1. Portability - The main reason to have a laptop or notebook computer is portability - the need to take your entire computer from one place to another. If you don't need portability, then you should probably buy a desktop. Or if you really need portability but don't want the weight and size of a laptop, a well equipped cell phone/pda/net book/tablet might be a good choice. Laptops come in all diferent weights, sizes, and speeds.
2. Expense - Laptop computers cost almost twice as much as comparably equipped desktops. Shocking isn't it?
You can actually buy two comparably equipped desktops for the price of one laptop. So if you have to have a computer in two separate places, you would be better off with two desktops (if they were reasonably close together you could hook them together in a wired or wireless local area network (LAN).
You can actually buy two comparably equipped desktops for the price of one laptop. So if you have to have a computer in two separate places, you would be better off with two desktops (if they were reasonably close together you could hook them together in a wired or wireless local area network (LAN).
3. Speed - Laptops are 30-100% slower than a desktop with the same features (CPU, RAM, hard drive capacity, etc.). Slower CPUs, motherboards, hard drives, and video systems all contribute to the speed loss.
4. Upgradeability - Laptop computers are mostly non-upgradeable. Whatever CPU, video card (built into the motherboard), sound card (also built-in), and screen, that come with the laptop are the same parts the laptop will end with.
While it is possible to upgrade main memory, DVD drives, hard drives, and sometimes CPUs, these upgrades can be expensive.
While it is possible to upgrade main memory, DVD drives, hard drives, and sometimes CPUs, these upgrades can be expensive.
You can also upgrade newer laptops through their USB, EIDE, and Firewire ports. While much improvement has been made in the speed and price of external drives, upgrading a laptop this way adds weight and decreases portability.
(However, it is a very good idea to back up all your important files to a CD, DVD, external hard drive, web storage etc. at least once a week. - ed)
(However, it is a very good idea to back up all your important files to a CD, DVD, external hard drive, web storage etc. at least once a week. - ed)
5. Serious Gaming. You will need to spend at least €1,500 – €2,500 for a laptop that can play new games at a respectable speed. I don't recommend laptops for serious gaming no matter how much you are willing to spend. Why?
Because if you love to play games, about 1-1.5 years after you purchase your laptop you will find it isn't fast enough to keep up with the latest new game. At that time, you will regret buying a gaming laptop. However, if you have the money, and want to throw down €2500 every year or so, more power to you.
On the other hand, if your computer budget is limited, it's better to have a functional laptop/netbook, and spend your gaming dollars on an upgradeable desktop.
6. Processor. When it comes to processors, go with the fastest you can afford, regardless of the notebook's form factor. You have a lot of options, so here are the basics.
Intel's Pentium M CPU line offers speed while enabling great battery life. These chips, combined with Intel's wireless LAN electronics and either the 915 Express or 855 chipset, make up Intel's Centrino mobile technology. The biggest downside is price -- Pentium Ms are still costly.
AMD's mobile processors are more affordable than Intel's, but they generally lag behind Intel's on our MobileMark tests. AMD's Turion 64 processors may change that, however. AMD says the chips will offer optimisations for high performance, wireless capability, and long battery life.
Intel's Pentium M CPU line offers speed while enabling great battery life. These chips, combined with Intel's wireless LAN electronics and either the 915 Express or 855 chipset, make up Intel's Centrino mobile technology. The biggest downside is price -- Pentium Ms are still costly.
AMD's mobile processors are more affordable than Intel's, but they generally lag behind Intel's on our MobileMark tests. AMD's Turion 64 processors may change that, however. AMD says the chips will offer optimisations for high performance, wireless capability, and long battery life.
4. Memory. Having enough memory is vital to system performance, and lots of RAM lets you run more applications simultaneously. Sufficient RAM is also necessary for graphics work, image editing, and video editing, and crucial for 3D gaming. This is especially true in notebooks, because notebook graphics processors frequently have little or no memory of their own and share the main system RAM.
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