--------- PCmag.com Buying Guide Special Ediion ---------
-------------------- October 8, 2011 ---------------------
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How to Buy a Laptop
Picking the right laptop can be downright daunting, given the
mind-numbing selection available in the market today. That's
why we're here to help. Read the tips below before you shop.
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Laptop Design is a Key Differentiator
Skip plastic. What you should be on the lookout for are designs
that employ metal. The most common of those is aluminum, found
in laptops such as the Dell XPS 15z. They have a more luxurious
look and can fashioned into a thinner chassis than plastic.
Magnesium alloy is more commonly found in business laptops that
place a strong emphasis on durability.
Read more about Design >>
http://enews.pcmag.com/u.d?14GjqX5K2gyrT78KkJTp=290
Bigger Screen, Heavier Weight
The cutoff point between a laptop that should stay permanently
on your desk and one that can be a commuting companion is a
14-inch widescreen. There are exceptions, of course. The Apple
MacBook Pro 15-inch (Thunderbolt) and Samsung RC512-S02 are two
of the lightest 15-inch laptops. A 13- or 14-inch widescreen
means that you can still be productive without sacrificing
portability. Smaller than that, you'll be venturing into
netbook territory, which is an entirely different category
of laptops.
Read more about Screen size >>
http://enews.pcmag.com/u.d?xYGjqX5K2gyrT78KkJTu=300
What to Look For in a Laptop
Ample USB ports (3 to 4 minimum) are pretty standard nowadays.
USB 3.0, which offers faster transfer speeds and greater
connectivity bandwidths than USB 2.0, can already be found
in laptop of all sizes. Upgrading to a 640GB-750GB hard drive
won't cost you an arm and a leg either, but do so only if
you're a video junkie or an aspiring video content creator.
Technologies like DisplayPort and HDMI are better equipped
to stream high quality videos and audio. The first one is
called WiMAX,or Intel's Wireless Display 2.0, or WiDi 2.0.
Read more on What to Look For >>
http://enews.pcmag.com/u.d?rYGjqX5K2gyrT78KkJTj=310
New Intel Technology Already Here
As for the rest of the laptop market, the most dominant
processor chips come from Intel. For instance, you can
choose one that maximizes performance or one that favors
battery life. Or you can choose one that plays to both
strengths: The Second Generation (codenamed Sandy Bridge)
Intel Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7s are currently the
most popular processor brands and have the benefits of
both power and battery efficiency.
Read more on Intel >>
http://enews.pcmag.com/u.d?5YGjqX5K2gyrT78KkJTY=320
Battery Life
Mainstream laptops, which come with a 6-cell battery
option, lasts between 5 to 7 hours on a single charge,
while ultraportables and business laptops tend to have
multiple battery options that, when used in tandem, can
easily surpass the 10 hour mark. Figure out where battery
life ranks in the grand scheme of things.
Read more on Battery Life >>
http://enews.pcmag.com/u.d?mYGjqX5K2gyrT78KkJTd=330
Buying an Extended Warranty
Most laptops are backed by a complimentary 1-year parts
and labor warranty. Asus and Costco sell laptops that come
with standard two-year warranties. Our rule of thumb is
that if the warranty costs more than 15% of the laptop,
you're better off spending the money on backup drives
or backup services that minimizes downtime.
Read more on Warranty >>
http://enews.pcmag.com/u.d?6YGjqX5K2gyrT78KkJTS=340
Weighing the Netbook Option
As the competition grows more fierce in the netbook
category, these little laptops, which were once considered
as mere Web surfing and word processing devices, are now
being pegged as primary laptops for everyday tasks. If your
activities include trips abroad and all-day classes,
consider looking for netbooks that ship with 6-cell options.
Read more on Netbook >>
http://enews.pcmag.com/u.d?g4GjqX5K2gyrT78KkJTX=350
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Read the full Laptop Buying Guide article >>
http://enews.pcmag.com/u.d?94GjqX5K2gyrT78KkJTM=360
Also Read How to Buy a Business Laptop >>
http://enews.pcmag.com/u.d?t4GjqX5K2gyrT78KkJTB=370
Also read How to Buy a Netbook >>
http://enews.pcmag.com/u.d?p4GjqX5K2gyrT78KkJQA=240
Also read 10 Best Laptops >>
http://enews.pcmag.com/u.d?vYGjqX5K2gyrT78KkJQF=250
Also read 5 Best Business Laptops >>
http://enews.pcmag.com/u.d?kYGjqX5K2gyrT78KkJT6=260
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