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Your Guide To A Notebook
Your Guide To A Notebook
A notebook or laptop is nothing but a small portable computer that weighs 2.2 to 18 pounds (1 to 8 kg), that depends on its brand, style, size, material it is made of, and many other factors. Notebooks generally operate on a single main battery or through an external adapter that can both charge the battery and also supply power to the notebook.
Notebooks are adept at performing the same jobs like a personal desktop; the only difference is that they are generally less powerful for the same cost. They consist of similar components like desktop computers and execute the same functions, except that they are miniature in size and suitable for transportable use and effective power consumption. Notebooks usually have LCD and different memory modules. They have a built-in keyboard; input is done through a touchpad or a pointing stick, though an external mouse can also be attached.
There are different categories of notebooks. UMPCs are Ultra-Mobile PCs and are very portable. Since they are of a small size they can fit in a small touch screen while some other models have a minute physical keyboard along with a mouse interface. The other type is Ultraportables which are notebooks and have screens less than eleven inches and have less than 3.7 pounds (1.7 kg) of weight. They are generally used by business travelers, as they are small and light though very expensive. They have an extended battery life and integrated graphics. The other type of notebook is the Sony VAIO FJ76, and Dell XPS M1330 and XPS M1210. Then we have the mainstream notebooks that are more of budget desktops. And if you want desktop power, then you can opt for desktop replacement which can accommodate many performance components.
As far as the processors are concerned you should go for the fastest that your budget will allow. You can opt for Intel`s Centrino that has great speed and also good battery life. Or else you can also go for the economic AMD`s mobile processors whose performance still lags behind Intel. If you intend to watch DVDs on your notebook then go for wide screen ones that offer sharper, larger and great images. The only consideration is that they are not meant for carrying around a lot.
For great system performance it is vital to have enough memory (RAM) that will allow you to run many applications together. Adequate RAM is also essential for image and video editing, graphics work, and 3D gaming. Generally notebooks have a terrible sound quality so it is recommended to use speakers or headphones. These are some of the factors that you need to consider before buying a notebook.
Also keep in mind that like any electronic device, your notebook is vulnerable to accidents as well as system failures. It is recommended to get at least a three year warranty and also some additional insurance.
Health hazards related to using a laptop has been a controversial topic for quite some time. Researches have proved that heat generated from notebooks can raise temperature of scrotum, leading to reduced sperm count. A solution can be using it on a table or keeping it apart from the lap that will enable better cooling of the notebook and also prevent your lap from excessive electromagnetic radiation and heat.
Some of the famous brands that have notebook are Acer that have TravelMate, Ferrari and Aspire models; BenQ; Compaq with its Armada, LTE, EVO and Presario models. Other famous brands are Gateway, HCL, Lenovo, LG, Micro-Star International, Panasonic, Samsung, Toshiba and others.
Choosing Between A Notebook And A Desktop
Choosing Between A Notebook And A Desktop
There are several things that you need to look into before you buy a computer. First, you need to take a closer look into your lifestyle and working habits. If you happen to be one of those people who are always on the go and travels a lot, it would be a good idea for you to get a laptop instead of a desktop computer. Although Presario desktop computers are very reliable, you cannot really expect to carry them around wherever you go. On the other hand, a Presario notebook is more portable than and just as powerful as the desktop computers. Traveling with a notebook is a lot more convenient than carry a whole set of desktop computer. Just imagine how inconvenient it would be if you pack your desktop computer and carry it with to the airport!
The second consideration that you need to look into when buying a computer is the purpose for which you want the computer for. If you are going to handle huge files and very complex programs, forget about the laptop or the notebook. Laptops or notebooks may be as powerful as the desktop computers but it they are not expandable. Yes you can always connect flash drives into the USB ports of your laptop but these things may not really have enough space for the kind of data that you want to store. Using a desktop therefore is more advantageous if you want to store big programs and files into your computer. Note that desktops will allow you to upgrade its processor and graphics card anytime so you will not really much problems when it comes to storage space and others.
The third consideration that you must look into when buying computers is the monitor. If you want to edit film or pictures and go some graphic designs on your computer, it would be a good idea for you to buy a desktop. A desktop will allow you to change your monitor anytime. Note that huge computer monitors like those Compaq monitors will help a lot when you make graphic designs or edit films.
The fourth consideration and perhaps the most important of all is your budget. Laptops are more expensive compared to desktops. A good laptop could easily cost you as much as twice the price of a desktop of more or less the same specifications. Why are laptops more expensive? Laptops are designed to be portable so the manufacturers have to use special types of computer parts. Since these special parts cost a lot of money, you end up dearly for them. Convenience does have its price so if you want to enjoy the convenience of using your computer anywhere you go, you just have to pay for it or get a desktop. Besides, a desktop is really not that bad. If you do not travel a lot, a desktop is more useful to you than a laptop.
