Laptop Buying Advise For Students

Now we know every student -including thesis-writing graduate students-needs a laptop. Sure tablets come in handy when taking notes in class or doing quick research. But if you want that term paper done, you need a real keyboard, screen and operating system - and you can only get that from a laptop. Here is some laptop buying advise for you students out there.


Go Portable
Try to go portable  as much as possible. Sure, 15 inch laptops are a lot cheaper. But if you're the type who's constantly on the move, you'd be better off going with 11-14 inch laptops since they weigh under 5 pounds and make for easy travel to and from class.Even if  you're a high school student  with a preference for 15 inch laptops sitting on your desk. But even you, at some point would want to move it from one end of the house to the other.

Go For Look and Feel
You'd  be well advised to go for look and feel - or premium design. Why?  because you  most definitely want to be seen to be carrying something sleek,  not a huge clunk. Not only must your laptop look and feel good, but it must feel like it is  built to last.  Go for a design that has a carbon fiber or aluminium lid as it will protect the screen display and help put up resistance to wear and tear during your years at school.

Get Specs  That Will Last
If you want your laptop to last  till graduation, then you need to get a laptop whose specs will help your laptop last up until your graduation.. Here are some key  specs to consider while searching for your laptop. 

CPU
The CPU is absolutely key in a laptop's fight for survival as it helps the laptop battery experience more battery life. If you're looking to save money,  a third generation Intel Core processor should suffice. But  Stay away from Celeron and pentium processors if you 're into multitasking as they're too slow to be of any help to you..

Memory
Speaking of memory, 4 GB should be enough help you complete your class assignments, But if you can find a reasonably cheap laptop with 6-8 GB, by all means go for it. This will come in handy especially for those of you studying graphic design and other multimedia arts.

Storage
A notebook's storage  is just as critical as that of the CPU.  You may think that Solid State Drives are more expensive, but they do up the game of your laptop. So you may want to consider getting a laptop that has such a system.

If you want a typical traditional hard drive, get one that operates at 7200 rpm or a minimum of 500 GB.  Also a flash drive of 16 or 24 GB should also help your laptop's performance.

Touch Screen Hybrid Anyone?
Getting a  touch  screen hybrid would most certainly enhance your student experience, especially when taking notes in class. . You experience the full touch screen experience where you bend your hybrid laptop into multiple positions, allowing you to use the device as a laptop or tablet.  

Battery Life Must be 5-6 Hours
When you need to meet that term paper deadline,  or go to class, you need a laptop whose battery can help you plug in..Battery life of at least  5-6 hours is  an absolute must.

Pick  Solid Keyboard and Touchpad
You'd do well to pick a solid keyboard and touchpad if you'want to type those term reports  done on time.Your keyboard must have enough spring in its mojo for you to accomplish your academic objectives instead of  giving you that creaky attitude.Oh! and the touchpad is just as important. Multi-touch gestures like pinch-to-zoom and two finger roll must be responsive enough to make your experience less stressful, and the buttons must be easy to press and not too stiff.

That's a wrap for "How To Shop For A Laptop On The Cheap." If you re looking to purchase a 15.4  inch    laptop  for your graphic design business  head on to  Amazon.com.

Specs to Look For In A Laptop For Graphic Design

If you are a graphic designer or are interested in graphic designer, this post is for you. I'm sure some of you must be wondering what specs to look for in a laptop for your graphic design projects. You're probably  in a flux because you have an idea of your ideal laptop but you'r not sure how to go about choosing it.Well, let me help you cut out the confusion and show you specifically the specs you need for your ideal laptop

Screen Size Is Absolutely Crucial

Screen size is absolutely crucial  for graphic design as it determines whether you achieve job satisfaction or not. . The accepted screen size for a laptop for graphic design is 15.4 inches or higher which should give you  enough width to view your designs..Anything less than 15.4 inches and  it may come back to haunt you.  Also, portability is not that vital  since 15.4 inches laptops are meant for use at home or in the office.

Screen Resolution Just As Important

Screen resolution is just as important as screen size where  graphic design is concerned.  The standard screen resolution is 1366 x 768 although some go as high as You want your screen to be wide enough to fit two browsers side by side. Also when working with graphic design software such as Photoshop, you want your toolbars sitting off to the side , leave you enough room to view your graphics. Consequentially,, the toolbars end up looking small as a result of the wide resolution..

Dedicated Graphics Card Is The Way To Go
A dedicated graphics card is the way to go for effective graphic design. A dedicated graphics card has its own fixed RAM and doesn't share resources with the main system, and cause your laptop to crawl like a turtle. Even more important, it makes your graphic design software run that much faster. The size of a graphics card should be 128 or 256 MB. nVidia GeForce and ATI Radeon come highly recommended as far as dedicated  graphics cards are concerned.

