How to Choose a Laptop or Notebook Computer

By eHow Computers Editor


Todays laptops are much more powerful than even the hottest desktop computers of yesterday. Theyre also lighter and much more stylish. Many people are opting out of desktop computers altogether and use a laptop for all their computer needs. If youre thinking of going this route, check out these shopping tips.
Instructions
Step1
Read through How to Choose a Desktop Computer. The "Before you shop" points and most of "The basics" also apply when shopping for a laptop.
Step2
Pick up the laptops at the store. (Ask to have them unlocked if necessary.) Choose one that feels sturdy, solid and not too heavy.

Step3
Try the keyboard. Since you cant replace it (except with the exact same item), make sure youre comfortable with its touch and responsiveness. Test it on a desk and on your lap.

Step4
Test the pointing device, track pad or track ball, the laptop alternatives to a mouse. Some of these can be hard to master. Youll be able to connect an external mouse, but the built-in device is more handy when youre mobile.

Step5
Check if the computers bottom gets uncomfortably hot when its running--a problem if you actually use the laptop on your lap.

Step6
Pay attention to screen size and resolution. Current liquid-crystal display (LCD) screens on laptops measure from 13 to 21 inches diagonally. Screen resolution may be as low as 800 x 600 pixels or as high as 1600 x 1200. The more pixels, the crisper the screen image. View the screen in a variety of settings: A screen that looks great in normal room lighting can look terrible in bright or dim light.

Step7
Choose a laptop with at least two USB 2 connections and at least one Firewire (IEEE1394) connection. USB 2 and Firewire are very popular and fast ways of connecting iPods, digital cameras and some phones to computers.

Step8
Check to see if the laptop has built in wireless capabilities, most do these days. A wireless network card (also called Wi-Fi or 802.11) will free you from having to be wired to your Internet connection. Also, Bluetooth capability will let you share information wirelessly with other Bluetooth-equipped devices, such as your cell phone or personal digital assistant.

Step9
Check to see if the laptop has a DVD Burner. That makes backing up documents, music files and pictures a snap because of the high capacity of the discs.

Step10
Get an antitheft device. Hundreds of thousands of laptops are stolen every year. Look for cables that secure the laptop to a desk. Install software that disables a stolen laptop, or better yet, reports the laptops location when it connects to the Internet.
Read More..

What to Look for When Choosing a Gaming Laptop



Gaming is all the rage nowadays. What used to be niche group of game players is now mainstream. This means that the gaming laptop has really come into its own. Gamers have a lot of options now in the area of laptops.

Gamers demand a lot out of their laptops. They tend to know a lot about computers and they know what they want. They like to order their gaming laptops with their own specs and configurations, essentially creating their own “Dream Machines.” If you are a gamer, here are some of the factors you should consider when choosing the best gaming laptop out there:

1.) Graphics
Well, this is a given. Of course you want awesome graphics. Your game-playing enjoyment practically depends on it. This should be your first area of consideration when choosing a laptop computer. Graphics make your laptop capable of many things, such as wide-screen HDTV, mobile video editing studio, and 3D games. Look for a laptop that includes integrated graphics and a large amount of video RAM. Some Graphic Chipsets that are highly rated include:
Intel’s Graphics Media Accelerator 900
Mobility Radeon 9700
ATIs Mobility FireGL V3200

2). Speed, Baby, Speed!
The speed of processors is known as clock speed, and is measured in megahertz (MHz) or in gigahertz (GHz). The higher the clock speed, the faster your laptop will work.

Get the fastest computer you can afford in order to receive the maximum performance from your gaming laptop. It’s that simple. Your laptop must be able to process the latest 3D games easily, or expect the worst to happen—freeze up. Our suggestion is to go with a SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Architecture) processor. SATA processors are advanced and use less power. They are perfect for laptops. Or, when in doubt, you are always safe with a Pentium.

And, always be aware of your hard drive speed. A 7,200rpm hard drive is faster than a 4,200rpm or 5,400rpm. The faster the hard drive, the better the performance, as well.

