It seems that everyday, I talk to people interested in purchasing laptops.  Well, I guess that was obvious, being that I am an electronic salesperson.  The biggest problem I run into is that most people don’t know what to buy, or what they need in terms of a laptop. 

Basically everyone I talk to has to decide what the main purpose of their laptop purpose will be: business or pleasure.  The reason I make this comparison, is that there is some difference between a computer that can handle working on writing a paper for school and one that can allow you to play cutting edge games.  Sure, the game playing computer can do work as well, but the business machine may not be able to play the games you want to.

Don’t get too fixated on price.  I have had a lot of customers buy the cheaper computer only to return it a few days later because it doesn’t do what they need it to do.  If the computer you need costs $600 more than a cheaper one, consider this:  that works out to a little more than fifty cents per day if you keep it for three years.  Don’t let the $0.50 per day hold you back - you just might regret it.

When you are out buying your computer, you will have the option of either a dedicated video card, or an integrated video card. 

If you are into playing computer games, chances are you would opt for a dedicated card.  If you just work, type, surf the Internet and check some emails on your notebook, an integrated card will do fine.

What does a video card have to do with battery life?

Simple.  If you want better battery life, an integrated card will give you the most battery life, whereas a dedicated video card will give you the least battery life.

When you are out shopping for a notebook hard drive, you probably have noticed that they come in different speeds.  The way the notebook drives are rated is by RPM (revolutions per minute).  Typically, you can find either 4,200 RPM, 5,400 RPM, and 7,200 RPM drives.  When making your decision, consider the pros and cons of each drive speed:

4,200 RPM

This drive has the lowest speed out of the bunch.  On the good side, it’s slower rotational speed gives you better battery life.  On the bad side, you get less performance.  The performance on this drive should not affect you if you are doing normal computer tasks such as Internet, email, or typing.  For gaming and video editing, you would see the worst performance out of the bunch.

5,400 RPM

The 5,400 RPM drive is almost 30% faster than the 4,200 RPM drive.  You get better performance with this drive but less battery life.  Out of the three drive options, this drive gives you the best all round performance and battery life.  It is good for the everyday stuff, as well as game playing and video editing.

7,200 RPM

The 7,200 RPM drive is the fastest drive of the bunch.  Expect quicker boot times into your operating system, better game performance and quicker video editing times.  The catch:  this drive has the worst battery life of the bunch.

When you are out shopping, you need to decide if performance is most important to you, or if battery life is the major concern.  If you want the best compromise go with the 5,400 RPM drive - you get good battery life and good performance.

If you have owned a computer in your life, you may have had to decide between purchasing a notebook or a desktop computer.  If you need some pros and cons to help you make your decision, check the following list out:

Pros of owning a laptop:

• Portability.  You can take your laptop out for coffee, to work and even to your job site.
• Convenience.  You do not have to stay attached to a desk anymore.  If it is a nice day, go outside and take your computer with you.
• Environmentally friendly.  Laptop computers tend to use less power than their desktop counterparts.
• Safe from power outages.  Since your laptop has a battery, if the power goes out your work is not lost.
• Multiple uses when traveling.  Your laptop can work as a GPS, a portable DVD player, a stereo, a tour guide, and many other uses as well.

Cons of owning a notebook:

• Not very upgradeable.  Except for the memory, hard drive, battery and wireless card, most laptops are not upgradeable.  Be sure to buy what you need now and what you will need in the future.
• Theft.  Laptops are easy to conceal and much easier to steal compared to a desktop.  Be sure to have some type of anti-theft device to use with your laptop.
• Multi-tasking ability.  Now this may seem weird, but just last night, I was working on my laptop while watching television.  I was more productive, but something is just wrong doing these two tasks at the same time. 

I am sure some of you have gone out and purchased a mouse for your notebook.  When you were out shopping, you may have noticed that there were regular mice and notebook mice.  Take a look at the following picture:

The mouse on the left is a “regular” size mouse, and the mouse on the right is a notebook mouse.  Now that you can see the visual differences, let us look at the good (pros) and the bad (cons) of using a notebook mouse.

Pros

• Small, easy to carry around
• Convenient.  Some wireless notebook mice also double as a wireless presenter
• Requires less counter space to function

Cons

• Smaller than a regular mouse
• Extended use can cause hand strain and pain
• Easier to lose because of size
• Hard to use if you have large hands

If you do decide to buy a notebook mouse, purchase it from a place where it can be easily returned.  If you do find that it does cause problems, take it back and get a regular sized mouse.

You may have spent a large amount of time researching what kind of notebook to buy. In your haste to get the laptop home you may have forgotten to purchase a laptop case. If you did indeed forget, here is a quick guide as to what to look for in a laptop case.

Why do you need a laptop case?

A laptop case serves three purposes:

1. Protects your notebook from damage
2. Stores your accessories and other items you will take with you on the road.
3. Disguises your laptop from thieves….

What to look for in a case:

1. Make sure that your laptop fits in the case. This also involves making sure that the case will close properly with the laptop in it. Though the case may fit most laptops, be sure it fits yours.
2. Be sure the case has room for all the stuff you will carry with you. Items such as your laptops’ AC adaptor, extra mouse, extra batteries, notebook cooler, folders, books, etc. Most bags come with compartments to hold these extra accessories. If you need a really large bag, get one with wheels and a retractable handle.
3. Look for a case with a handle or a shoulder strap. If you need your hands free, consider a backpack with a laptop compartment.
4. Look for a soft case. Soft cases tend to hold onto the computer better. If you do opt for a hard briefcase style, be sure that it has Velcro straps to secure the laptop from moving around in the case. This will prevent your notebook from being damaged while you carry it around.

