The Laptop

The laptop has changed the way many people work. Having a laptop at your disposal enables you to take your work with you wherever you go. Given the wide variety of laptop selling companies choosing a laptop has become a rather cumbersome task. Add to this the fact that laptops come in different sizes and different specifications. So if you know nothing about laptops it is always recommended to ask the opinion of a person who is knowledgeable on the subject. Asking the opinion of the salesman does not always work as the job of the salesman is to sell after all.

Best Laptop Brands

Truth to be told there is no best laptop brand. There are several top selling laptop makers on the market that compete for the title of best laptop brand. However in my opinion there is no clear winner. Below you will find some of the best selling laptop manufacturers.

Dell Laptops

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Without a shadow of a doubt Dell is one of the top selling lapotp manufacturers. Dell is currently selling three laptop ranges for diffent types of users:

Dell Latitude Series

Dell's Latitude range of notebooks are designed with the business user in mind. Prices start at $517 for the lower end D531 which has a Mobile AMD Sempron 3600+, 1GB RAM and a 15'4" screen up to $3,899 for the Latitude XFR D630 which is rugged notebook and touch screen tablet with a 14.1" screen.

Dell Inspiron Series

This range of laptops starts at $499 which makes it an excellent range for the bugdet conscious user. The Dell Inspiron range of laptops comes in a variety of colours.

Dell Precision Series

The Dell Precision is advertised as being a mobile workstation more than a laptop. Dell's Precision range of laptops are designed for the big business users offering great performace, expandabiity and great graphical display capabilities. The entry level is the Dell Precision M4300 which starts selling at $1,567.

Dell Vostro Series

The Dell Vostro range of notebooks is designed for entry level business users with simple or no networks. Starting price for the Vostro 1000 is $399 which is an excellent price for a laptop with a 15.4" screen and a Mobile AMD Sempron 3600+ Processor.

Dell XPS Series

This beautifully styled range of laptops is designed for the high performance and high tech users like powerful business users, graphics and multimedia designers and gamers. Prices start at $999 for the XPS M1330. The XPS gaming range of laptops is everything an enthusiastic gamer ever dreams of, from the massive 4GB of memory to the high definition screen and high performance graphics. Hopwever, starting at $1549 up to $3,999 for XPS M1730 World of Warcraft Edition, the XPS range of gaming laptops are out of the reach of most gamers.

HP Laptops

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It has only been after the acquisition of Compaq a few years ago that Compaq became one of the top suppliers of laptops. Before that time HP was hardly considered as one of the top laptop manufacturers.

HP has various ranges of laptops, so you are excused if your are confused which is the best HP laptop for you:

HP Pavillion Series

Starting at $599.99, this range of laptops is intended for home and home office users.

Compaq Presario Series

Starting at $499, this is the second range of HP laptops geared for the home and home office users. In this range of laptops, HP are still keeping the popular Compaq Presario name.

HP 530 Series

Starting at $519.00 the HP 530 Series is geared for those requiring a basic and affordable laptop.

HP Compaq 6000 Series

This series is aimed for professional notebook users and it comes in various flavours. The HP Compaq 6720 is the most economical notebook starting at only $569.00. At the other end of the range is the HP Compaq 6910p which starts selling at $1,119.00.

HP Compaq 8000 Series

Starting at $1,399.00 up to $2,349.00 this range of laptops is intended to be used by profesional users who require the power of a PC on a laptop.

HP Compaq 2000 Series

The HP Compaq 2510p is HP's lighest notebook and at only 2.8 lb (1.29 kg) it is perfect for those profesionals who travel frequently. However at $1,499.00 it is not a laptop that can be afforded by the masses. The HP Compaq 2710p is a similar notebook with the added advantage that it can be used as a tablet PC. On the other hand it is 3.7 lb (1.68 kg) havy which makes it slightly heavier than the 2510p and it comes at a price of $1,599.00.

HP Compaq tc4400 Tablet PC

Similar to the 2710p this notebook can be used as a table PC. It costs $1,399.00 which makes it slightly cheaper and at 4.6 lb (2.08 kg) it is somewhat heavier than the 200 series of notebooks.

Sony VAIO Laptops

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For several years Sony has been producing some excellent laptops with its Sony VAIO brand. Sony VAIO laptops/notebooks come in many different ranges.