Loads of RAM
A lot of RAM (Random-Access Memory) is good. LOADS of RAM is better. In other words, get as much RAM as possible. This will determine how much graphics your laptop can handle. You need at least 246MB for Windows XP and Mac OS X.

Also check out DDR2-SDRAM. This is a new standard that can boost SDRAM memory up to speeds over 200MHz! And Video RAM or VRAM, is special memory that is used by video adaptors on your laptop. This specifically handles the graphic and is helpful when you play the latest 3D games on your laptop.

Display
Don’t forget, you need the brightest, sharpest display screen around to fully appreciate the utter coolness of modern gaming. What you need to keep in mind is this: SVA Resolution. In other words, images are made up of pixels or dots. The more pixels you have, the better the image. SVGA Resolution is made up of 800 x 600 pixels, which is very good.

So, in conclusion:
High Graphics + Speed + RAM + Display = Awesome Gaming Laptop Bliss. Enough said.

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Apple MacBook Air MC504LL A 13 3 Inch Laptop

Apple MacBook
Apple MacBook Air MC504LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop
by Apple
4.8 out of 5 stars(28)

Buy new: $1,599.00 Click to see price
17 used & new from $1,195.00

(Visit the Top Rated in Notebooks list for authoritative information on this products current rank.)

Product Images


Review & Description

Introducing the new MacBook Air, the most mobile Mac in every way, shape, and form. It features all-flash storage, a Multi-Touch trackpad, a long-lasting battery, a high-resolution display, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and NVIDIA graphics. All inside a unibody enclosure thats light, thin, and strong enough to handle all your everyday tasks and then some, whether youre on the couch, in a lecture hall, or at a conference. Its mobility mastered.

Introducing the new MacBook Air, the most mobile Mac in every way, shape, and form. It features all-flash storage, a Multi-Touch trackpad, a long-lasting battery, a high-resolution display, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and NVIDIA graphics. All inside a unibody enclosure thats light, thin, and strong enough to handle all your everyday tasks and then some, whether youre on the couch, in a lecture hall, or at a conference. Its mobility mastered.

13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air
The Apple MacBook Air--light, thin, and strong enough to take with you wherever you go.

This version of the MacBook Air sports an 13.3-inch high-resolution display, 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 256 GB of flash memory storage, 2 GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor, an SD card slot, and up to 7 hours of battery life. (See full specs below.) It also comes with the Mac OS X Snow Leopard operating system as well as the iLife 11 software suite, which includes the latest versions of iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand.

13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air
The MacBook Air with 13.3-inch screen (see larger image).

Key Features

Flash Memory Storage

By replacing the standard spinning hard drive typically found in laptops (as well as desktop PCs) with flash memory, the MacBook Air delivers an almost instantaneous boot-up when you open the display, as well as faster application launches and snappier overall performance. Additionally, Apple has shed the enclosure that typically surrounds flash memory (usually about the same size as a standard hard drive), thus giving it a smaller footprint and helping to decrease the size of the MacBook Air.

Glass Multi-Touch Trackpad

With the addition of the smooth, glass Multi-Touch trackpad previously found on other MacBook models, the MacBook Air makes it even easier to navigate Mac OS X and your software applications. You can pinch, swipe or rotate images on the display screen with the brush of two fingers, or add more digits for a four-fingered vertical swipe to open Expose and quickly glance at all of your open windows.

Integrated FaceTime Webcam

Youll be able to easily connect with friends, family, and business colleagues using the MacBook Airs FaceTime camera, which is integrated into the thin bezel above the display. And with Apples FaceTime application, youre not limited to video chats with other Macs--you can now make video calls to iPhone and iPod touch users (Wi-Fi connection required for mobile users).

13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air keyboard
The spacious, full-sized keyboard (see larger image).
Intel Core 2 Duo Processing

Combining fast processing speeds with power-saving features, the Intel Core 2 Duo processor provides greater multitasking performance by combining two independent processor cores while also reducing power requirements and saving on battery life. This Intel Core 2 Duo processor has a 1.86 GHz processor speed, fast 1066 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 6 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your systems performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

High Performance Graphics

Powered by the NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics card, the MacBook Air allows you to view flawless video in full screen HD and play the latest games with fast frame rate. Its a great match to editing video masterpieces with iMovie and managing your photos in iPhoto, and it comes with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM thats shared with main memory.