Don't Get Stingy With RAM
Don't get stingy with RAM when doing graphic design. The lesser the RAM, the poorer the quality of your graphics. 4 GB  is the standard as far as RAM goes, and  you can then upgrade it later on if you so  choose.

Any Intel Duo Processor Will Do.
Any Intel Duo processor will do as far as processors go. However, you do not want anything to do with Intel Celeron processors. . Celerons will slow down your laptop which you sure don't want , especially if you have a deadline to meet.

Make sure Your Laptop Has A Built-In Camera
Make sure your laptop has a built-in camera for video and voice-chatting. It is useful for video conferencing with clients and associates. And you don't need to use your cell phone that much since the camera acts as a speaker phone as well.

That's a wrap for "How To Shop For A Laptop On The Cheap." If you re looking to purchase a 15.4  inch    laptop  for your graphic design business  head on to  Amazon.com.

Shopping For A Laptop ForTravel

It's common knowledge that  laptop manufacturers sell laptops with travellers in mind. By travelers I refer to those constantly on the go, be it by air, by bus , car, the beach,, maybe an isolated cave, e.t.c.  Sure, laptops are not meant to leave the house, but the reality is our environment forces us to to be on the move 24/7. We have business deals to seal , appointments to make, presentations to present, e.t.c. And in order to accomplish these, we need to have our laptops with us. They've literally become our companions.

If you happen to be a constant traveller  or some one on the go, here are some essential features to consider when shopping for a laptop For travel.

Durable Battery

A durable battery is absolutely crucial when it comes to travel...You want to make sure your laptop battery lasts as long as your journey whether by air or by road. The hitch here is finding how long the battery lasts. If you're a gaming junkie you're not going to get much out of your laptop battery as you're only going to get 3 hrs out of your battery . But if you run less intrusive software like Microsoft Office, you should get a laptop that can give you 8 hours of battery power..

Display Size 

Display size is also important   as it determines whether you have fun with your laptop on the road or not. Sure a 15.6 inch laptop is popular because it's huge and covers a lot of screen real estate. But there is no way you can fly first class carrying such a huge beast, not to mention a bus or a train.  You'd be better off going with 12.1-13.3 inch laptop instead. It's easier to operate in tight spaces and requires a mall bag to hold them, reducing the size of the carry-on.

Matte Coat Or IPS Display

The type of display on your laptop could also  make or break your laptop experience on your travels. Make sure your display is compliant with your environment be, be it in the air or on the bus. With that in mind, the two types of laptops displays you should consider when shopping for a laptop are matte coat or IPS display. Matte coat display is popular among travellers because it's able to withstand direct sunlight and interior lighting.  More so especially when you're on a plane and facing sunlight.

An IPS display will also come in handy especially when viewing from wide angles. These viewing angles make reading text less stressful especially when standing above or to the side of the laptop. This trait comes in real handy especially when collaborating with co-workers on projects on the road.

Durability

Sadly laptops are not built to last long as they scratch easily and can't prevent damage when it crashes to the ground  since majority of them have the glossy make. But if you want a durable travel laptop, make sure  it has features such as metal display hinges, shock mounted hard drives, and spill-resistant keyboards. Speaking of keyboards:

Quality keyboard

A quality keyboard  makes  for improved productivity and reduced frustration on your travels.  Look for a laptop whose keyboard is almost as wide as the laptop itself to help you meet that pressing deadline.. Also pay attention to the size of alpha-numeric keys such as Backspace and Shift, as they make it easy to skimp around the keyboard.

Ports

Make sure your laptop has at least two USB ports so you can connect to the latest external hard drives and transfer data quickly. Unfortunately many small laptops have only one slot for headphones and microphone jacks. This becomes problematic especially when you want to use your webcam since you have to use both at the same time. If you're the type who does recording on the go, this is something to think about.

Weight

The weight of laptops  vary with the heaviest weighing 4 pounds and the lightest at 2 pounds. As a traveler you'd be better off getting a lighter laptop as it takes little effort to pick up or slide along the surface.  If you think size doesn't matter, but it does, especially when you have to carry your laptop for hours in a day.

Wireless Connectivity

You absolutely must have wireless connectivity if you're on the go. Without WI-FI, how do you expect to connect with the outside world, especially your clients and business associates?  Your laptop must have an in-built WI-FI card with an 802.11n as the standard channel.  You can also buy a laptop with 3G compatibility especially when WI-FI is unavailable. This will help you connect to your mobile data plan and use it while on the go.

So to summarize, here are the specs  for a travel laptop

 Battery Life: At Least 8 hrs
Display Size :12-13.3 inches
Display Type: Matte coat or IPS
Durability:  Metal display hinges, shock mounted hard drives, and spill-resistant keyboards
Quality keyboard: Almost as wide as the laptop
Ports:  At least two USB ports
Weight: 2-4 pounds
Wireless Connectivity: In-built WI-FI card with  802.11n  channel.

That's a wrap for "Shopping For A Laptop For Travel." If you re looking to purchase a laptop For travel , head on to  Amazon.com.

