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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.
About the author:
Robert Scheer is a writer, researcher and consultant about buying a cheap
laptop.
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