Specifications

  • 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with a 1440 x 900-pixel resolution
  • Up to 7 hours of wireless productivity plus up to 30 days of standby time
  • 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 6 MB on-chip shared L2 cache and 1066 MHz frontside bus.
  • 256 GB flash memory storage
  • 2 GB installed RAM (1066 MHz DDR3; supports up to 4 GB)
  • NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor (with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory) for an outstanding everyday graphics experience.
  • Built-in FaceTime camera for video chatting
  • Wi-Fi wireless networking (based on 802.11n specification; 802.11a/b/g compatible)
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) for connecting with peripherals such as keyboards, mice and cell phones
  • Two USB 2.0 ports with networking using optional Apple USB Ethernet adapter
  • SD card slot
  • Mini DisplayPort output port with support for DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI, and HDMI (requires adapters, sold separately)
  • Built-in stereo speakers along with omnidirectional microphone, headphone minijack
  • Full-size keyboard
  • Multi-Touch trackpad for precise cursor control; supports inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
  • Dimensions: 12.8 x 8.94 x 0.68 inches (WxDxH)
  • Weight: 2.9 pounds
13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air ports
Whats in the Box

13.3-inch MacBook Air, 45W MagSafe power adapter, AC wall plug, and power cord, Software Reinstall Drive, printed and electronic documentation

Limited Warranty And Service

The MacBook Air comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a 1-year limited warranty, which can be extended to 3 years with the AppleCare Protection Plan.

Installed software

Mac OS X Snow Leopard is an even more powerful and refined version of the worlds most advanced operating system. In ways big and small, it gets faster, more reliable, and easier to use. New core technologies unleash the power of todays advanced hardware technology and prepare Mac OS X for future innovation.

  • Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard (includes iTunes, Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools, and more)

iLife 11 helps you do more with photos, movies, and music than you ever thought possible. In iPhoto, you can browse, edit, and share your photos in stunning new full-screen views. Create epic Hollywood-style movie trailers from your home video in iMovie. And GarageBand gives you everything you need to make a great-sounding song--including tools for keeping your song in perfect rhythm and guitar and piano lessons.

  • iLife (includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, and iDVD)
AppleCare Protection Plan

AppleCare Protection Plan

Because Apple makes the hardware, the operating system, and many applications, the Mac is a truly integrated system. And only the AppleCare Protection Plan gives you one-stop service and support from Apple experts, so most issues can be resolved in a single call. Extend the complimentary service and support on your Mac to 3 years from the original Mac purchase date with the AppleCare Protection Plan. You get direct telephone access to Apple experts for technical questions, and you get global repair coverage--including both parts and labor--for your Mac and select Apple peripherals.

Accessories and Related Products

USB Ethernet Adapter

Apple USB Ethernet Adapter
The Apple USB Ethernet Adapter is a simple, one-piece external adapter that plugs into the USB 2.0 port of your MacBook Air to provide 10/100BASE-T performance. Simply plug your Ethernet cable into the RJ-45 connector--no external power is required. Its small, light, easy to install, and even easier to use.

Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter

Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter
The Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter lets you connect an advanced digital monitor, such as the Apple Cinema Display, to your MacBook Air.

Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter
Use the Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter to connect your MacBook Air to a 30-inch display that includes a DVI connector, such as the 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display.

VGA Adapter

Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
The Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter lets you connect a standard analog monitor, projector, or LCD that uses a VGA connector or cable to your MacBook Air.

SuperDrive

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive
Compact and convenient, the MacBook Air SuperDrive connects to your MacBook Air with a single USB cable and fits easily into a travel bag. It lets you install software and play and burn both CDs and DVDs, including double-layer DVDs.

