Archive for the 'Buying a Laptop' Category

The short answer is: Whichever type fits your laptop. Laptop batteries vary according to the model and type of laptop computer for which they’ve been designed. All laptop batteries do, however, share some common characteristics that differentiate them from regular household batteries:

Laptop batteries are rechargeable
They are composed of multiple internal cells
Within each laptop battery is a small printed circuit board
Shape and location of terminals differ from model to model.

As is the case with all batteries, laptop batteries create an electrochemical reaction, forcing a stream of electrons from one position to another. Also like other batteries, laptop batteries have positive and negative terminals that receive and send electrons.

Rechargeable batteries are more complex, however, than standard batteries. This is because the electrochemical reaction that provides power must be reversible. Care has to be taken when recharging them to ensure they perform at their best.

Frank McLarnon, Lawrence Berkley lab’s staff scientist explains it this way to Scientific American.com:

“When a battery is discharged, an electrochemical oxidation reaction proceeds at the negative electrode, and an electrochemical reduction reaction occurs at the positive electrode. When one attempts to recharge a battery by reversing the direction of electric current flow, the opposite takes place: a reduction reaction proceeds at the negative electrode, and an oxidation reaction takes place at the positive electrode.

In the case of the rechargeable battery, the electrochemical oxidation-reduction reactions are reversible at both electrodes. In the case of the non-rechargeable battery, when one attempts to recharge the battery by reversing the direction of electron current flow, at least one of the electrochemical oxidation-reduction reactions is not reversible. When the battery is charged, the overall reduction reaction that proceeds at the negative electrode may not be the true reverse of the oxidation reaction that proceeded when the battery was discharged.

If the laptop battery process isn’t exact, then unwanted build up can take place on either terminal over time, which can cause a dangerous short-circuit.

It is so important to ensure that your laptop battery or notebook battery is the one designed for your particular model and type. Only buy Dell laptop batteries for a Dell laptop computer, Gateway aren’t compatible with Compaq laptop batteries and Toshiba laptop batteries won’t sit well in a Sony.

It is also wise to remember that old adage: “You get what you pay for.”
Some companies offer used cheap laptop batteries for sale, saying that they have refurbished each battery and restored most of its useful life. The fallacy of this is that, although possible to refurbish a second-hand laptop battery, the cost to do so would be more than the price of a new battery. So, “Buyer beware, and if you must buy discount laptop batteries, buy new discounted batteries.

Laptop computers are a boon to business, large and small. As a wise person is just about to say: Look after your laptop and it will look after you.

Eric Comforth is a consultant who writes on many consumer topics. Learn more about batteries at Battery Right.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Comforth

Consumers in general are still largely unaware of barebones notebooks and the advantages they offer over preconfigured notebooks from the big name manufacturers, including benefits such as unique styling, flexible customization, better reseller support, and superior value overall. After knowing this why would you ever want to purchase another pre-configured notebook? By going with a whitebook notebook you get all the features you want at a lower price point!

Legit Reviews – Building A Whitebox Notebook

Base your purchasing decision on the types of tasks you want to do with your laptop, because these processors were designed for different styles of computing.

Shopping for a Laptop? Choose Agility or Endurance

Used laptops come in two varieties: used and refurbished.

What Are Used Laptops?

Used laptops are those that have been used by a consumer for any length of time and then resold. Even if computers are only one day old, stores cannot sell them as new laptops, they become used laptops.

What Are Refurbished Laptops?

A refurbished laptop is a computer that has been used anywhere from 1 to 90 days, and then returned to the store or manufacturer who then resells it, or repairs and replaces any needed parts in order to sell it. Some of these refurbished computers may be just as good as new computers, but you can get them at a much lower price.

What To Look For When Buying Used:

1. Condition

The first thing that you should look at is the used computer’s condition. It has been recommended to stay away from laptops that are over 3 years old. The system will be outdated and may not be able to run some of the software and programs that are currently available. You may even want to stick to laptops that are less than 18 months old. Refurbished laptops do not have some of these concerns because they are newer and have been repaired and tuned up.

