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TheTechnologyShop.net Featured Article
Laptop Buying Tips - How to Choose the Best Laptop For
You and Even Get One Free
By
William C Bell
In recent years laptops been growing in power so it is
now easy to find a cheap laptop that will perform most
tasks that you would once have performed on a desktop
PC. However, it is still the case that spending the same
amount of money on a desktop PC or Mac will get you more
in terms of specification and power. This is important
if you are doing something like video editing or playing
the latest games. The ultimate advantage of a laptop is
that it gives you the freedom to use your computer on
the move or around the home rather than being restricted
to one room. You can take better advantage of wireless
networking and surf the net without being connected to a
phone socket or wired network.
When considering which laptop to buy think about what
you plan to use it for. You might need your computer to
be easily portable, and therefore more compact, or you
might be looking to replace your desktop PC and need
something that can be folded up and put away to save
space when it's not in use. You need to carefully
consider which type of laptop would suit you best,
weighing up things like portability against power and
price. Size and weight vary considerably, with a small,
portable netbook averaging around 1kg, and larger
widescreen laptops weighing in at around 3kg.
Entry-level laptops are a cheap, basic option and
best for those who use their laptop for straightforward
office tasks and internet use.
Desktop replacement laptops are much more
powerful computers that are comparable to desktop
systems in terms of power. This type of computer is
suitable for editing photos or videos and playing games,
as well as performing office tasks. Desktop replacements
are a lot heavier and less portable than other laptops.
Netbooks are ultra-portable laptops and are
different from standard laptops in that they make
reducing size and weight the priority, at the cost of
power, speed and features e.g. no CD drive. They are
small and compact with limited features, but they are
perfectly adequate for general tasks and surfing the
web. They generally use processors that are less
powerful than the chips used in larger laptops, but are
cheaper and more energy efficient. Some come with the
Windows XP operating system installed, and several
models use the free Linux operating system. Some brands
offer a choice of Linux or Windows, although the Windows
option will be more expensive. You will not find
built-in CD and DVD drives in these netbooks. If you
really need these you will have to buy them separately.
You will get wireless connectivity which you can use to
connect them to a wireless network. Some netbooks use
standard hard drives, while others use solid-state
storage.
Free Laptops
There are many deals offering cheap or free laptops but
there is a catch. The mobile phone companies such as O2,
Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile and 3 which offer free
laptops or netbooks insist you sign up to a mobile
broadband contract, often for 18 or 24 months as part of
the deal. However this is useful if you do not want to
put your money upfront to buy a laptop. Do not
necessarily choose the cheapest deal. Check that the
laptop or netbook suits your needs, and make sure you
can receive the mobile broadband signal where you live.
Also look out for special student deals. As laptops are
so popular with college and university students needing
a versatile computer for study at home and in the
library, companies sometimes advertise discounts for
students
William has been writing articles
for several years now especially articles related to the
home and home improvements. You can check out his latest
website at http://www.canonportableprinter.com/ which is
a guide to the Canon range of portable printers, and the
latest Canon portable printer.
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