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10 Things You Must Know When Buying a Laptop
Buying a laptop isn't that simple. After all, there are myriad factors to consider, including size, features, performance, ease of use, and more. But there are some common factors you should consider, regardless of what kind of laptop you are searching for. We give you 10 tips for zeroing in on the best laptop you can get for your needs.
1. Dual-core or quad-core CPU? Unless you're running intensive, threaded applications with regularity, you don't need a quad-core processor and will get more than enough oomph from a current dual-core CPU. We recommend mainstream buyers look for Intel's Core i3 or i5 processors.
2. Going far? Go low-voltage. For highly mobile users who spend long stretches away from the office and outlets, consider a low-voltage processor. You sacrifice some performance, but get huge gains in battery life.
3. Consider postponing a netbook purchase until Nvidia Ion 2 graphics are rolled out. Ion 2 will greatly aid netbook performance, letting you switch between integrated and discreet graphics.
4. Quad-core or dual-core CPU? Unless you are running intensive, threaded applications, however, you won't notice much, if any, difference between quad- and dual-core processors.
5. Bang on a netbook's keyboard before buying. They're all a bit cramped, so find one that you can type on somewhat comfortably. And with any laptop, try out the touchpad and mouse buttons to make sure you like their feel.
6. The material matters. With wafer-thin ultraportables, the materials used for the case are more important than on larger, sturdier laptops. Metals offer better protection (and looks) than plastics. And you don't need to spend a lot to find an ultraportable with a tough aluminum chassis.
7. Keep the weight down. Unless you are the size of an NFL lineman, don't buy anything larger than a 14-inch laptop. You want something light enough to make the daily commute with you.
8. Can you hear it? Check out a laptop's audio system before buying, particularly with entertainment-minded desktop replacements, some of which feature a subwoofer for bigger, better sound. Also, new entertainment laptops with Intel's WiDi technology will let you wireless stream video from your laptop to your HDTV.
9. Good-enough HD. Don't worry too much about a laptop being unable to do 1080p video. HD video on even the biggest laptops looks great at 720p.
10. Graphics matter for gaming. With gaming laptops, spend more on the GPU than CPU.
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