2. Features

The features offered on used laptops are the next important factor you should take under consideration. If you need speed, you need to keep in mind that used laptops run slower than desktops with the same processing systems. Do not buy used laptops with less than 128 MB of memory; it may not be able to run many of the applications and programs that are standard in today’s computers. You can get used laptops that are powered by anywhere from 20 GB to 80 GB depending on your processing and computing needs. The screen size, definition, and resolution are other important issues in laptops. Make sure that the laptop you are looking at has the capabilities to do what you need it to do media and entertainment-wise.

3. Portability

Portability of laptops is also an important issue. Laptops are getting thinner and lighter every day. Does the laptop you are looking at weigh a lot? Make sure you add in the weight of the case and any other accessories you will be carrying.

Remember:

When buying used laptops from a private seller or an acquaintance, be careful. Have the used laptops checked out thoroughly by a neutral party or professional. Every good bargain shopper knows that you can find deals by shopping for pre-owned items. Laptop computers are no exception. Educate yourself on your wants and needs and you will get what you want.

By Margarette Tustle. Find laptop resources for laptop computers at dnalaptop.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margarette_Tustle

How do you get a notebook computer with the functions you need and a price you can afford? I have looked at computer stores and in the Sunday flyers in my local newspaper and while the prices have gone down considerable, notebook computers are still not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. A notebook computer can offer you the chance to work without being tied down to your desk or home office. To get one at a good price, though, takes some research and patience on your part.

First of all, you need to decide what you need in your notebook computer. Most are going to be equipped with office programs, internet access, and other basic computer functions. For most of us, that is plenty. If there is more you need, then you should consult with a professional to find out what exactly it is you need to have on the notebook computer when you go to look for it. With most being similarly equipped, though, you will probably want to find something affordable and reliable.

For affordability, you may want to consider a refurbished computer. Many electronics retailers and even online stores offer these computers. Refurbished notebook computers are one that have been used and are a little older, but have been erased and given fresh memory and programs so that they are basically as good as new. They are generally significantly cheaper than new laptops, but are usually still reliable. Some stores may even offer a limited warranty or guarantee on their refurbished notebook computers.

You can also, if it makes you more comfortable, get yourself a new notebook computer at a decent price by looking around a little bit. Check online first, as many retailers offer their computers online at a discounted price. By shipping it straight to you, rather than one of their physical stores, they are saving a little bit of money and might pass that savings on to you. They will also sometimes begin a closeout online before doing so in the stores. It is a way to get an early jump on removing outdated notebook computers from their national inventory.

Finding a good notebook computer is important to those who want to be able to work, surf the net, and email without being tethered to the office or desk at home. They are however, not a small or cheap purchase. Because of that, you should do some research before buying a notebook computer. Check out refurbished models at your local electronics shop or even online. If you are not comfortable with a used laptop, then consider shopping around online to find closeouts and pre-closeouts available at online retailers who may specialize in notebook computers. Either way, be patient and make sure you find the computer that works for you at a price you can afford and you will not regret your purchase.

If you would like to find more of my personal articles on laptop computers please check out my mobile computing website!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Luck

Ah yes, I want a laptop but I am not going to spend a couple of thousand dollars for one. Well guess what you don’t have to. Laptop prices have come down dramatically over the past year alone and they will continue to do so as technology advances. But the trick here is to find good quality laptops that fit your needs at the cheapest prices available today.

I would say that there probably is a store near you right now that has cheap laptop computers. In fact, many stores already have them. The reason being, like any other new product, laptops were once considered the cream of the crop in the computer world which made them very expensive. However, all that has changed now. Laptops are a dime a dozen! The hand held digital assistants, Bluetooth cell phones and tablet pads are the new rage making laptop computers cheap.

Now, don’t get me wrong, this does not mean that they are cheaply made. Thanks to the wonders of the technological cycle, laptop computers are decreasing in price as their capabilities rise. Of course, there are the latest and greatest monsters out there that are made for gaming or high powered multimedia applications and these babies still cost a pretty penny.