Shopping For A Multimedia Laptop

If you're looking for a multi-functional laptop that  allows you to watch movies, do video editing, and play games, then a multimedia laptop is the laptop for you.  Multimedia laptops are usually mid-sized but pack considerable power. You can carry them from room to room, but you sure don't want them as road companions  because of their  huge bulk. Here are the features you look for when shopping for a multimedia laptop

Super Powerful Processor and Speedy RAM
Your multimedia laptop must surely be equipped with a super powerful processor. You do not want time delays or shaky pictures to ruin your enjoyment of your 3D. Ideally you want either Intel's Core i5 processor or AMD Athlon II powering your your laptop. And you most certainly need  considerable speedy RAM to help things for you. Speedy RAM will most certainly come in handy especially when you decide to have several programs open once. At least 6GB of RAM should help speed things up. However, if you decide to go for Intel's in chips(or quad core processor), then you will have to go for a much bulkier laptop with a RAM size of between 8-16 GB.

Reliable Storage
If you're planning to keep a substantive multimedia collection, then you need reliable storage. a 500 MB with A USB 3.0 or better-Thunderbolt ports for fast external drives - is the barest minimum for storing a multimedia collection. But if you want to get blazingly fast you can go for 256 GB solid state drive plus a 1 TB drive for data , If you want  ultimate pleasure from enjoying HD movies, then your multimedia laptop must come with a blu-ray drive. If you want to let your creative juices flow, then make sure your blu-ray drive comes with a burner , allowing you to master your own disks.

Screen Size, Resolution and Integrated Graphics
The traditional screen  size of most multimedia-laptops is between 14-16 inches. But like I mentioned earlier, they don't make great road companions because of their huge bulk. So you are only limited to carrying it from room to room within your home or office.  

But a  huge screen resolution is an absolute necessity especially if you're watching HD movies. The sweet spot for most multimedia laptops is 1080p( 1,920 x1080). If you plan on watching a movie  or a video with friends  then you need an IPS panel that helps reduce clarity or color fadeout when viewing the screen from an an angle.

Connectivity
If you plan on connecting your laptop to a HDTV your laptop must have an HDMI port. Your laptop must also be equipped with Intel's Wireless Display(or WiDi), equipped with an external adapter, to be able to beam the audio  and audio onto the HDTV set. 

Sound
This what makes the multimedia experience- the mixing of hardware and software. For the software make sure your laptop offers features such as presets for music and movies, surround sound effects, and equalizers to fine-tune the audio. As far as speakers go the standard is Klispch with Dolby Home Theatre. You may also want to consider subwoofers, specialized speakers which help control the bass sound.

So to summarize, here are the specs to look for when shopping for a multimedia laptop

Processors: Intel's Core i5 processor or AMD Athlon II
Memory: At Least 6GB or 8-16 RAM if you want to go for a quadcore processor.
Graphics Card: Must be integrated although lower end dedicated graphics such as Radeon HD 2400 and nVidia GeForce 8400M are also popular.
Storage:500 MB with A USB 3.0 or better-Thunderbolt ports for fast external drives, 56 GB solid state drive plus a 1 TB drive for data( if you want more speed).
Optical Drive: Multi-format DVD burner(DVD+RW)(if you want to burn DVD's or  DVD-ROM/CD-RW(If  you want to burn CD's only).
Weight:3 pounds (ultraportable) to 7 pounds(desktop replacement)

Wireless Connectivity:WI-FI card  with 802.11a, g, and Draft N wireless standards.
Screen Size:14-16 inches
Screen Resolution: 1080p( 1,920 x1080)
Connectivity:  HDMI port Intel's Wireless Display(or WiDi), equipped with an external adapter, to be able to beam the audio  and audio onto the HDTV set
Sound:  Presets for music and movies, surround sound effects, and equalizers to fine-tune the audio. For speakers,  the standard is Klispch with Dolby Home Theatre. You may also want to consider subwoofers, specialized speakers which help control the bass sound


That's a wrap for "How To Shop For A Laptop On The Cheap." If you re looking to purchase a 14-16 inch  multimedia   laptop  head on to  Amazon.com.

How To Shop For A Laptop On The Cheap

Shopping for a laptop can be an overwhelming experience especially when  money is tight.  Cutting down on your budget could mean missing out on those awesome features and components  that could come in handy for your laptop. At the same time buying  a laptop  that has too many features could cause you to go over budget. The good news is that it's possible to buy a laptop without sacrificing crucial features that you need for your laptop. And you can afford to do basic tasks like email, web browsing and basic office needs. Let me show show you what to look for when shopping for a laptop on the cheap.

Dual Core Processors

Most low budget laptops come with dual core CPU'S like Intel Core's i3 or Core Duo 2 and AMD's A4 processors. you get longer life, better performance, and cooler temperatures. You could save a little money by opting for lower clock speeds which  produce enough power to handle most  operating systems.  