Starting at $899.99, the Sony VAIO FZ Series is Sony's most affordable laptop. The entry level FZ Series laptop includes a built-in camera and a microphone. The whole series of laptops is the following: FZ series, NR series, CR series, SZ series, AR series, TZ series and UX series.

AR series laptops come with 17" screens, while those in the FZ and NR series come with 15.4" screens and those in the CR series come with 14.1" screens. SZ series notebooks come with 13.3" screens, TZ series notebooks come with 11.1" screens while the ultra portable UX series notebooks come with 4.5" screens.

Which one is good for you depends on your usage and on your budget. The FZ series is enough for most users while if you travel regularly then you should consider the SZ or the TZ series. If you are into gaming or if you like a bigger screen then you should look at the AR series. The UZ series is made of ultraportable laptops however the minisculr 4.5" screen and high starting price tag of $2,499.00 will throw many people off.

Lenovo Laptops

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If you never head about Lenovo then you should know that Lenovo bought what used to be the IBM ThinkPad range of laptops and notebooks. Lenovo laptops come in three different ranges:

IdeaPad Series

This series is targeted for the home and home office users with pricing starting at $799 for the IdeaPad Y510.

Lenovo 3000 Series

The 3000 series comes in two flavours: the 15.4" N Series which start from $599 and the ultra portable 12.1" V Series which start from $999.00.

ThinkPad Series

The ThinkPad series comes in 4 flavours: the entry level and affordable R Series which starts from $532, the T Series which starts from $765.00, the 12.1" screen ultra portable X Series which start at $1,060.80 and the 12,1" screen X Series Tablet which start at $1,559.22.

Toshiba Laptops

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Toshiba has always been one of the best laptop manufacturers. Toshiba laptops come in five different series:

Satellite Series

The Satellite Series caters for a wide variety of users. Prices start at $643.20 for the most economical A200 laptop up to $1,699.99 for the X205 gaming laptop.

Satellite Pro Series

The Satellite Pro Series is geared for the business but starting at only $749.00 it comes at a very affordable price tag.

Tecra Series

The Tecra Series is designed for the more powerful buesiness users. Prices start at $1,099.00.

Qosmio Series

The Qosmio is a laptop designed for family entertainment and with its integrated TV tuner and high definition multimedia interface it is described as being an LCD television gone mobile. Starting price for the Qosmio is $1,099.99.

Portege Series

If you are a rich business user who travels frequently then this one of few notebook ranges that you should consider buying. From the Portege M700 tablet PC which starts at $1,499.00 to the ultra portable Portege R500 notebook whivh starts at $2,999.00, the Portege is truly a magnificent series.

ACER Laptops

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ACER is currently selling four laptop series:

ACER Aspire Series

The Aspire is a very popular series of laptops sold by ACER. The entry level Aspire is the AS4520-5582 which starts selling at $599.00.

ACER Travelmate Series

As its name suggests the Travelmate Series is designed for those that travel a lot. Laptops in the usually come with a 14.1" screen. The entry level Travelmate laptops is the TM2480-2698 which starts selling at $589.00.

ACER Extensa Series

The Extensa is a less known series of Acer laptops. The entry level Extensa is the EX4220-2555 which starts selling at $579.00.

ACER Ferrari Series

ACER is also selling laptops branded with the Ferrari name. Two current models are the FR1100-5457 and the FR5000-5832. The FR1100-5457 has a 12.1" screen, is based on a 2.3GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 processor and sells at $1,999.00. The FR5000-5832 has a 15.4" screen, is based on a 2.0GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 processor and sells at $2,499.00.

Apple MacBook Laptops

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The Apple MacBook is the first Apple laptop to use an Intel based processor and under the bonnet of each MacBook lies Intel Core Due processors. There are several MacBooks having different specifications, however each Macbok comes installed with the Apple MacOS operating system and not a Microsoft Windows operating system. Starting price for the entry level MacBook is $1,099.

ASUS Eee PC

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Asus has been manufacturing laptops for several years, however it is the Eee PC that brought it the most recognition as a laptop selling company. The Eee PC is a miniature notebook which according to Asus is Amazon.com's most-wanted notebook. Most Eee PCs come preinstalled with Linux however they are Windows compatible. In fact you can also find some Eee PCs that come preinstalled with Windows XP. The Eee PC comes in four different flavours:

Eee PC 2GB Surf

This notebook comes in 4 colours: white, pink, blue, green and black. It come with a 2GB solid state hard disk and 512MB of soldered RAM which cannot be upgraded. Battery life is about 2 hours 45 minutes. The 2G Surf weighs 1 lb 15½ oz or 895g.