But for the average user, you can find cheap laptop computers that provide all the power you need and then some. Every major manufacturer out there, like Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway, and IBM have their lower end and intermediate models that come with more than enough speed and usability.

Now here is the key to finding the right cheap computer laptop for you, and that is to figure out exactly what you need it for.

Are you going to use it mainly for surfing the web or word processing? Do you need it to work from home or mainly to save your MP3s and digital pictures?

Ok, so now you have an idea of what you want to use your laptop for. Now lets go out shopping and compare. You can visit any of the top manufacturers websites or visit your local store and find their low end or intermediate models that may suit your needs. The three top components of a computer you want to look for is the hard drive size, memory, and processor speeds and take notes of each model you find on each component and model.

The hard drive, you can consider this the brain of your computer, this is where all your files, applications and folders are stored. If you plan on using your computer for MP3s and digital pictures your hard drive should be large since these files are usually very large. I personally would look at 80gb as minimum.

Next would be the memory, memory can be considered the thought processes of your computer. As a minimum I would look at 512mb but if you plan on using your laptop for gaming of course this should be much larger, in the area of 1 to 2gb. Now memory is used whenever a program or application is running. So the more memory you have the faster your computer can process the program.

And finally your processor, now your processor is just that it processes all the inner workings of how each program runs. The faster the processor is, the faster the program instructions are processed. Again if your looking for a laptop for gaming uses you want your processor with high speeds 2ghz or more. For other uses you can go less.

Other parts of the computer to also consider are the ports involved that can connect your computer to your digital camera or your mp3 player for example. You also want to check that your laptop has wireless and broadband connectivity. Many cheap computer laptops today already come with this but you want to make sure or you will have to pay additional, for example, a wireless card to install in your laptop to have this capability.

Your #1 source for free computer and laptop tips and reviews at Best rated laptops and computers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Garry_Allen

While notebook computer prices have come down quite a lot, laptops still range from inexpensive notebook models to high end luxury jobs. Naturally, the notebook you eventually choose to buy will depend on your resources and requirements, but if you are on a budget like so many of us are, you should give some thought to picking up a discount notebook computer.

There are a variety of reasons that a particular model may be discounted and it’s smart to try to find out why. A legitimate retailer should be able to offer a reasonable explanation. Any discount notebook computer should be new and carry a full manufacturer’s warranty. Some specific notebooks may be discounted because they’ve been factory refurbished.

Generally this means they were bought and returned for some reason. Then the factory rebuilt them to original specifications, replacing any damaged or defective parts. Refurbished laptops may be available for even less than discount notebooks. Not everyone is willing to take a chance on a rebuilt notebook, but you might want to consider the fact that these machines have been burned in and the weak parts failed and have been replaced. And they still come with a full warranty.

Manufacturers will often discount models based on closeout of a particular notebook computer. It may not have the latest technology and is being replaced by an upgraded model. Some discounts may be for loss leaders. Often a person will upgrade later to a more expensive model based on brand loyalty or just the comfortable knowledge that the first notebook from XYZ Corp worked well so why not stick with them. A lifetime customer is worth a small loss. Retailers will often discount in order to get rid of excess inventory or prepare for new models.

You do want to make sure you aren’t being given a used notebook disguised as a discounted model. Check the warranty. A used notebook will normally not carry a manufacturer’s warranty and any warranty period may be shorter then the standard new model warranty. Never, ever be afraid to ask hard questions. It’s your money and it’s going to be your data going into the notebook you buy. If you get weak or unsatisfactory answers, evasions or hostility, walk. There’s lots of places to buy notebook computers.

One thing you must do is to analyze your own computer needs before you go looking for a notebook. Exactly what will you be using the machine for most of the time. How important is it to have a really fast machine? Do you need high end graphics? How much disk space do you require? Do you need to read both CDs and DVDs? Do you want to be able to write CDs, DVDs? What kind of sound do you need? How much memory? What other specific features do you want – wireless, networking, floppy disk? Do you plan to carry it around a lot? Then weight may be important. Do you need a long battery life? How about the size of the screen? What will you be comfortable with?

