There seems to be a fad at the moment to buy a laptop as a home PC. This is especially true amongst those who have never had a home computer before. But should you buy a laptop and if so, which one ? This is my view on the subject, targetted at novices rather than tech-heads.
Why would you want a laptop ?
There are a number of pros and cons to the laptop vs desktop format. Basically it relies on whether you are an occasional user who just wants to write the odd email or if you will be using it as an always-on workhorse or games machine. Here are a few general points to consider:
| Laptop | Desktop | |
| Easy to upgrade | No | Yes |
| Easy to get drivers | Yes | No |
| Cost Effective | No | Yes |
| Occasional use | Yes | Yes |
| Can sit at for hours | No | Yes |
| Can work anywhere | Yes | No |
| Internet surfing ? | Yes | Yes |
| Sending email ? | Yes | Yes |
| Playing 3D games ? | No | Yes |
So, if you plan to sit for hours typing documents or playing games, you will find a desktop more comfortable. The laptop is generally used in a sitting position that doesn't do much for your posture. On the other hand, do you really want to be stuck looking into a corner or in the spare room – worse still do you want to have a grey desktop PC sitting in the corner of your recently redecorated living room ?
If you are thinking of upgrading your computer (by putting new bits inside it) the laptop is far more limited than the desktop option. Also, after the warranty has expired, a failure to any part of the laptop may kill the whole thing. With a desktop you can usually scavange something for re-use.
Last of all though, a Laptop is a complete computer which will be fairly well supported for the first couple of years of life by whomsoever you buy it off. Some desktops get the same support but a self-built or custom-built one will basically be a collection of parts that you will need to keep track of. If you have a graphics card from one place and a hard drive from another, only you know what part numbers they are. Keeping your software updated is a real challenge unless you know what you are doing.
Decide on these points and you'll know which is for you.
Apple Mac or PC ?
Apple make great looking laptops. If you use one at work, buy one for home. If you use a PC at work, buy one of those. If you mix and match you will get lost unless you are happy to accept that fact. If you are a keen game player, there are more PC games than Mac ones. If you want to edit professional video or do anything seriously graphical, get a Mac. Most people run Microsoft Office at work and like to have the smae thing at home. Buy what you know. (For any Mac or PC fans out there that feel hard done by with these comments – please go visit a pub and engage in dialogue with a like-minded stranger – you'll get more satisfaction than simply flaming me about my views.)
Which Manufacturers are any good ?
If you chose Apple in response to the last question, skip this one. To be honest, nobody builds every computer right so even the trusted names have the odd turkey. Buying a trusted, known brand means your chances of longer term support are better than a less known brand in theory but certain niche players are very dedicated to their customers. I would suggest as a starting point that you go look at Samsung, Toshiba, HP and Sony for your new laptop.
Which should I look for ?
Two words: looks and comfort. Go to PC World this weekend and see what you like the look of and can type on comfortably. Get an idea of price and decide how much you want to spend. £500 is a good ball-park for a general workhorse. Add another £50-£100 as you get tempted by extra features. If a machine looks ugly, is too heavy or just looks very cheap/expensive, skip it. There are plenty of others to look at. At work currently I have a very nice Tecra A6 costing £600 for example.
Do I need Centrino, Duo, Viiv, 802.11n ?
Centrino is a marketing term from Intel and refers to a combination of features that Intel thinks you need. Centrino gives you a certain level of protection against the laptop having problems working with a wireless network. It isn't essential but is a kind of safety net. It isn't on top of my wish-list but it is reassuring when it is on a chosen piece of kit.
Duo is Intel's technology where your computer has two processors ("cores") on one chip. So some software can run faster if it knows how to split itself in two. It won't make Word run faster but eventually most software will be written with this technology in mind. AMD have their own version of this called x2 . The alternative is running a single "core" so that the laptop will use less battery power. Don't get hung up about it unless you want top performance or maximum battery life.
Atom is another Intel term. It is the name they gave to their low power CPU. It fits nicely in "Netbooks" (laptops pretty good for light web and email use but little else). It basically gives you a slower computer with a long battery life.