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Small Notebook Computers: Who Are They For And How Do They Compare To Desktops?
Small Notebook Computers: Who Are They For And How Do They Compare To Desktops?
Small Notebook Computers are Becoming Increasingly Common
Small notebook computers are the must-have accessory for many college students and business people today. They look cool and are very useful at the same time. Nowadays, many houses are not replete without a mobile wireless notebook computer or two that can be taken all over the house for gaming, homework, email, and even TV and DVD watching. The new influx of smaller notebook computers makes all this easier in that everyone has less weight to tote around. We have learned with cell phones that smaller is not always better, so it is important to know whether or not the small notebook computer you are buying will be able to function in the capacities you require.
In addition, small notebook computers are ideal for those who travel and need to bring their computers with them. A small notebook computer’s edge in both small size and low weight makes it the perfect fit for supreme ease of portability.
Small Notebook Computers Are Smaller and Lighter
To make their overall size smaller, it stands to reason that the components of small notebook computers are much smaller than their desktop or even regular laptop counterparts. Many small notebook computers come with LCD screens that range from ten to eleven inches, although some have screens even smaller than this. Thickness is another factor in a small notebook computer’s overall small-ness. Thicknesses of less than one inch are common in today’s small notebook computer market, which is seeing greater demand than ever.
Many value or desire small notebook computers not only because of their diminutive size, but also because of their significantly lighter weight as compared to regular laptop computers. Small notebook computers tend to range between five and seven pounds, although the lightest model weighs in at a mere three pounds.
Things to Keep in Mind when Considering a Small Notebook Computer
If you are wavering between a small laptop computer and handheld devices such as phones or MP3 players that offer some of their capabilities, keep in mind that screen resolution is far better on computers. This makes browsing the internet, keeping up with email and the like much easier, and in the long run will save you both time and energy.
However, remember that although they are smaller and lighter weight than other laptops, carrying around a small notebook computer still adds weight to your load, especially if you also carry an adapter or an extra battery along with it. In addition, because everything about them is small and light, small notebooks tend to be more fragile than other laptop computers. Also keep in mind that working on a small notebook computer, though vastly easier than trying to perform similar tasks on handheld devices is not quite as convenient as doing them on their larger laptop cousins.
It’s good to know, though, that what small notebook computers may have to sacrifice in durability and ease of use, they make up for in keeping pace with other computers’ hard drive capacities: small notebook computers come with hard drives of 160GB or more. In addition, making sure your small notebook computer is equipped with Bluetooth technology will assure that you’re ready for up-and-coming technology.
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Types Of Notebook Computers
Types Of Notebook Computers
Notebook, notebook computer, laptop, and laptop computer are different terms for a small computer, which is mobile, and weighing about 1 to 6 kg or 2.2 to 18 pounds, depending upon the model. In 1979-1980, Bill Moggridge of GRiD Systems Corp. designed one of the first laptops and named it as the GRiD Compass 1101. It featured the clamshell design where the flat display folded shut on the keyboard. In May 1983, Gavilan Computer Corp. introduced and first marketed as a laptop, known as Gavilan SC. About this same time, Sharp Corp.Ltd., announced their laptop Sharp PC-5000.
In 1989, Compaq introduced Compaq LTE, which was a laptop of a smaller size, about the size of an A4 paper notebook, and it popularly came to be known as a notebook computer or notebook. Thereafter the terms laptop and notebook began to be used interchangeably. Nevertheless, the terms, notebook and laptop are incorrect terms, as due to the heat, many laptops cannot be placed on top of the lap, and most notebooks are not the size of an A4 paper notebook. However, what manufacturers usually call as a notebook, end-users prefer to call it as a laptop; hence both the terms are used.
According to the functions and the models of notebooks, they are generally classified as: Ultraportables (screen is diagonally less than 12 inches, weight is 1.7 kg or less); thin-and lights (screen is diagonally from 12 to 14 inches, weight is from 1.8 to 2.8 kg); medium-sized laptops (screen is diagonally from 14 to 15.4 inches, weight is from 3 to 3.5 kg); and desktop replacement computers (screen is diagonally from 17 to 20 inches, weight is 4 to 6 kg).
The concept of laptop was to make a device that could use the same software of a desktop computer, but much smaller in size to enable mobility and support mobile computing (ability to use the computer while in transit). Thus, further innovations have introduced transportables (which can be moved from one place to another without supporting mobile computing); tablets (which feature touchscreens and support mobile computing); ultra mobile PCs (which are very small and compact tablet PCs); internet tablets (which support internet and mobile computing); personal digital assistants (PDAs), which are pocket-sized and support mobile computing; handheld computers, which represent expensive tablets or PDAs; and smartphone, which is a PDA or a handheld computer with cellphone integration. Over the development phases, these classifications got blurry at times, and many machines fused functionalities of other categories.
