5 Tips for buying a notebook

Buying a notebook is a big financial investment. And therefore certainly not a decision that’s taken easy. That’s why we provide you with some useful information to help you make the right decision.

Tip 1 What will you be using it for?

Ask yourself why you’re buying a notebook. As a replacement for your desktop PC or do you really want to take it with you? If you’re taking it on the road a small weight and a long lasting battery are really important. If you’re using the notebook as a replacement for your desktop PC you’ll need a large screen. Do you also want to play games or work with much demanding graphic applications you must have a fast graphics processor. The size of the keyboard is also important to work comfortably with it. A larger keyboard types better than small ones. Remember that when buying a notebook all these things matter, because a notebook has few options to replace parts or put in extra parts. Don’t buy a small hard disk and make sure you got enough internal memory (minimum 512 MB, but it’s better to have 1 GB). Further it’s better to buy a notebook with memory chips for mobile applications. These are less demanding when it comes to energy use. And ofcourse choose a built-in DVD-reader/burner.

Tip 2 The mouse

Most notebooks have a so called “touch pad”. This is a touch-sensitive spot that works like a mouse. By placing and moving your finger on the pad you change the cursor’s position. Beneath the pad there are two buttons: one for left-clicking and one for right-clicking. With the included software you can adjust the settings and e.g. make a double finger touch on the pad the same as double-clicking the button. A built-in scrollbar is also useful to scroll through pages. A touch pad is not always the best option for some people, so make sure you try alternatives like a normal (USB)mouse.

Tip 3 Wireless connection

Ofcourse a notebook needs a wireless connection. With such a mobile device you don’t want to be strapped to a physical link. Today most notebooks have built-in wireless functionality. At least there has to be a free PCI slot to put a wireless notebook adapter in. It’s also possible to make a wireless connection with a USB wireless adapter. You then have to pay attention to the number of USB ports your notebook has (see also Tip 4).

Tip 4 Connections methods

Most external devices are connected through USB. It’s important your notebook has enough of these ports. Think about connecting (especially at home) a scanner, printer, external mouse, seperate keyboard, MP3 player and digital camera. A minimum of 4 USB ports is required, but it’s best to have 6.

Tip 5 Cooling

Because of today’s fast processors the heat becomes a problem. Notebooks are built very compact and therefore need enough cooling options. If a notebook cannot get rid of his heat the fan will be blowing constantly. A warm/hot notebook in your lap is not comfortable and could even be a threat to your fertility (the scrotum’s temperature becomes too high). A notebook with a overheat processor also works slower. Fortunately there are notebook coolers for sale that work with a USB connection.

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