Viiv is another Intel marketing ploy. It covers home m
edia centres – a pc that can play and record TV programmes and other media. You won't need it in a laptop.
802.11n is the next version of wireless networking. To be honest, 802.11g makes more sense. Steer well clear of 802.11b as that is just pants.
AMD or Intel ?
They both do the same job. AMD tend to run less hot and have slightly better battery life. To be honest unless you have a particular hang-up, don't worry about what processor is inside it. Centrino is for Intel only however so don't ask for Centrino on an AMD laptop or the salesman will giggle. Unless of course they say "yes you can" in which case you know to leave the shop.
You may hear abour "64 bit" computing. Most processors over a couple of years old are 32 bit. Most software is 32 bit. 64 bit processors will run 32 bit software. A new laptop may very well come with a 64 bit processor. As a home user 64 bit doesn't mean much to you right now. Don't worry about it.
How fast ? How much memory ? What sort of stuff ?
Memory: 2GB ("giga-bytes") of RAM will see you right for pretty much anything. 1GB ("giga-byte") will be fine if you are just web-surfing and emailing. A laptop with memory read in MB ("mega-bytes") is underpowered.
Disk: 60GB or better is fine for the average music, photo and email collection. Do lots of video and graphics work and you'll want a bigger one.
Speed: For Intel, the battery-friendly "Celeron M" or "Celeron M" are a good start. The "Core DUO" range is the more powerful two-processors-in-one option. In either case ask for 1.6Ghz("giga-hertz") or better. For AMD, you've got the battery-friendly "Sempron" or the more powerful "64 X2" are the ones to look for but in this case look for a 3400 or better rated processor. All very confusing but just remember "AMD 3400" or "Intel 1.6"
If you want to play games on the laptop be wary of a laptop with "shared memory" between the graphics card and the computer as it is robbing your RAM memory instead of having its own stuff. Look for "DIRECTX 9" support if you want to play the latest games but remember that laptops are not really very good game machines. You may be better off buying a cheaper laptop and an Xbox 360.
Most laptops come with the ability to READ from DVD and WRITE to CD. So you can backup your files to CD-R disks, play or rip audio CDs and also play DVDs. Vista will play DVDs without a problem but Windows XP needs a little bit of extra software such as Nero or you can use the DVD decoder plugin that costs about £10 to download.
Wireless
Yes. You need this. "802.11g"
Windows XP or Vista ?
If you opted for an Apple, this won't affect you unless you are one of those crazy people who wants to buy an Apple for its looks and install Windows XP on it. (I would). Otherwise, going for Vista means you'll have all the new bells and whistles but older software will most likely not work. Windows XP is a safer bet but you'll be wanting to upgrade in under a year. If the laptop comes installed with Vista, stick with it. If it doesn't, look for some kind of mention that it will run Vista with the "aero interface" – it may come as a free upgrade "voucher" but check for any hidden admin costs. You want Vista Home Premium which comes in the green box. (Vista Home Basic is rubbish.)
Microsoft Office
Laptops do not as a rule come with Microsoft Office. You might get "Works" which is the little brother to Office and that gets most people through. Microsoft Office is expensive. You can't borrow it from your employer or install it without a licence. If you are buying teh laptop fro somebody still at school, you may be able to get an educational licence .
Internet
If you want to get on the Internet at home, you'll need an Internet Service Provider ADSL line and a wireless router. You can get ADSL for £15 per month along with email etc and a free modem that plugs into the USB port on the laptop. To switch to a wireless router, you may need to visit PC World or speak to the provider. Have a look at Pipex and Zen . If you do buy your router seperately, go for a Netgear DG834GT or Linksys WAG354G. If you go for something else make sure it says "ADSL modem" and "Router" on the box becasue you want it to do both. Invite an I.T. savvy friend over for dinner when it arrives. Don't let them leave until it is all working.
What Else ?
I could go on for hours but if you have most of the above under consideration, you will at least go shopping armed with a bit more knowledge than the average shop assistant….