You Can't  Afford To Be Frugal About Memory

You may be on  a tight budget, but you cannot afford to be frugal about the amount of memory on your budget laptop.  Because inadequate memory can drastically compromise the overall performance of your laptop.Your laptop should have at least 2GB of RAM although 4GB would be even better. The more RAM you have, the more laptop and operating system performs better.

Laptop Must Be Equipped  With Integrated Graphics

If you're a  casual gamer your budget laptop must be equipped  with integrated graphics card  as opposed to dedicated graphics. Budget laptops with lower ended  dedicated graphic chips such as Radeon HD 2400 and nVidia GeForce 8400M may not have the highest resolutions, but they pack 128 or 256MB of  dedicated video RAM. This is quite appropriate for casual gaming.

The More  Storage The Better

With laptops, the more storage you can afford, the better, especially if  you have a huge media collection. Budget laptops are no different.  Some low costing laptops have hard drives as huge as 500MB.  At the same time you also have low-cost budget laptops with hard drive speeds in the region of 5,400rpm and 7,200rpm.However, you can also opt for budget laptops with SSD's or Solid State Drives. They offer faster boot time, lower weight and resistance to shock. The  popular drive size is 8GB.

Optical Drive

If you want to burn DVD's go for a budget laptop with a multi-format DVD burner(DVD+RW). If you have no use for burning DVD's then go for a budget laptop with a DVD-ROM/CD-RW. This burns only CD's.  

Weight

In terms of size weight budget laptops spun from 3 pounds(ultraportable) to 7 pounds(desktop replacement). What size you choose depends on your need for portability. A word of caution though:the plastic cases of budget laptops aren't the most durable. Although a lot of laptop cases look greyish, other low-cost laptops also spot exciting variety of colors and designs.

Wireless Connectivity

Wireless connectivity is an absolute necessity to have on your budget laptop. Make sure your budget laptop is equipped with a WI-FI card  with 802.11a, g, and Draft N wireless standards. Budget laptops typically do not include bluetooth connectivity although manufacturers give you the option of adding it.

Screen Size

Although the average screen size of budget laptops range between 14.1 and 15.4 inches, notebook screen sizes  can range from 7 inches to 17 inches.. Most displays come with a glossy coating which makes for better viewing when watching . If you want to do video conferencing, make sure your screen comes with a built-in webcam . OR you can opt for a system  with a webcam built into its display bezel.

So to summarize, here are the specs to look for when shopping for a budget laptop

Processors: Intel Core i3 or Duo 2, AMD A4
Memory: At Least 2GB(But 4GB is the norm)and 128/256MB of  dedicated video RAM.
Graphics Card: Must be integrated although lower end dedicated graphics such as Radeon HD 2400 and nVidia GeForce 8400M are also popular.
Storage:500 MB for standard hard drives, with speeds of 5,400rpm and 7,200rpm  of  8GB for SSD's.
Optical Drive: Multi-format DVD burner(DVD+RW)(if you want to burb DVD's or  DVD-ROM/CD-RW(If  you want to burn CD's only).
Weight:3 pounds (ultraportable) to 7 pounds(desktop replacement)

Wireless Connectivity:WI-FI card  with 802.11a, g, and Draft N wireless standards.
Screen Size:Average screen size is 14.1 - 15.4 inches although they can also range from can range from 7 inches to 17 inches

That's a wrap for "How To Shop For A Laptop On The Cheap." If you re looking to buy a cheap  laptop  head on to Amazon.com.

Shopping For A Laptop Hybrid Online

Laptop hybrids(or convertible laptops) have become very popular these days.  Wanna know why? Because they double up as both a laptop and a tablet. if you have a pressing project deadline , you can always roll out the keyboard  and touchpad and run your desktop programs.  If you want to kick back and play games,  check your facebook wall, and other touch-based apps, then go into slate mode. But how do you know which specs to look out for when shopping for a laptop hybrid? Let me show you what to look for.

Screen Size

With laptop hybrids, the smaller the screen size, the easier it is to carry around. For those who prefer to use tablets first, I'd say go for 10 inch 2-in-, but if you are productivity minded, 13 inch or larger is a better option.   But with the 15 inch hybrids, the tablet is more of a bonus than anything else.

Don't Compromise on Screen Resolution
Absolutely don't compromise on screen resolution when looking for hybrids. For great screen resolutions are all part of the hybrid experience.   most affordable hybrids have 1366 x 768-pixel displays. But if you want sharper focus, 1600 x 900 or full HD (1920 x 1080-pixel) screens is the standard. You enjoy better image quality and you can multitask three open windows side by side.

Some hybrids have screens going as  high as 2560 x 1440 pixels. They deliver more screen detail for high definition photo-editing applications. The only hitch being that icons are difficult to target on desktops. In that case, get a quad HD panel with a larger display size.