Time Capsule

Time Capsule
Back up a lifetimes worth of memories with Time Capsule, a wireless hard drive that works seamlessly with Time Machine in Mac OS X. Its also a full-featured 802.11n Wi-Fi base station with simultaneous dual-band support. Choose from 1 TB and 2 TB models.

Cinema Display

27-inch Apple LED Cinema Display
The stunning 2560-by-1440 resolution, built-in camera and speakers, and easy connectivity of the 27-inch Apple LED Cinema Display add up to a viewing experience unlike any other.

Read more


Find Low Prices

Read More..

Apple MacBook Air MC503LL A 13 3 Inch Laptop

Apple MacBook
Apple MacBook Air MC503LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop
by Apple
4.5 out of 5 stars(35)

Buy new: $1,299.00 Click to see price
28 used & new from $850.00

(Visit the Most Gifted in Notebooks list for authoritative information on this products current rank.)

Product Images


Review & Description

Introducing the new MacBook Air, the most mobile Mac in every way, shape, and form. It features all-flash storage, a Multi-Touch trackpad, a long-lasting battery, a high-resolution display, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and NVIDIA graphics. All inside a unibody enclosure thats light, thin, and strong enough to handle all your everyday tasks and then some, whether youre on the couch, in a lecture hall, or at a conference. Its mobility mastered.

Introducing the new MacBook Air, the most mobile Mac in every way, shape, and form. It features all-flash storage, a Multi-Touch trackpad, a long-lasting battery, a high-resolution display, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and NVIDIA graphics. All inside a unibody enclosure thats light, thin, and strong enough to handle all your everyday tasks and then some, whether youre on the couch, in a lecture hall, or at a conference. Its mobility mastered.

13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air
The Apple MacBook Air--light, thin, and strong enough to take with you wherever you go.

This version of the MacBook Air sports an 13.3-inch high-resolution display, 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 128 GB of flash memory storage, 2 GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor, an SD card slot, and up to 7 hours of battery life. (See full specs below.) It also comes with the Mac OS X Snow Leopard operating system as well as the iLife 11 software suite, which includes the latest versions of iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand.

13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air
The MacBook Air with 13.3-inch screen (see larger image).

Key Features

Flash Memory Storage

By replacing the standard spinning hard drive typically found in laptops (as well as desktop PCs) with flash memory, the MacBook Air delivers an almost instantaneous boot-up when you open the display, as well as faster application launches and snappier overall performance. Additionally, Apple has shed the enclosure that typically surrounds flash memory (usually about the same size as a standard hard drive), thus giving it a smaller footprint and helping to decrease the size of the MacBook Air.

Glass Multi-Touch Trackpad

With the addition of the smooth, glass Multi-Touch trackpad previously found on other MacBook models, the MacBook Air makes it even easier to navigate Mac OS X and your software applications. You can pinch, swipe or rotate images on the display screen with the brush of two fingers, or add more digits for a four-fingered vertical swipe to open Expose and quickly glance at all of your open windows.

Integrated FaceTime Webcam

Youll be able to easily connect with friends, family, and business colleagues using the MacBook Airs FaceTime camera, which is integrated into the thin bezel above the display. And with Apples FaceTime application, youre not limited to video chats with other Macs--you can now make video calls to iPhone and iPod touch users (Wi-Fi connection required for mobile users).

13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air keyboard
The spacious, full-sized keyboard (see larger image).
Intel Core 2 Duo Processing

Combining fast processing speeds with power-saving features, the Intel Core 2 Duo processor provides greater multitasking performance by combining two independent processor cores while also reducing power requirements and saving on battery life. This Intel Core 2 Duo processor has a 1.86 GHz processor speed, fast 1066 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 6 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your systems performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

High Performance Graphics

Powered by the NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics card, the MacBook Air allows you to view flawless video in full screen HD and play the latest games with fast frame rate. Its a great match to editing video masterpieces with iMovie and managing your photos in iPhoto, and it comes with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM thats shared with main memory.

