Buying Guide »


Introduction

Who could live without their laptop computer? Today everyone from gamers to grannies has their own laptop, complete with personal preferences from screen size to colour. Many of us prefer our laptops to desktop computers, even if we don't take them out of the house.


The days of complaints about poor battery power and over-heating are far behind us as innovation ensures all the essentials process effectively. Whether you’re a Mac fan or a die-hard PC lover, your ideal laptop is out there waiting for you to find it!


However, many laptop specs can seem confusing if you’re not familiar with the numbers and terminology used by vendors – and let’s face it, most of us aren’t. Luckily only a handful of these facts and figures are really essential; many are only useful if you’re after something particular from your laptop, for example, if its primary use will be playing networked games, or if you’re a designer looking to run a particular software package.


So what are the terms you do need to look out for? Our handy guide below will equip you with all the necessary information to identify what you really need from your laptop.


The essentials
1. CPU

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is, in a nutshell, the ‘brain’ of your laptop. Working alongside the Operating System, the CPU processes the instructions you give the laptop and fetches data from the RAM to allow execution. Intel and AMD are the most well known brands of CPU.


2. RAM

Random Access Memory (RAM) provides space for your laptop to read and write data to be accessed by the Central Processing Unit (CPU). When people refer to a computer’s memory, they usually mean its RAM. The more RAM a computer has, the less often the CPU has to read data from the hard disk, allowing the computer to work significantly faster. If you’re planning to use the internet and several applications/software programs outside the core Microsoft Office suite, you should look for at least 2 Gigabytes of RAM. If you work with image, video or audio editing software you may want to increase this to as much as 4 Gigabytes to help improve running speed.


by RAM Installed Size



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Reviews of Laptops »

HP Pavilion dv6

Advantages: Slick, lightweight design; good performance; built-in webcam;
Disadvantages: Low battery life, glossy display can be reflective

...memory 15.4″ WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800) 256MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7200 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support 1.3 Megapixel Webcam with mic built into screen Altec Lansing speakers built in 3 USB ports, ExpressCard/54 Slot, Video Out, Windows Vista Home Premium these are the specs that the laptop my friend has. One of the things that sold me on this ...
...of heat heat. The HP Pavilion DV6 is a really nice, solid laptop and you really can’t go wrong with it. The price makes it very affordable. The unit has a nice, sleek design and good all-around performance. It also offers a solid balance of features which really makes this laptop usable as a desktop replacement aslong as it is now left unplugged for a long time So, despite a few setbacks, you really can’t go wrong with the DV6 if you are looking ...

TechKing123 09.09.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of HP Pavilion dv6

Speed

Look & Feel

Comfort & Portability

Robustness & Durability

Value For Money

good looking notebook

Advantages: complete for standard use
Disadvantages: low speed in processing data

Well, this notebook was my first consideration when a shop promoted it in a tolerable price. it was only 399 euros!! it uses windows vista which is now very common, 15,6 inch LCD and integrated webcam!! dat was wat i looked for. its weight is 2,75 kg, 250 GB internal drives, 5 in1integrated digital media reader, 6 cell lithium ion battery. Compared with any other ''good price'' notebook, this notebook completes any features wat we normally look for ...
...going to use it. If u need it as a basic use ( according to the function of it in general), then this notebook is enough. But, at that time, i was poisoned that vista doesnt work very well as XP does, so it made me think hundred times before i bought it. In fact, it is not that bad. Now i regret why i didnt buy this notebook because according to me this notebook is very complete although the shopkeeper explained to me that this notebook doesnt have ...

Dheean 19.08.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Compaq Presario CQ61-120SA

Speed

Look & Feel

Comfort & Portability

Robustness & Durability

Value For Money

GREAT LAPTOP

Advantages: Fast, Portable And Easy to use
Disadvantages: NONE

This compaq laptop is a great pc. Giving great speed and cofrt to use, highly portable and extremely versatile it is highly recommendable with the Windows Vista software. With 3gb of ram and 160gb hard drive it is Fast and stores years worth files. Warranty shouldn't be needed and nothing has gone wrong in the first year of ownership. Is not bad value and sets up in less than an hour. Simplicity is every where and a rare improvement to it is the ...

ronniestigs 26.09.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Compaq Presario CQ60

Speed

Look & Feel

Comfort & Portability

Robustness & Durability

Value For Money

HP Customer Service

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Foreign speaking "HELPLINE". Unhelpful helpline. Absolutely no idea of good customer service.

...Why? Why? Why? Apparently HP Compaq do not provide telephone support., or face to face support or support via email or by letter. If you need drivers then they ask you to pay £69.95 even though the drivers were not present when you bought the PC. You need help updating them? No they don't do that either. When ask them where you can find help they refer you to PC World. PCW of course just do not want to know. Why should they? I never bought the laptop ...
...was advised to update by HP Compaq. I am writing this review on every forum I can find until HP Compaq fix my problem. Tomorrow I am going to cut my losses and bin this machine! Seriously I could not even sell it for scrap. ...

Anna38 23.10.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of HP Compaq 610

Speed

Look & Feel

Comfort & Portability

Robustness & Durability

Value For Money

Great and economical laptop option

Advantages: small in size, economical and great perfomace for net users
Disadvantages: Thicker than other models in the market,

Hp Mini 110 is very stylish and a great machine to have. small in size and great performance with atom n270 processor , 1GB Memory and enough 160GB hard drive to store data. It comes in Xp and linux based Mi Edition. I would strongly suggest to go for xp edition if you are not familier with linux. It is an economical but slightly thicker than the other available models in the market. I also appreciate the Mini 110's software selection, which is ...
...better if compare previouse model HP 100 which has battery life just 1 hour plus but if we compare with the other models in the market i.e Toshiba NB205 which has battery life 8 hours plus, then this can be a down side of the this model. I would say overall, it is a great machine for the money you are paying for ...

adminton 16.09.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of HP Mini 110

Speed

Look & Feel

Comfort & Portability

Robustness & Durability

Value For Money


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