Notebooks can be used for various purposes. Commercial purposes like attending phone calls, receiving and sending emails and faxes, typing out letters and printing them, making presentations with pie and bar charts, and taking data from one place to another can be achieved by any standard notebook. However, high fliers prefer thin-and-light notebooks and for regular office work, ultraportable notebooks are preferred. Both are wireless notebooks so they can be remotely accessed. Scientific purposes are best suited with a notebook that features fast computing speed, good 2D and 3D graphics display, and a large memory, like desktop replacement notebook, and a thin-and-light notebook. Artistic purposes require animation, 2D and 3D drawings, interior & exterior designing, arranging music compositions, post-production audio-video work, etc., which can be fulfilled by desktop replacements, gaming notebooks, and mainstream notebooks.
Educational institutions normally do not prefer notebooks due to its high chance of being stolen. Additionally, they prefer that their assets do not move around within the premises in the hands of students who may be careless. However, to keep up with the times, and to be considered as techno-savvy, they do invest in notebooks. The types of notebooks best suited for educational purposes are mainstream notebooks, and desktop replacements. Students need a notebook to do projects, prepare study notes, and to play some games in their spare time. They need to take the notebook wherever they go, hence, size and weight are major considerations. The type of notebook that fulfills student needs is a thin-and-light notebook with locking facility so that they can lock it with their backpack. Most students report late submission of projects due to their notebooks being stolen.
So no matter what the purpose one might have for using a notebook, it seems that mobility will always seem to be the main reason for such a product purchase. Nowadays with so many models being offered with affordable prices, it seems that notebooks will always be a product in demand. After all it is one of the best selling computer hardware for quite some time. And that says it all.
How To Select The Notebook That Meets Your Requirements?
How To Select The Notebook That Meets Your Requirements?
For the past ten years there has been a tremendous growth in the usage of notebook or laptop computers. The impact is that the notebooks are slowly replacing the traditional desktop computers from home as well as from office. There are so many varieties, technologies and brands of notebooks available in the market that it has become very difficult for a regular user to identify the best fit for his or her needs. This article will help you in getting a few tips on how to select the right notebook and make the most out of your investment.
A notebook offers several advantages. The most important being the trouble-free mobility. This is enhanced by the easily available wireless internet connections all over the world. It is very convenient to carry all your work with you anywhere you go. Advancement in technology has brought down the weight and size of the notebooks significantly, making it even more comfortable for a regular user.
What are the things that you should consider before purchasing your notebook? Start with doing an analysis of your needs. Ask questions like: For what purpose will I use this notebook? The answers could include — for internet browsing, chatting, high-end graphic designing, gaming, business or official work, programming, application development, etc. The type of notebook you choose will depend on what you need it for.
When you do your research, make notes on the prices, technical features, configuration, guarantees, and performance that each notebook has to offer. You would need to decide whether you want a notebook from an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or from a brand. It is believed that brand notebooks offer better post-sales service, and guarantee, while OEM notebooks are cheaper and offer the same hardware quality as the brand ones.
If you need a notebook that is small and light and should be carried around easily while you are traveling, go for the ultra-portable range models. These notebooks have screens smaller than 12 inches and weigh up to 5 pounds. Some models of such notebooks include Sony Vaio PCG-U3, Fujitsu Lifebook P1510, Toshiba Libretto U100, Panasonic R4, Dell Latitude X1 and many more.
If you are a business professional looking for a thin and light notebook that offers durability, security and all important features necessary for your office, then you can select from a wide range of business notebooks. These include Apple MacBook, Dell XPS M1210, Sony VAIO FJ, and Dell Latitude and etc.
If you are addicted to gaming you would need a notebook that has the capability to present high-end graphics performance. These would include notebooks with the latest processors, increased RAM and hard disk storage space, faster CPUs, top-of-the line graphic display capability, great wireless connectivity and a host of other compatibility features. Some of the best gaming notebooks include Alienware Aurora, Dell XPS M170, and Rock Xtreme CTX PRO and etc.
If you are looking for just an economic replacement for your desktop and you do not want to spend on a high-end notebook, then you can select from a variety of models offered by Acer, Apple, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba. These notebooks are fashioned to be used at a fixed location and weigh up to 13 pounds, so they are not very convenient if you have to travel a lot. They generally have bigger screen sizes and lower battery life.
Apart from the notebooks mentioned above you can also pick tablet PCs, transportables, high-end personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, or smart phones. These are mobile devices that you can carry with you wherever you go, if mobility is all you are looking for.