Remember, your laptop case needs to hold your notebook safely, be able to hold all your laptop accessories and whatever other gear you need to carry with you. As long as you find a well-made case, bag, or backpack, you will be ready to take your laptop out into the real world.

Trying out a laptop in the store will give you an idea on how it works, what it looks like, and a good first impression to help you decide whether or not to buy it.  When you take it home it may be another story…

That is why you need to check out the return policy on your notebook purchase.

Different stores have different return policies.  Some only allow you to return the laptop within ten to fourteen days if it is unopened.  Others let you have thirty days to try it out, and if you don’t like it, even if you used it, you can bring it back.  I also know of one store that lets you have six months to figure out if there are any problems with it or if you don’t like it, and returning it is hassle free.

Be sure to ask about the return policy, and how it works.  Do they just take your word that it is broken, or do they require that they test it?  If they do test it, how long does that take?  Ask a lot of questions.  Below is a quick list of what you should ask about:

1. What is the return policy on a laptop or notebook?
2. How many days do I have to try it out?
3. Do I need a reason to return it, or can it be just because I don’t like it?
4. Can I return it even if it has been opened and used?
5. Do you need to check it before I can get my money back?  How long does that take?
6. If I have XX (substitute the number of days in their return policy) days, does that count days you are not open?
7. What if the price goes down during the time I am allowed to return it.  Do you offer any kind of price protection? 
8. Can I have a copy of your return policy in writing?

This is just a sample list of questions.  I would suggest asking more than one salesperson these questions to ensure that you are getting consistent answers.  Talk to your friends that have used the store as well to get their feedback on their return policy.  If for any reason you feel that their return policy doesn’t sound so good, don’t buy there.  Sometimes it is also worth paying a little more at a different store to get a more favorable return policy.  Just be comfortable with your decision before you buy.

In most cases when you are buying a laptop online (either new or used), chances are that you will get the notebook shipped to you.

Usually it is shipped in a box with bubble wrap or those foam wormies or some combination thereof.  Now, when you pay for your shipping, you have the option to insure it.  I would definitely suggest it.

Let me tell you a story about the value of insuring a laptop purchased online:

A few years ago, I bought a laptop online on ebay. At this time it was my second laptop that I bought on there and I was confident that I would get what I paid for it. The total cost for the notebook and some accessories including shipping and insurance was $1250. I waited patiently until the package arrived to try out my new baby.

When the packaged was delivered, I madly opened it. Plugging the laptop in and turning it on, there was a problem. A big problem. The screen, which according to the auction ad was good, was visibly damaged. Damaged to the point where I could see it. Do you think I was happy with my damaged $1200 investment No. I made a quick call to the shipping company complaining that my package arrived damaged.

They had to send someone out to verify that my package was indeed damaged as well as verify that it was packaged appropriately. After a couple of weeks of corresponding back and forth between the shipping company and the person I bought the laptop from, eventually I received a cheque for $1200.

Had I not used the insurance, I would have had a broken laptop. So make sure, if you do buy online, purchase shipping insurance. You won’t regret it.

Recently, I decided I wanted to upgrade the RAM (random access memory) in my laptop.  Digging out my manual, I found that I could install up to 1.0 GB of RAM in the laptop.  So, I went to the store and purchased two 512 Mb sticks of PC3200 DDR RAM SoDimms for my laptop.

Returning home, I installed the RAM in the bottom of the computer.  Make sure you read your manual to find out where to put the RAM and how to install it.  Once I had installed the RAM, I went to start the computer.

Nothing happened…..

Checking to make sure I installed it properly, nothing happened again.  I made a quick call to the computer store where I purchased the memory, and after talking to them, they let me know that you need to have the exact speed of RAM that is matched to your motherboard.  So, in my case, the new PC3200 RAM was not the same as my old PC2100 RAM.  Arggh!  So, make sure that you keep this in mind when upgrading the RAM on your laptop:

Make sure that your new RAM matches the speed of the current RAM in your laptop when upgrading.

I will let you know how the RAM upgrade went (with the right RAM) in a later entry.  Just make sure to learn from my mistakes. 

Recently, I was on the Canadian Dell website customizing a laptop.  This particular notebook I wanted to get 2 GB of RAM.  Just as I was going to check out I noticed that the RAM was only 533 MHz but the front side bus (FSB) of the processor was 667 MHz.  Finding that there was no option, I went on the live help and asked one of the Dell sales people if I could get the better RAM as an option.  The response they gave me is the following:

“Sorry sir, but the motherboard does not support the faster RAM and it is not an option.”

Now you might ask what would that mean to me, right   Well, by not putting the right speed RAM with the right processor, what has been created is a bottleneck.  A bottleneck is a place on the computer that slows down, or hinders the machine from working at its fastest possible speed.  Think of this analogy:

“You go to a motorcycle dealer and they sell you a motorcycle with four wheel drive.  When you take the motorcycle home and try to use it, you realize that you can’t: the motorcycle only has two wheels.”

Needless to say I didn’t buy the laptop because it ended up that it wasn’t a very good deal.  Just do yourself a favor and make sure to check that the RAM speed is the right one for your CPU.