user to play High-Definition video or engage in 3-D games.

Blu-ray drive is becoming more and more common on these systems since they often have native screen resolutions that can handle hi-def 1080p content.

Unfortunately, because they are so powerful and have so many features, these types of units typically have a short battery life. Also due to all the bells and whistles, these units are typically large and very heavy, so they are not as portable as any of the other types of laptops, making them more of an at-home or at-the-office type of unit.

17-inches is the most common size seen in this category, however there are 18 and 20 inch models available if you want an even larger size. Some of these units come in sizes nearly as large as TV monitors, so these desktop replacement units work great as a part of your home entertainment system, allowing you to combine all of your video, music and computing devices in one convenient location.

Characteristics of Desktop Replacement:

  • 17-inch (or larger) display
  • Intel Core 2 Duo of better CPU
  • Discrete graphics
  • Poor battery life
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