Eee PC 4GB Surf

This notebook comes with a 4GB solid state hard disk and 512MB of socketed RAM which can be upgraded up to 2GB. Battery life is about 2 hours 45 minutes like the 2G Surf. The 4G Surf weighs 2 lb ½ oz or 920 g. This PC is also available in four colours.

Eee PC 4GB

This notebook has the same memory and hard disk specs as the 4GB Surf, however it comes with a 0.3 magapixel webcam and it has a battery life of up to 3 hours 30 minutes. The 4G weighs 2 lb ½ oz or 920 g. This PC is also available in four colours.

Eee PC 8GB

This notebook is very similar to the Eee PC 4GB however it comes with 1GB of RAM and an 8GB solid state hard disk. The Eee PC 8GB is only available in white and black. The rest of the specs are as for the 4GB model.

The Origin of the Laptop

The word "laptop" was first introduced in 1983. In the next few years after their introduction laptops were seen as being a commodity or a status symbol as many people could not afford one. Today the situation has changed as laptops have become affordable to the masses. Laptops came in various types and sizes from the ultraportable ones which weigh about 1 kg to the desktop replacement models which usually weigh more than 3 kg. Laptops can usually be powered by electricity when connected to the power outlet or by battery.

Do I need a Laptop?

Many people only buy a laptop because they see it as a status symbol. If you only need to use a laptop when at home and never need to move it from one place to another then it makes more sense to invest in a desktop computer. A desktop computer is cheaper, easier to repair, easier to upgrade, more reliable and in many cases more powerful. So why buy a laptop when you don't really need it?

Having said this, a laptop is an essential tool to have if you are a professional who is always on the run. However before you fork your money on a new laptop it is essential to ask yourself what you will be using this laptop for. For example if you only use your laptop to open a few Word and Excel documents, read a few emails and maybe browse the internet then you probably won't need to invest in a $2,000 laptop. On the other hand if you need your laptop as a PC replacement and need to use it for tasks such as graphic design and database programming then it makes sense to invest in a $2,000 laptop.

If you are a professional who travels a lot then you should consider going for a smaller sized laptop or notebook which is not too heavy on your poor shoulder. However keep in mind that a smaller laptop might mean a lower powered laptop so it is important to find the right compromise.

Is a Notebook Different from a Laptop?

Laptops and notebooks are usually referred to as being the same thing. However, technically speaking, a notebook is very similar to a laptop with the only difference being that it is slightly smaller, thinner and less heavy than a laptop. A notebook can fit in a briefcase which is not the case for many laptops. This makes the notebook an ideal travel companion. The reduction in size comes at a cost as notebooks do not usually have any CD/DVD-ROM drives and floppy disk drives. As expected notebooks have smaller screens (12" to 14"), smaller keywords, weight anywhere from 4 to 6 pounds and rarely exceed the 1" thickness.

Having said this it is important to note than a smaller sized laptop usually has less power and less features than a normal sized laptop, so make sure to take these into consideration when ordering a notebook computer. This should not be a problem for those users who only use their notebook for basic office automation tasks like working on documents and spreadsheets, accessing the internet and reading and replying to emails.

Gaming Laptops

If you are into gaming and rarely on the go then it makes sense to go for a gaming laptop. Gaming laptops can be heavier than most laptops but they pack a lot of power under the bonnet. The majority of modern computer games demand lots of graphical power so the video card of a gaming notebook is usually more powerful than that of a normal notebook. Having a powerful processor and lots of RAM is also essential for smooth gaming experience. Since gaming uses a lot of processing and graphical resources is also important to have a high quality long life battery or else it will be drained in no time. The above make gaming laptops more expensive than normal laptops and much more expensive than a PC with equivalent processing, video and memory capability.

GPS Laptops

Having a laptop with GPS support is a useful device to have if you are constantly on the move. GPS laptops make it easier for you to find hotels, company buildings, attractions and other locations then with the conventional map. Having a GPS laptop also means that you don't have to carry any other GPS device. Apart from that GPS laptops are usually superior than many conventional GPS devices due to the larger screen size of the laptop which makes it easier to read street names and decipher details. Having the laptop at your disposal is a plus since you can keep information on the sites your visiting and if you have access to a roaming internet connection you can also search information while on the go.