Let me share something you here. I use a refurbished Compaq for nearly everything these days. It’s been incredibly reliable for well over 2 and a half years. I rarely take it anywhere. I have an external keyboard plugged into it and I use an external monitor too. But I use the LCD at the same time. The graphics allow me to spread my desktop over the external monitor and the LCD screen. My visible desktop is over 25 inches. Depending on your graphics, you can do the same thing with a desktop computer, but it takes up a lot more room. Now I feel horribly limited when I have a little 17, 19 or 21 inch desktop. This is, hands down, the absolute best deal I’ve ever made in a computer buy – including all the computers I’ve built myself from scratch.

That was a little off subject, but I’ve found that very few people realize just how useful spreading your desktop over more than one monitor can be in terms of both comfort and productivity. OK, back to the pre-shopping analysis. This kind of analysis sounds tedious because it is. It’s much more fun to just go out and buy on impulse. Unfortunately that’s not a smart thing to do. It sets you up to be seduced by a hot sales pitch for a really neat bleeding edge high end notebook. There are very very few people who actually need that kind of technology.

The reality is that 97 to 99% of the notebook computer buyers could do at least 95% of their typical tasks with the cheapest, slowest notebook on the market. You need to be certain about how much you’re willing to pay to do that remaining 5% a little faster. And if your needs aren’t typical, you probably already have a good idea of just what’s required. The advantage of a discount computer is that you can put some of the money you’ve just saved into more memory, an external hard drive for backup, an additional (big) external monitor, an extra battery, a new printer or whatever additional accessory will make your work easier. And you’ll probably still come out ahead.

We all have a tendency to overestimate our needs – and to want the biggest, fastest, best, coolest whatever. Salesmen know this. After all a discount notebook computer just isn’t as sexy somehow, is it? But let’s be real here, a notebook is to work. It will not get you that really hot lady or that primo guy. In any case, the truly cool people have minions to carry around their stuff and wouldn’t be caught dead lugging around a computer or using one in public.

A little thought, a little rationality, and you can end up with a high quality discount notebook that’s more than sufficient for your needs without even spending your whole budget. Now that is cool.

Copyright 2006 Richard Keir
EzineArticles Expert Author Richard Keir

Richard, a computer professional and writer, has a strong interest in software and computer hardware. Visit Completely Notebooks at http://Completely-Notebooks.net for more on notebook computers and accessories.

Purchasing a laptop computer is not an easy job to do because there are so many important things that should be considered before purchasing. Besides the common things that are shared by desktops such as type of CPU, MHZ of processor, size of RAM, size and type of hard disk, brand and support, there are also things like weight, battery life and connectivity.

You can easily transport your laptop from one location to another because of it’s portability. So make sure that a laptop is suited to your needs, as a desktop computer might be a better option.

Laptop technology is getting more sophisticated every day blurring the line between desktop and laptop in terms of performance. Some high quality laptops have several connectivity options such as wireless network cards (to connect to wireless networks), Centrino technology (internet connectivity almost anywhere) and much more.

Business laptops are generally light and ultra-portable and can be used in daily work, presentations and client liasing. These ultra-portable laptops are both expensive and may not have phenomenal performance but if your needs require maximum portability, this would be the best way to go.

Some laptops offer a storage space of 80 to 100 GIGS hard drives but you can increase the space with an external USB hard drive. Laptops generally need at least 256MB RAM to be able to run certain operating systems. Battery life is an important factor when buying a laptop. The last thing you want is to be in the middle of an important meeting and your laptop dying. The latest models offer 5 or more hours of use depending on what you use it for. Gaming and CPU intensive programs will deplete your battery in a lot less time.

When purchasing a laptop you should always make sure it will fulfill all your needs. If a laptop that fulfills your needs is too expensive then get a desktop. There’s no use buying a laptop that is just going to frustrate you in the end.

For more great technology related articles and reviews visit http://www.technologyslice.com

When planning to buy a cheap laptop computer, you need to consider factors that go well beyond performance and memory. You need to consider many factors like size, weight, screen dimensions, battery life, keyboard quality, built-in memory, and also certain other options like wireless connectivity.

