| Before you purchase your laptop you'll want to | | | | number of peripherals such as printers, cameras |
| familiarize yourself with the various features and | | | | and external floppy drives or modems. The |
| determine what you need and what you do not. | | | | number of ports you need depends on the |
| Some folks seek out all the latest bells and | | | | internal features of your laptop as well as your |
| whistles. For others it's about getting your typical | | | | own need for peripherals.Obviously, if you have an |
| job done efficiently and cost effectively.Here are | | | | internal modem you don't need a port for an |
| some helpful hints:To save yourself money look | | | | external one. But if you have only a CD drive and |
| for a Celeron processor. Less expensive than a | | | | copy to floppy on your PC at home, for the two |
| Pentium, it will work fine for all but the most | | | | to talk to each other you're going to need an |
| detailed graphics projects. If you're a graphic artist | | | | external floppy drive on your laptop. For this you'll |
| or a professional programmer, however, seek out | | | | need a port. Be cognizant also of the types of |
| a laptop with Pentium processing.126 MB RAM is | | | | ports. Your old mouse may connect by parallel |
| the least you can be comfortable with nowadays, | | | | port, but the newest versions require USB |
| no matter what you're doing. And, unless you're | | | | connection.Make sure you have an internal |
| buying used you're probably not going to find a | | | | modem and fax rather than external. And if |
| laptop with less anyway. But what if you want to | | | | you're shopping for a brand new laptop the |
| upgrade your memory? How easy is it to do | | | | wireless feature is terrific. Many places, such as |
| that? How accessible is the panel for the memory | | | | RV and other resorts are totally Wi-Fi capable |
| chips? Are you comfortable with doing it yourself | | | | now.If you're used to a traditional mouse do play |
| if you have to remove the case? Make sure it's | | | | around with several versions of mice available on |
| not a laptop that actually requires some outside | | | | laptops. Some will drive you crazy until you get |
| technical help to install more memory. .The life of | | | | used to them. See if you're most comfortable |
| the installed battery is important. Generally the | | | | with trackball, touch pad or trackpoint. While |
| range of battery life available to laptops is | | | | you're checking that, play with that keyboard. So |
| two-four hours. Which is adequate depends on | | | | much smaller than a PC keyboard, you may have |
| where you're going to be when you use your | | | | difficulty typing accurately with some. Try |
| laptop. If you're a traveling sales rep who needs a | | | | several.The final things you'll want to compare are |
| laptop to your emails and prepare the daily report | | | | the software and the warranty. Major software |
| from your hotel room each evening you won't be | | | | programs such as Windows are almost always |
| using your battery a lot. If, however, you envision | | | | included in brand new systems, but do check. |
| the life of the mobile warrior, sometimes creating | | | | Especially if buying used. You can spend many |
| your graphic or written masterpiece from the | | | | hundreds of dollars on Microsoft Office and the |
| beach, or while traveling by air, you won't be able | | | | latest Windows version if you don't have a |
| to rely on the power cord and electricity. You'll | | | | version that you can upgrade.Alan Jason Smith is |
| want that four-hour battery.Make sure you have | | | | the owner of which is a great place to find |
| a minimum of three ports, to accommodate a | | | | computer links, resources and articles. |