Do You Want a Detachable, Slider, Or Flexible Design?

The advantage of buying a laptop hybrid is that it's not a one size fits all. With laptop hybrids, different models offer different benefits for shoppers. A detachable is perfect if you want to have the option of leaving the keyboard behind. The tablet portion is attached to a base which holds the keyboard, and in some cases a secondary battery. Other hybrids allow you to flip the screen display around the keyboard, making easier to change from laptop to tablet mode.  Or  if you want to catch a movie or two, or give a presentation,  you can set the hybrid in presentation mode . 

Hybrids with slider design make it even more easier to transform from laptop to tablet mode. Why? Because they are thinner than more traditional convertibles.  However, hybrids with  this type of design  do give up  keyboard and touchpad space

The Right Processor
Most hybrids are packed with Intel's fourth generation processor.  A Core i3 chip will be great for everyday tasks, but if you want more juice, speed and long battery life, a Core i5 chip will do the trick. But if your budget is tight, get a laptop hybrid powered by an Atom Intel processor, preferably the latest Blay chip.

RAM And (Solid State Drive)

RAM: Most convertible laptops come function with at least 4 GIG of RAM(6 GIG is much better).  

SSD(Solid State Drive):  an SSD(or Solid State Drive) will be of great benefit to your laptop hybrid for two reasons. First it absorbs contact and seconds it boosts great speed in the manner in which it puts your hybrid from resume to speed instantly. But if  your budget is a bit tight you go for a combination deal where you have a laptop hybrid  whose hybrid drive links up with a standard hard drive(500MB) with some flash cache. Anything less than that and your laptop hybrid's responsiveness is compromised.



So to summarize, here are the specs to look out for when shopping for a laptop hybrid(or convertible laptop:

Screen size:  tablet first- 10 inch, productivity only 13 inch or bigger. 
Screen Resolution:1366 x 768-pixels displays(most affordable) or 1600 x 900 or full HD (1920 x 1080-pixel) screens for better image quality.
Design:Detacher, Slider, or Flexible
Processor:Core i3(for general tasks) Core i5(For better speed  and long battery life). or Atom Intel processor(Blay Chip).
RAM:At least 4GB(6GB is better)
Hard Disk:SSB(128MB) or hybrid drive combining  standard hard drive(500MB).with flash cache.

That's a wrap on "Shopping For A Laptop Hybrid Online"  If you're looking for a laptop hybrid to purchase, buy one at Amazon.com.

Shopping For a General -Purpose Laptop

You're shopping for a laptop when you say to yourself" I'm not looking for anything fancy. Heck, I could care less for any of the sound effects that today's pricey laptops have to offer. I just want a laptop that offers value for money, has a few key features, and if it can provide a little extra, so much better. I also require some   portable that I can carry with me on the road that can permit me to do the following: watch a movie, play games to kill time, surf the web check and write emails, and juggle work documents."  My friend, what you've just described is a general-purpose laptop. . General purpose-laptops allow you to do a bit of every thing, like I listed above. It doesn't have to be overly expensive, but functional enough to allow me to multitask. So if you're looking  for ways of shopping f or a general-purpose laptop, let me show you the features to look for in your search for the laptop.

CPU
You need  a laptop that can give you a decent performance. Of course it shouldn't be too difficult to find a laptop that gives you decent video playback and run office applications at the same time - not to mention occasional gaming as a while. As far as  CPU's go, it shouldn't cost you too much finding a laptop whose CPU gives a decent performance. Intel and AMD are the CPU'S of choice  making the most noise. Make sure your prospective laptop is equipped with either of these 

RAM
If you want your all- purpose laptop to perform at its optimum best, then  it must have a generous amount of RAM. The standard amount of RAM for most general-purpose tops is 4 GB.

Discrete GPU
If you're ever in the mood to watch a movie or casual gaming,  get an all-purpose laptop with a discrete GPU or graphics card.  a GPU can make or break your multi-media experience so choose carefully while searching for your laptop.

Screen Size /Resolution
For most general purpose laptops, the sweet spot for screen size for most laptops varies between 13 -16 inches depending on your specific needs. But most people prefer 14 inch laptops as they're roomy enough to accommodate video plus they're easy to carry around.  However, you'd do well to consider the resolution as well when shopping for your general-purpose laptop. Your laptop's resolution shouldn't be too low such that you can't read the  text on your screen.Make sure your screen resolution is 720p (pixels) especially where video images are concerned.

Battery life
If you're going to carry your laptop around a lot, then  get a laptop whose battery life lasts at least 4-6 hrs per single charge. Also, make sure your battery is  high capacity to last you for the long haul.

Optical  Drive
if you want to burn DVD's or your laptop should come with a DVD burner. Also, if you  have a huge craving for high definition flicks(movies), Blu-Ray disc is the format of  choice.