Let us now consider some key features you need to consider when buying your laptop.

•Processor: Choosing the right processor is a very important task because the processor determines how quickly a laptop can run applications and perform on-screen tasks. Don’t settle for anything less than 1.4 GHz. This is enough for everyday work-word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail etc. Pentium M processors are good for this purpose. These processors are fast and allow for long battery life.

•System memory: The more memory your laptop has, the more applications you can run at once and the better your laptop will perform. Do not settle for anything less than 128 MB. However note that upgrading memory in laptops is not as easy as in the case of desktop computers.

•Screen size: The size of a laptop’s LCD screen is quoted as a diagonal measurement. The larger the screen, the higher the maximum resolution and the more information you can view at once. For cheap laptops, choosing a 12.1 inches screen is a good option.

•Battery: Thanks to the Pentium M processors. Laptops now have very good battery life when compared to the old ones. Battery life in the units equipped with these chips range roughly from 3 to 7 hours. Choosing a lithium ion rechargeable battery is a good option.

•Hard drive: The larger the hard drive, the more data you can keep on your laptop. For a cheap laptop, it is better to choose hard drives with 20GB or 40GB capacity depending on the usage.

•Keyboard: Laptop keyboards are quite different from the keyboards we use with the desktop computers. The keys are quite small and closely packed. Get hands-on with the laptop keyboard before you actually buy it.

•Pointing device: Opt for a touchpad or pointing stick built into the laptop. This is much more useful than connecting a mouse via a USB port.

•Optical drives: Many manufacturers offer laptops with re-writable DVD drives. However for a budget laptop, a single CD-RW drive is more than sufficient.

•USB ports: Two USB ports are enough for a budget laptop. If you need much more ports, you can always use an external USB hub. A hub usually consists of four or more USB ports and connects to one of your laptop’s USB ports.

•Weight: Your laptop should weigh anywhere between 4 and 10 pounds. If you still want to reduce weight, use can use external floppy and CD drives.

•Communications: Do not opt for serial ports, PS/2 ports and infrared ports as they are becoming rare. Opt for a built-in Ethernet instead.

You’ll probably spend a lot of time with your new laptop. Therefore research a lot before buying any particular brand. Check for user’s stories, consumer opinions, reviews and more. This will help you to get your dream laptop at a low cost.

Robert Scheer researches and writes about laptop and notebook computers for http://www.best-cheap-laptops.com

Buying a laptop? Want to upgrade your old one with a new hard drive? Besides hard drive’s space size for storing your applications, documents, music, movies and other data, you should also pay attention to its speed performance. If you want fast access to stored data on your laptop’s hard disk, you should purchase hard disk with SATA interface, higher rotational speed and larger buffer cache size.

Buy Laptop with SATA Drive

Serial ATA (SATA) hard drives use less power, so they save your laptop’s battery. But, they also enchase your laptop’s speed performance. Most hard drives usually support ATA/66 (66 MB/sec), Ultra ATA/100 (100 MB/sec), or SATA (150 MB/sec) interfaces. The numbers refer to the maximum burst rate at which the drive can pass data to the system (66, 100, or 150 megabytes per second). SATA transmit data in a serially (in a single stream) as opposed to PATA or Parallel ATA which is commonly referred to as an IDE hard drive.
(Note: You must have SATA support on laptop’s motherboard to enjoy SATA speed)

Check the Hard Drive Rotational Speed

Don’t forget to check the hard drive rotational speed! The hard drive rotational speed tells you how fast the drive spins its disks in revolutions per minute (rpm). A higher rpm means higher drive performance. A 7,200 rpm hard drive is faster than a 5,400 rpm or 4,200 rpm and gives better performance.

Larger Buffer Cache Size – Better Performance

Buffer Cache Size is a temporary data storage area used to enhance drive performance. When the computer requests data from the hard disk if that data is in the cache, there is a performance boost directly related to the speed of the cache. Larger buffer cache size usually results in better hard drive performance. Buffer cache size on the most of laptop’s hard drives is usually 2 MB, 4 MB or 8 MB.

Written by Danijel Zivkovic.