Do you need a notebook computer or do you just want one? Notebook
computers can be the ideal office solution for mobile business people,
as you no longer need to sacrifice functionality for portability.
Today's notebooks are powerful enough and feature packed enough to
completely replace your desktop computer. But before you buy a notebook,
consider these key buying factors.
Price
Notebook computers are still expensive compared to desktop computers.
You pay a premium for being able to pack your office around with you.
And unlike PC desktop computers, notebooks are not easily upgradeable
with interchangeable components. If you buy a notebook computer, you
need to choose one that has exactly all the features that you want.
Battery Life
While notebook computers promise mobility, it's not unrestricted
mobility. If you plan to use your notebook computer "unplugged"
frequently, pay close attention to the notebook's battery average run
time. Some notebooks only have a battery average run time of 2 hours,
which means you could be spending a lot of time waiting for your
notebook to recharge. Look for notebook computers that offer dual
battery options.
Display Type
Notebook computer screens use LCD, so you want to be sure you choose a
notebook computer that has an active matrix display (also known as TFT),
which gives a brighter display which can be viewed from an angle. The
alternative, passive matrix display, gives a dimmer view and has to be
viewed head on to be seen.
Display Size
Many notebook computers, especially ultraportables, have fairly small
display screens. Only you can determine how small a display screen you
like, but for most people, an LCD display needs to be 14" or larger to
be viewed comfortably at XGA (1024 x 768) resolution (which is the
preferred resolution for Windows).
Connectivity
You'll be hard pressed to find a notebook computer that doesn't let you
surf the 'Net or read your email, but what about connecting to your
company's network or to a television to display images during a
presentation? Be sure the notebook computer you choose has an integrated
network interface card, docking port, and/or S-video out port if you
need these kinds of connectivity.
Power
A notebook's speed and power, like any desktop computer's, is determined
by its processor and memory. You'll need a notebook computer with a
Pentium 3 processor or equivalent running 750 MHz or faster to run
standard business applications. And the notebook will have to have at
least 256 MB to run Windows XP or Mac OS X. Otherwise, it's a question
of how much speed and power you want to pay for.
