How to Buy a Laptop: Holiday 2006 Edition
Wed Nov 8, 2006 6:55PM EST
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I offered buying advice for desktop PCs for the 2006 holiday season a few weeks ago. At popular request, I'm turning my attention to laptops. Here's what to consider if you're making a notebook purchase in the new year.
- CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo is just now arriving on laptops, and it's the CPU of choice no matter what type of user you are. However there are some great deals to be had on Core Duo machines, most of which were released only a few months ago. Most users will find the original Core Duo plenty fast.
- Memory - As with desktops, get all you can afford. 1GB minimum, especially for Vista.
- Operating System - Same deal as with desktops. If you're planning to go with Vista, wait until 2007 to buy a notebook. Driver issues are far more complex with portables than with desktops, and you don't want to be stuck trying to upgrade only weeks after you bought the machine. See my comments in the desktop shopping story for more detail.
- Hard Drive - 160GB is tops for notebooks right now, but about 80GB is more common and less expensive. That should be plenty for most users for the foreseeable future. If you're a digital movie collector, go with the big one.
- Optical Drive - A few systems are now including HD-DVD drives instead of standard DVD, however I've found all HD-DVD laptop drives slow and very buggy. I'd stick with a DVD-RW drive now, dual layer of course.
- Graphics Card - This varies widely, as manufacturers are still putting year-old graphics cards in laptops in many cases. High end cards like the Nvidia Geforce 7800/7900 series are pricey, but they're absolutely required if you want to have any hope of playing the latest games on your laptop. Remember that graphics cards are generally not upgradeable, so it's important to get the best you can afford right when you make the purchase.
- Screen - A critical decision. Widescreen displays comprise virtually the entire market now, so don't expect to find many 4:3 aspect ratio machines for sale. The big question here is whether you want a 17-inch monster display, a standard 15.4-inch display, or something smaller. The weight of the machine will vary accordingly: Expect to carry 8 pounds and up for a 17-inch system, 6 to 7 pounds with a 15.4-inch machine, and as little as 3 pounds with an ultralight. Laptops aren't going to get much lighter in 2007, so don't hold out for anything that'll be easier to pick up.
Again, I haven't really touched on the issue of going with Mac vs. PC, but if the MacOS is attractive to you, the new MacBook Pros are outstanding (if pricey). Yes, they can also run Windows, but they have a fatal flaw: The single mouse button means you'll have to use an external mouse if you want to get anything done with the machine in Windows. (Again, for the various Mac comments below: This is an issue for those running Windows!) Plan accordingly.
As always, feel free to send me specs or a link to the laptop you're considering via email and I'll weigh in with an opinion. Happy shopping!
Comments on How to Buy a Laptop: Holiday 2006 Edition
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2 Posted by gcrdcn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:07PM EDT Report Abuse
Stay away from 3.5" external HD, I have had 4 of them die. I now is 2.5" laptop drives, they can take the moving. Also the 2.5" are ideal for laptops, they fit in your pocket and do not need an extra power supply.
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3 Posted by m_alihonarvar on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:32PM EDT Report Abuse
external mouse for mac? no! I installed a small app that handles that perfectly. I even do not push the mouse button. everything is handled by finger taps. (1-finger tap is click, 2-finger tap is right click, ...). I get used to it in a couple of days, and it's easier than using a mouse.
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4 Posted by chyone74 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:25PM EDT Report Abuse
I am in the market for a laptop. I have heard good things about Apple, however, I've never used a MAC before so I am wondering if it is worth it. Also, what Notebooks/Laptops would you suggest? Thanks;)
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5 Posted by gofer_bs on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:10PM EDT Report Abuse
I have been glouting over Portableone MX series, and upgrading to outdoor screen 1-2 gb of memory and 72 spin 100gig drive!! yes i will go bust, but would like thoughts on this machine Thanks PK
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6 Posted by keyman6788 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:50PM EDT Report Abuse
I have a macbook with a one button touchpad mouse and I still get stuff done on it on the go :P Go apple!
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7 Posted by fastkeyjd on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:58PM EDT Report Abuse
is there an advantage with the mac os?
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8 Posted by rockheadaustin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:47PM EDT Report Abuse
Or just be happy with what you got in the first place!
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9 Posted by jmaher_01 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:36PM EDT Report Abuse
Basic users wouldn't need all the power of a core 2 duo, a gig of ram, or a high end video card unless you want to spend a lot of money. If you're really interested in Vista don't wait to buy a laptop, Best Buy and Circuit City have a deal with HP and Sony that if you buy a laptop now you get a free Vista upgrade if it has XP Media Center or better...wait until later and pay tons for the upgrade.
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10 Posted by kahmuff on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:46PM EDT Report Abuse
Definately consider the weight and screen size. I bought a laptop with a 17" display, which was originally intended to be for home use and the occassion trip out of the house. About 6 months after buying it, I had to travel for work and needed to take it with me. My flight was delayed for 4 hours and I was stuck lugging this monster computer around the airport the whole time. When I went through security, they looked at it and said, this is not a computer, it is a TV. Sure felt like I was carrying one. I have since gotten a laptop dedicated to work, A tiny one with a 14" screen, a duo Core and an extended battery. Even with the double size battery, it is still a whole lot lighter than the other. Also the battery life on the big ones is not so great if you go with the standard. I have about a 2 hour life on the big one, if I shut down everything. On the new one, I can get at least 8 hours with everything running, but it an extended life battery, not the standard. But definately worth it. Wish I had known all this before I bought the first, But the screen size is worth it. But now, that one never leaves the house.
1 Posted by juanrod2625@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree with all that was suggested, except for the hard disk. I agree with looking for the largest available on the particular Laptop that one has decided on. I have a 300GB WD Book external HD that allows me to backup vital files from my Laptop. Hopefully the HD's would not fail at the same time. Periodically I backup all my pictures to The Book so that my losses of that vital memorabilia would be minimized. I have always told anyone that asked to maximize memory, speed of the video, and hard disk space when they purchase a computer Lap or Desk top. Gamers may have a different opinion such as the speed of the CPU but since I do mostly business apps almost any speed processor is enough speed for me.