I have never had a notebook computer and so I was not knowledgeable about them until this week when I set out to buy one for my wife for Christmas (please don't tell her) and hence did my research. As I found out I knew so little I though I would share a few basics I just learnt.
Processor:
Notebooks fall into two main classes. The small and light portable ones usually weighting under about 6.5 lbs, and big and heavy ones know as desktop replacements that typically weight around 10 lbs. If you buy the later then an Intel P4 or the Athlon is the way to go, and at top speeds too as these larger notebooks are designed mainly for desktop use where they will be powered from the mains electric supply. Many cheaper light weight portable notebooks also uses these main stream processors but they are to be avoided. These processors designed for desktop computers get very hot and drain notebook batteries like electricity was going out of style. Many notebooks with P4 processors have only 45 minutes battery life, not enough to see half a movie! If you will be using your notebook as a true portable computer you must get a processor designed for portability such as the Pentium M processor which in some configerations is called a Centrino. These processors in a well designed box can give up to seven hours battery life. The Centrinos are rated slower than the P4's, typically around 1.6 Mh but compensation for these slightly slower speeds is built into the best laptops with a fast FSB and large cache.
Next look at the display. Few notebooks out there have decent displays and here are a couple of rules to follow. Firstly only consider a wide screen format. Secondly know a smaller high resolution display looks a lot better than a low resolution big one. The vast majority of 15", 15.4" and 17" displays are low resolution and often dull into the bargain. Absolutely get a HD moderately sized display which is at least 1280x760. Good HD displays will also likely be of the bright technology kind that can be well viewed in normal room lighting.
Functionality.
Look to see the note book has 1394, is configures for wireless and 802.11 if you will need these functions.
Notebooks can get expensive so shop well. I will not plug a particular model but I bought my wife a named brand 1.4GHz Centrino with 512Mb RAM, a 60GB hard drive, DVD+RW, a 14" High Definition display, wireless and 802.11 and a 6 in 1 card reader for under $1200.
Processor:
Notebooks fall into two main classes. The small and light portable ones usually weighting under about 6.5 lbs, and big and heavy ones know as desktop replacements that typically weight around 10 lbs. If you buy the later then an Intel P4 or the Athlon is the way to go, and at top speeds too as these larger notebooks are designed mainly for desktop use where they will be powered from the mains electric supply. Many cheaper light weight portable notebooks also uses these main stream processors but they are to be avoided. These processors designed for desktop computers get very hot and drain notebook batteries like electricity was going out of style. Many notebooks with P4 processors have only 45 minutes battery life, not enough to see half a movie! If you will be using your notebook as a true portable computer you must get a processor designed for portability such as the Pentium M processor which in some configerations is called a Centrino. These processors in a well designed box can give up to seven hours battery life. The Centrinos are rated slower than the P4's, typically around 1.6 Mh but compensation for these slightly slower speeds is built into the best laptops with a fast FSB and large cache.
Next look at the display. Few notebooks out there have decent displays and here are a couple of rules to follow. Firstly only consider a wide screen format. Secondly know a smaller high resolution display looks a lot better than a low resolution big one. The vast majority of 15", 15.4" and 17" displays are low resolution and often dull into the bargain. Absolutely get a HD moderately sized display which is at least 1280x760. Good HD displays will also likely be of the bright technology kind that can be well viewed in normal room lighting.
Functionality.
Look to see the note book has 1394, is configures for wireless and 802.11 if you will need these functions.
Notebooks can get expensive so shop well. I will not plug a particular model but I bought my wife a named brand 1.4GHz Centrino with 512Mb RAM, a 60GB hard drive, DVD+RW, a 14" High Definition display, wireless and 802.11 and a 6 in 1 card reader for under $1200.