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If you are thinking of buying a new PC, the chances are that you are at least considering a laptop, which now comprise half of all new computer sales. Obviously, laptops 'big advantage over desktops is portability, which is an asset not only when you travel, but also around the house. Typically, a desktop PC is located away from the center of activity and its user is cut off from the rest of the family. With a laptop, you can do your accounting, read your e-mail, etc., and still be available to interact with others.
Most modem laptops include a wireless modem, which I consider essential. This, with broadband access and a wireless router, give you access to the Internet and to the other PCs in your house from anywhere in it. You can now check your e-mail and surf the Web, for example, while you watch T~ The majority of hotels, both in and outside the US, provide wireless Internet access, meaning you can keep up with your correspondence as you travel. Don't buy a laptop without this feature.
However, to gain portability, laptops give up some other features.
Power Conservation versus Performance - to conserve battery life, laptops typically use lower-power CPUs, disks, and video than desktops. However, most home users never tax their CPUs; the exceptions are games, computer aided design (CAD), and video editing.
Expandability - you probably won't be able to add a second hard drive or a high-power video controller to a laptop. However, the popularity of USB has greatly eased this problem, since it allows external drives, sound cards, printers, game controllers, mice, etc.
Cost - laptops cost more than desktops.
Keyboard - usually (but not always) the main keys are full sized, but the function keys are often small and closely spaced and numeric keypads are rare. Often, some keys have multiple functions; for example, "page down" often requires pressing a function key plus the down arrow key.
Screen - displays are smaller, and of course, you can't replace one with a larger one.
Pointing device - instead of a mouse, you will have a touchpad. I find these quite usable, but some users can't tolerate them. You can add a mouse, but these are awkward to use unless you are sitting at a desk.
Reliability - laptops are portable, which means they experience more jolts and temperature changes than desktops. As a result, they are more likely to fail, which makes a good back-up process essential.
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Windows Vista, especially its Premium and Ultra versions, place big demands on your PC, especially its display. The great majority of laptop motherboards have integrated display controllers, which lack the resources to run the more elaborate displays associated with the premium versions ofVista. They may run, but the display will default back to Basic, meaning you will have wasted the extra money you spent.
You should be aware that batteries have finite lives. They wear out as you use them, with the result that you will notice that they require recharging more often. With my first laptop, I thought, "Why plug it in? I'll just use the battery and recharge when I'm through." I had to buy a ($100) new battery within a year.
You have probably seen ads showing people using their laptops on the patio or in a car. If you try this, you will find that even indirect sunlight completely washes out the display, unless you use it under a blanket.
It will help you to choose a laptop if you classify them by their weight.
Ultra-portable (less than three pounds) - these are quite small and use an external CD-ROM or DVD drive. The quoted weight does not include the external drive. Both the keyboard and display are noticeably small.
Portable (three to five pounds) - the main things you gain in moving up to this size are an internal CD-ROM/DVD drive, a more powerful CPU, and a larger keyboard and display. I feel that this represents the best compromise between portability and power, providing you have a desk top.
Standard (five to seven pounds) - here you find still larger displays and keyboards and more powerful CPUs. There may also be provisions for additional batteries and peripherals, for example a diskette drive. You won't want to carry this far, but it could well replace a desktop.
Desktop replacement (over seven pounds) - these typically quite powerful (and expensive), but calling them "laptops" is a bit of a stretch. Their size and weight confines them to desk use.
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