Are You on a Tight Budget

If you are looking to buy a laptop but you are short of budget then you should consider buying a refurbished laptop. Although a refurbished is usually much cheaper than a new laptop it does not mean that it is unreliable or of lower quality. Although it is true that at some point the refurbished laptop was faulty, a refurbished laptop is a laptop that has repaired, fully inspected and probably tested more than in the case of a new laptop. Some refurbished laptops might be laptops that have been bought as new a few months back and as a result the particular model might no longer be in production. However considering that you can save several hundreds of dollars buying a refurbished laptop makes a lot of sense for the money conscious buyer.

Should I Buy From an Online Store?

Many people ask if they should take the risk of buying a laptop from an online store. The truth is that buying a laptop from an online store can have its advantages as well as its disadvantages. First of all it all depends on the reputation of the online store or the seller in question. If you have never heard about the online store then you should at least do a search with Google or your other favourite search engine and look for reviews related to this seller. If you cannot find any reviews of if you find many negative reviews about the store in question then it is probably not worth taking the risk. When buying a laptop from eBay or any other auction site it is always recommended to buy from reputed power sellers. Plus that you should always make sure that the shipping insured and that you have at least a 1 year warranty on the laptop.

Laptop Bags

It is highly probable that the bag that comes with your laptop or notebook is not of very high quality. Most laptop and notebook bags have minimal if any padding and as result it might not protect your laptop/notebook well enough against shocks. If you are always on the go and always carry your laptop with you it makes sense to invest in a high quality bag. High quality laptop bags normally provide more shoulder padding than most laptop bags, so if not for the notebook you should buy a good laptop bag for your poor shoulder.

Laptop Repair

Although a laptop has the advantage over a normal PC of being portable it has several drawbacks like being more difficult and expensive to repair. A laptop's hard disks is smaller than normal PC hard disks which can make it less reliable. Moving a laptop when it is switched on can cause unnecessary stress to the hard disk which can eventually lead to failure. Replacing a laptop's hard disk is not as easy as replacing a PC's hard disk. While some laptop hard disks are pretty accessible after removing a few screws, other laptop brands have their hard disk sealed which makes them difficult to replace. In these cases it is not recommended to replace the hard disk yourself unless you know what you are doing or have already done so in the past.

Laptop Skins

Laptop skins are an original way of personalizing your laptop or protecting your laptop from scratches. Laptop skins are also used by businesses to put their corporate identity like the logo and company name on their corporate laptops. Other companies distribute laptop skins as a way of marketing. Laptop skins are easily available at cheap prices and today you can find many online stores selling laptop skins. Laptop skins can usually be changed and reused at any time without causing any damage to the laptop skins or to the laptop itself.

Using a laptop skin is a cheap way of protecting your laptop. Laptop skins are usually made of conforming vinyl and have an underlying adhesive layer which makes them easy to attach to the laptop. The adhesive residual that is left after removing the skin is usually easily removed by any piece of cloth. Laptop skins are usually made in a uniform size though custom sized laptop skins are sometimes also available. A good quality laptop skin is usually tear resistant and most laptop skins are usually resistant to sunlight, heat, cold and even water.

Taking Care of Your Laptop

Your laptop is a sensitive electronic device so it should be treated with care if you want it to last long. It is not normally recommended to move the laptop around while it is power on. When you move a laptop around while switched on it can cause unnecessary stress on the hard disk. So shut down or hibernate your laptop before moving it around and wait for at least 30 seconds by which time the hard disk would have come to a standstill. It is also recommended not to place your laptop near electromagnetic devices as this might cause damage to the electronic components in the laptop.

Laptop Coolers

If you care for your laptop and want to extend its lifetime it makes sense to invest in a laptop cooler or laptop cooling pad. A laptop cooler usually has cooling fans which take the power from the laptop's USB ports. Laptop cooling pads do not have any fans however they help in dissipation the heat that comes out from the laptop. Laptop coolers are more effective in lowering the temperature of the laptop's components; however they can drain the laptop's battery power in a sort time. This might not be a problem if you keep you laptop connected to the mains power supply. However if you do not have access to a mains power supply it is recommended to use a laptop cooling pad instead of a laptop cooler.