Specifications

  • 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with a 1440 x 900-pixel resolution
  • Up to 7 hours of wireless productivity plus up to 30 days of standby time
  • 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 6 MB on-chip shared L2 cache and 1066 MHz frontside bus.
  • 128 GB flash memory storage
  • 2 GB installed RAM (1066 MHz DDR3; supports up to 4 GB)
  • NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor (with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory) for an outstanding everyday graphics experience.
  • Built-in FaceTime camera for video chatting
  • Wi-Fi wireless networking (based on 802.11n specification; 802.11a/b/g compatible)
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) for connecting with peripherals such as keyboards, mice and cell phones
  • Two USB 2.0 ports with networking using optional Apple USB Ethernet adapter
  • SD card slot
  • Mini DisplayPort output port with support for DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI, and HDMI (requires adapters, sold separately)
  • Built-in stereo speakers along with omnidirectional microphone, headphone minijack
  • Full-size keyboard
  • Multi-Touch trackpad for precise cursor control; supports inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
  • Dimensions: 12.8 x 8.94 x 0.68 inches (WxDxH)
  • Weight: 2.9 pounds
13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air ports
Whats in the Box

13.3-inch MacBook Air, 45W MagSafe power adapter, AC wall plug, and power cord, Software Reinstall Drive, printed and electronic documentation

Limited Warranty And Service

The MacBook Air comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a 1-year limited warranty, which can be extended to 3 years with the AppleCare Protection Plan.

Installed software

Mac OS X Snow Leopard is an even more powerful and refined version of the worlds most advanced operating system. In ways big and small, it gets faster, more reliable, and easier to use. New core technologies unleash the power of todays advanced hardware technology and prepare Mac OS X for future innovation.

  • Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard (includes iTunes, Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools, and more)

iLife 11 helps you do more with photos, movies, and music than you ever thought possible. In iPhoto, you can browse, edit, and share your photos in stunning new full-screen views. Create epic Hollywood-style movie trailers from your home video in iMovie. And GarageBand gives you everything you need to make a great-sounding song--including tools for keeping your song in perfect rhythm and guitar and piano lessons.

  • iLife (includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, and iDVD)
AppleCare Protection Plan

AppleCare Protection Plan

Because Apple makes the hardware, the operating system, and many applications, the Mac is a truly integrated system. And only the AppleCare Protection Plan gives you one-stop service and support from Apple experts, so most issues can be resolved in a single call. Extend the complimentary service and support on your Mac to 3 years from the original Mac purchase date with the AppleCare Protection Plan. You get direct telephone access to Apple experts for technical questions, and you get global repair coverage--including both parts and labor--for your Mac and select Apple peripherals.

Accessories and Related Products

USB Ethernet Adapter

Apple USB Ethernet Adapter
The Apple USB Ethernet Adapter is a simple, one-piece external adapter that plugs into the USB 2.0 port of your MacBook Air to provide 10/100BASE-T performance. Simply plug your Ethernet cable into the RJ-45 connector--no external power is required. Its small, light, easy to install, and even easier to use.

Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter

Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter
The Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter lets you connect an advanced digital monitor, such as the Apple Cinema Display, to your MacBook Air.

Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter
Use the Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter to connect your MacBook Air to a 30-inch display that includes a DVI connector, such as the 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display.

VGA Adapter

Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
The Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter lets you connect a standard analog monitor, projector, or LCD that uses a VGA connector or cable to your MacBook Air.

SuperDrive

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive
Compact and convenient, the MacBook Air SuperDrive connects to your MacBook Air with a single USB cable and fits easily into a travel bag. It lets you install software and play and burn both CDs and DVDs, including double-layer DVDs.

Time Capsule

Time Capsule
Back up a lifetimes worth of memories with Time Capsule, a wireless hard drive that works seamlessly with Time Machine in Mac OS X. Its also a full-featured 802.11n Wi-Fi base station with simultaneous dual-band support. Choose from 1 TB and 2 TB models.

Cinema Display

27-inch Apple LED Cinema Display
The stunning 2560-by-1440 resolution, built-in camera and speakers, and easy connectivity of the 27-inch Apple LED Cinema Display add up to a viewing experience unlike any other.

Read more


Find Low Prices

Read More..

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