Connectivity
For connectivity purposes, your general purpose laptop must have 3 -4 USB ports for external devices. If you're bent on connecting with the outside world, you need a webcam,  headphone jacks, VGA ports and ethernet jacks.  And  your general -purpose laptop must  come with in-built WI-FI -  No exceptions....The standard WI-FI channel for most laptops is 802.11n.

Extras
You will most certainly need HDMI (HIGH Definition Video) and eSATA port for high data transfers. Even more beneficial is a VGA port, especially if you have to make projector presentations.

So to summarize here are the specs for a general-purpose laptop.

CPU(or Processor):Must be Intel or AMD
GPU(or Graphics Card):Must be discrete
RAM:4 GB
Screen Size:13-16 inches(depending on needs)
Resolution:720p(pixels
Battery Life:4-6 hrs -battery must be high capacity.
Optical Drive:DVD Burner(for burning DVD's) or Blu-Ray Disc(movies)
Connectivity:3-4 USB ports(external devices),webcam(connecting with outside world), headphone jacks, VGA ports(presentations). ethernet jacks WI-FI(inbuilt)

Extras:HDMI, ESATA(High data transfers)VGA


That's a wrap on "Shopping For a General -Purpose Laptop"  If you're looking for a laptop that helps you to multitask, purchase one at Amazon.com

Choosing A Laptop For Your Business

You need a laptop for your business-no question about that. Without a laptop you can't communicate on the web , not to mention, your suppliers and customers.    These days  laptops have transformed the mobile work force. A lot of business professionals and owners, (or Road Warriors) now carry their laptops wherever they go  to communicate with clients online, complete projects and so on.   But make no mistake, business laptops have something to offer. The model you choose could make or break your business.  But how do you know which features to look for in your prospective business laptop.Let's look at the features you need to consider when choosing a laptop for your business online.

Laptop Form/Size

The laptop form/size comes is absolutely crucial as the type that you need depends on how you want to use. Laptops come in different sizes ranging from an 11.6 netbook to a 17.3 desktop replacement. If you travel a lot(and I'm sure a lot of you do),  a 12 inch ultraportable laptop or 13.3-14 inch mainstream laptop will suit your your purposes.  Or if you want a laptop that simply sits on your desk permanently I suggest the 17.3 desktop replacement.

How Much Processor Power Will I Need?

The next question you should ask yourself is"How Much Processor Power Will I Need?" Most business laptops use Intel's  dual-core processors,  and  the ideal processor series for most business laptops is the Intel core i3-i5 series or AMD E series or A series APU's.  However, if you want to install applications that drink a lot of juice, go for  Intel's quad-core processors such as  i5/i7s and AMD A series.

However. if you prefer thin ultraportable laptops make sure their processors have low voltage which will help extend the laptop's battery life.- which is usually 8-9 hrs. Although )  desktop replacements have high-powered processors they have very low battery life because of the excessive energy the battery produces.

RAM Size
For a business laptop you'll need at least 4 GB of RAM . If you're in to graphics or spread sheets, your RAM size goes up to 8 GB if you want to meet your deadlines. The right amount of memory helps you in so many ways like open more programs and perform multi-media tasks  such photo editing.  If you want a laptop with integrated graphics, or you prefer opening multiple tabs on your browser, then you need  more than 2 GB of extra memory, especially for the graphics since it eats  up a lot of memory.

Spacious Hard Drive
Your business laptop should have a spacious hard drive to store your video files, PowerPoint slides, staff meeting photos' e.t.c.  For great economy and space,a 500-700 GB hard drive should suffice.  You may want to consider a laptop equipped with a Solid State Drive(SSD).   It may be  more expensive and a bit less on storage but it absorbs impact better than your traditional hard disk. And they boot faster and launch applications faster.

Integrated Graphics
Your business laptop must come with integrated graphic cards by either Intel, AMD, or Nvidia. Integrated graphics are great only if you don't play 3D games on your laptop.  Installing games on your system will be a sure way of making your system unstable.You don't want your moneymaking laptop breaking down on you this way.  But if you re into Photoshop, high definition video, 3D graphic visualization, used  computer-aided design(CAD), or architectural you''ll need a laptop with discrete  graphics.

Stay Connected With Wireless Connection
If you want to stay in business with your laptop, you have to stay stay connected with wireless internet connection.   your laptop must have in-built WI-FI  to allow you to surf the web. However, if you're surfing outside the house, you need to find an interruption-free hotspot to achieve that objective.

Long Battery Life
You most certainly need a laptop blessed with long battery life..This will come in handy especially on a long flight or road commute. The battery should last 6-8 hours daily and must be removable too.

Security
Security is absolutely crucial as you do not want your  company secrets falling into the wrongs..However, if you have nothing important to hide don't overbuy. But if you do, here are some  security features to consider when shopping for your business laptop,

Trusted Platform Module - Trusted Platform Module (Or TPM) is a discrete chip that helps lock down your laptop and secure encryption through hardware encryption, keys and passwords. With a little help from your BIOS , the TPM locks your laptop' hardware configuration.

