Are YOU a Laptop Wannabe?(new owner, that is)

Laptops are portable, they’re stylish, and let’s face it: the opposite sex will think you more sophisticated when you’re suavely tapping out your latest blog entry at the coffee shop. Okay, that’s probably not true, but they are fun to have for both work and play. A laptop’s wi-fi can offer the same conveniences as being in the office via virtual private networks. You can take anything you need with you, having remote accesses to your files at the office so long as you have an Internet connection. It’s all there with you, even if it annoys your significant other when you bring work home.

I decided in shopping for a laptop suitable to my needs, I would search within three main areas:

1. My budget would be around $1800.

2. I needed something portable (13 in or 14 in screen), and under 5 lbs.

3. I needed a laptop that had a strong performance and manufacturing record.

This is what TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate laptop computers:

* Size: The purpose of a laptop computer is to be portable without sacrificing power. If you need something with an optical drive (CD-RW, DVD±R, etc.), a little more power and screen size, but still need a light weight machine, consider an ultra portable laptop, but remember, the smaller the package the larger the price tag.
* 13" to 15" screen size laptops will weigh between 3lbs and 6 lbs.
* 12" screen size will weigh less than 2lbs (but this may seem small for college use; it's designed for people on the go, to check emails, schedules, etc.).
* >15" screen size is for gaming, and it will weigh more than 7lbs ( forget it, not for school use).

* Battery Life: No one likes being tethered to a wall, that's the whole reason for getting the laptop. Look for a system that can hold a charge for several hours.There is nothing worse than looking for an outlet in the middle of a project.

* Screen Size: Typically the larger the laptop's screen size the larger the whole system. Remember, if you need a screen that rivals your desktop at home prepare to build those biceps. However, there are ultra slim laptops with 19 inch screens, but they are mighty expensive and although your computer will be lighter, so will your wallet.

So, for me, these have become the primary things to consider when buying a laptop :

* How much you are willing to spend for a laptop
* Size ( weight ) vs Cost
* Laptop brand vs Quality
* New laptop vs used ( refurbished)
* Laptop’s life
* Basic Configuration

My suggestions have wound up in the following order:

1. Thinkpad (shop.lenovo.com)
2. Dell
3. HP
4. Sony
5. Toshiba
6. Fujitsu
7. Acer
8. Don’t think of buying other brands.
(Thinkpad R series and T series laptops are the best ones. If you know someone who works for IBM, they can get it with an additional 15% discount below the listed price on Lenovo’s website.)

Here is a closer comparison of two of the above mentioned laptops: the dell xps 1330m and the lenovo T400. Upgraded, each of these has similar specifications and price tags:

LENOVO T400
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9600 (2.8GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2)1
Genuine Windows Vista Business12
14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight, Camera
ATI Mobility Radeon 3470 with 256MB
4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)8
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
250 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm4
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)5
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)10
Integrated AT&T Mobile Broadband (3G)
6 cell Li-Ion Battery60



DELL XPS 1330m


PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T9500 (2.6GHz/800Mhz FSB/6MB cache) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-bit edit
WARRANTY AND SERVICE 3Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis edit
LCD AND CAMERA Slim and Light LED Display with VGA Webcam edit
MEMORY 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz edit
HARD DRIVE Ultra Performance: 256GB Solid State Drive edit
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW Drive) edit
VIDEO CARD 128MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8400M GS edit
WIRELESS CARDS Dell Wireless 1505 Wireless-N Mini-card edit
BATTERY OPTIONS 56Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell) edit
SOUND OPTIONS High Definition Audio 2.0

The lenovo is slightly bigger, with a 14 in screen and about 4.5 lbs vs. the dell's 13.3 in screen and 3.9 lbs. I understand that the 1330m has had some hardware troubles, in the past, and I'm not sure if they've fixed things with newer hardware (most of the complaints come from its debut in 2007, as far as I can tell). The reviews of the lenovo appear excellent, and it truly seems like a terrific feature, the idea of allowing the switching of graphics settings.
But size vs cost IS perhaps the most important of all considerations. And especially when talking of students, you will carry your laptop around campus a lot, and carrying that laptop of more than 6lbs may prove annoying to say the least. You will get a good deal on a laptop for $500, but it would weigh 7-8lbs., a fairly difficult proposition with the addition of books, or in the case of the busy exec, a briefcase.