Bitlocker - This chip will be encrypted at the C:drive of  your laptop. It comes with operating systems such as Windows 7 or Ultimate Enterprise and can work alone or together TPM.

Self-Encrypting Drive(SED) - This drive does its its own hardware encryption although it relies on the TPM or BIOS for a password.

Biometric Fingerprint Scanner -  The biometric scanner comes even more handy in that unlike passwords they cant be hacked. So if anybody tries stealing your data, he can easily be traced.

Smart Card - The Smart Card is probably the most secure of the laptop lockdown gadgets..Just remember to remove it after you lock down your laptop.

VGA and HDMI
VGA and HDI ports are an absolute must for quality presentations. Adding DisplayPort  will help you utilize HDI and VMI with the use of adapters.

Data Ports
You will most certainly need data ports on your hard drive to offload huge amounts of data on your external hard drives. If you 're dealing with huge data, an eSATA or USB. 3.0 port will help things up a bit. USB 2.0 will also do just fine.

SDHC/MMC
 If your business is dependent on photos and video, the SDHC/MMC slot is a an absolute must-have. If you're bent on getting a Sony laptop, a memory stick or MS would be appropriate as Sony uses proprietary formats.

Bluetooth
Bluetooth comes in real handy when you you want to use your cell phone as a  wireless connection to get sync addresses to your laptop. Bluetooth also helps leverage your bluetooth headset for social media such as skype, and it also allows you to connect your phone to your laptop and use the phone's data.

So here is a summary of specs for your business laptop:

Screen Size:11-14 inch(for portability) 17.3 inch(Acting as desktop).
Processor: i3-i5 series, AMD E series or A series(ideal for most business laptops)
RAM:4GB, 8GB(If you are into graphics or use  spreadsheets).
Hard Drive:SSB  or standard 500-700GB drive
Integrated Graphics:AMD, or Nvidia graphic cards
Connectivity:in-built WI-FI, VGA and HDI ports(presentations),DisplayPort(to enhance VGA and HDI), data ports(Data transfer), Blue Tooth
Battery Life:6-8 hrs daily and  battery muxt be removable.
Security:Trusted Platform Module (Or TPM), Bitlocker, Self-Encrypting Drive(SED),  Biometric Fingerprint Scanner



That's a wrap on "Choosing A Laptop For Your Business"  If you're looking for a laptop for your business, purchase one at Amazon.com

Specs To Look For When Shopping For A Gaming Laptop

Gaming laptops are perfect for 3D buffs who like to get their game on.  Majority of gaming laptops are 15- 17.3 inches in screen size, although lately 11-14 inch sizes are gaining in popularity.  Regardless of the size, all these models have one thing in common  -brutal speed and raw power.  gaming technology has  been gotten faster thanks to new platforms and revised performance benchmarks.Also,   Gaming laptops' brutal speed  have been enhanced by powerful components capable of pulling off serious frame rates and showing off impressive design. Although  gaming laptops have been left behind by tablets, and convertibles. they've stayed true to their mantra- raw speed. They're all about providing exciting thrills and spills for their users. Let me show you the specs to look for when shopping for a gaming laptop.

Graphics Card

The graphics card is the show  piece of gaming laptops. They help generate all those exciting pictures  for your games. The graphic card  can make or break your gaming experience. If it's not up to scratch, your games won't play.  Also make sure that your graphics card isn't sharing resources with your laptop.  It must have its own memory to afford it more speed or else it will crawl like a tortoise. If you want something robust for size, then get something in the region  1GB to 2GB   Although graphic cards keep changing, the graphic cards making noise right now are Nvidia GeForce  and AMD Radeon.. If your gaming laptop is equipped with either of these, you're good to go.

Processor
The processor is the heart of all gaming laptops. It's the source of that power and speed that gaming laptops generate all that power and speed.  choose very carefully  as your choice of processor could impact the performance of your laptop or your wallet. If you're looking for something moderate, Intel's i5 series would be preferable. However, if you're looking for raw juice(raw power), Intel's six-core processors in the Core i7 family top the list. AMD also comes highly recommended with up to 8 core processors. If your budget is large you could go for an AMD A10 or  Intel Core i7.=Either of them will do your gaming laptop just fine.

Lots of RAM
With Raw processing power comes lots of RAM. The RAM is responsible for the processing power of gaming laptops. And since   a lot of games chew up considerable memory, you will need at least 8 GB of RAM to get by, And if you really want to free up more memory, you can budget for 16GB . the faster the memory, the better the laptop performance and CPU stability.

Solid SSD
You will most certainly need a solid SSD(or State Solid Drive) for your gaming laptop. Luckily the price of SSD'S have dropped so you shouldn't have any problems getting a gaming laptop equipped with  an SSD.  In terms of size  you can start with 128 GB with a small spinning hard drive of of 500 GB to one TB(or terrabyte).  But if you like huge drives that will save your games for a while go for 512 GB or more.


Screen That Renders
It's an absolute must that you buy a gaming  laptop whose screen renders properly. By rendering, I mean  your gaming laptop screen should afford you the pleasure of watching the action on the screen. Otherwise you end up crouching your neck just to get a glimpse which isn't fun at all. A wide LCD should offer a more expansive view for you to enjoy your gaming experience- a major prerequisite  for  the perfect gaming experience. Although it may have its limitations, the wide format is the 'in thing' for most gamers.The required resolution for most gamers is 1600 x 900, or 1080p. .

Screen Size
There is a huge debate raging as to whether size is everything where gaming laptops are concerned... Proponents of 'size is everything' suggest  a huge laptop should come with  a huge screen as the bigger the screen size, the better the enjoyment..  The crowd favorite right now is 17 inches.  

However, big is not always better. The huge size makes it very difficult to carry it on the road, so if you're the type who likes it small you can go for  the 11, 14, or 15 inch models

So the moral of the story is pay attention to system size before making a purchase.

So to summarize, here are the specs  you need to look for when shopping online for a gaming laptop:

Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce  and AMD Radeon(I-2 GB).
Processor: Intel's i5 series(if you want something moderate), Intel Core i7 or AMD A10   (if you want more power).
RAM:at least 8 GB or 16GB(if you want to free up more memory).
Screen Size:17 inches(for desktop replacements), 11-15 inches(if you want to carry it around).
Screen Resolution:1600 x 900, or 1080p

Well, that's a rap for "Specs To Look For When Shopping For A Gaming Laptop."  Hope you have fun searching for your gaming laptop.


So if you're looking for a gaming laptop to buy,  Go to  Amazon.com 

What To Look For When Shopping For A Desktop Replacement Laptop Online

If you're a movie buff, graphics designer, or into gaming, a desktop replacement laptop is what you need.  For those who are new to desktop replacements, desktop replacements are similar to desktop PC's but smaller without . However, they do pack powerful juice and speed  backed by dual core  or quad core processors. The average screen size is usually  17 inches although  there are some as small as 15-16 inches. However, they don't exactly make great road companions because of their huge bulk.  But the speed evens things out.  So if you don't know what to look for when shopping for a desktop replacement online, let me show you how.

Powerful Processor

Your desktop replacement laptop  must definitely be equipped with a processor packing raw power and speed..Without these two ingredients, it's not a desktop replacement. The most popular processors out there are Intel's Duo or Quad core i5. If you want more juice you  can go for Intel's Core i7.

More Than Adequate Disk  Storage

If you want to store tons of media files you will need more than adequate storage...You will need at least 1 TB(or terrabytes) which translates into 1,000 GB. Quite powerful isn't it?  But if you're trying to save, 750 GB of hard disk space should suffice. You can always invest in an external hard disk if you want to expand later on.

Plenty of Memory

If you want to open  tons of programs at the same time, then your desktop replacement laptop must be have plenty  of memory. The ideal memory size is  6 GB of RAM. Although 4 GB is also adequate.

Large Screen Display

What also makes a desktop replacement a desktop replacement is its large screen display.Your screen display must be roomy enough for your movies, gaming, e.t.c..The standard size is 17.3 inches although,like I mentioned earlier although 15 -16 inch screen displays are  gaining popularity.

Graphics Card
If you want to make the most out of your desktop replacement laptop, then you'll most certainly need a solid graphics card(or video chipsets). Make sure the memory is at least 512 MB, although a single graphics card is also fine. Recommended graphic cards are NVidia or   ATI Radeon.

A well Laid Out Keyboard
Since you will be spending a lot of time on this laptop,  make sure it has a well laid out keyboard. It must be spacious enough together with the trackpad for responsive use. If you're going to do intensive gaming you may need to get a mouse as a touchpad is not suitable for those rapid motions.


USB Ports
Your laptop needs at least 6 USB ports(3.0)  -either HDMI or eSATA. Absolutely crucial given the numerous gadgets you'll be using for data transfer.

Audio
Any desktop replacement laptop worth its salt must have speakers. Altec-Lansing audio has been known to function quite well.

So to summarize here are the specs to look for when shopping online for a desktop replacement:
Processor: Intel's Duo or Quad core i5
Hard Disk:1 TB(If you want to store tons of media files) or 750 MB(If you're on a tight budget).
RAM:6GB(ideal) or 4GB(If you're on a budget)
Graphics Card:NVidia or   ATI Radeon, memory of 512 MB
Keyboard:Well spaced out, but, need mouse for intense gaming
USB Ports: at least 6 ports(HDMIor eSATA)
Audio:Altec-Lansing


Well, that's a wrap for "What To Look For When Shopping For A Desktop Replacement Online." If you're looking to buy a 15-17 inch desktop replacement  laptop go to   Amazon.com