Laptop
Computer Extras for the Mobile Traveler
by: John San Filippo
A laptop computer certainly provides
you with an unprecedented level of freedom and mobility away from the office.
However there are a few extras you might want to bring along on your laptop
travels:
Extra 1: portable printer
If you travel a lot, you never know
when you might need to commit one of your digital documents to paper.
Sure, you can probably find a Kinko's,
or even the business center at your hotel, but the experienced business
traveler knows you're much better off when you're not at someone else's
mercy.
Extra 2: USB hub
If you need to connect to several
external devices simultaneously, the one or two USB ports on your laptop
may or may not be sufficient. If not, keep an inexpensive four- port USB
hub in your laptop case.
Extra 3: PC card token ring adapter
Ethernet is the industry standard
for computer networking, however back in the 1970s IBM introduced a competing
technology called Token Ring.
While Token Ring has all but faded
from the mainstream, some hardcore IBM'ers still use it.
If you're going to be working in
such an environment, you'll need a PC Card to connect to the network.
Extra 4: Foreign power kit
If you travel abroad, you're bound
to run into a wide variety of power schemes - power schemes that aren't
compatible with your laptop.
When you're away from the homeland,
you'll need some sort of adapter/converter if you want to plug into a local
wall outlet.
These are relatively inexpensive
and can be easily found online.
Copyright (c) 2004 HowToBuyALaptop.com
About The Author
The author, computer journalist
John San Filippo, has created the definitive guide for buying a laptop
computer and mobile accessories. Visit the site at: http://HowToBuyALaptop.com
Courtesy of http://www.ArticleCity.com/
How To Save Big Bucks On A Laptop Computer
by: John San Filippo
If you're a bargain shopper looking to get the
most bang for your buck, you'll find no shortage of deals on the Internet.
And that's particularly true in the
fast-changing world of laptop computers, where you'll find three bargain sources
right at your fingertips:
1. Clearance Sales
Just like many brick-and-mortar retail stores,
many computer manufacturer websites have clearance sections. On these web pages,
you can find great deals on last year's leftovers.
These are all new products (unless otherwise
stated) and carry their original warranties. The only difference is that the
price has been reduced.
Of course the manufacturers aren't the only ones
with clearance merchandise.
Major electronics and office supply retailers
also include clearance sections on their websites, where you may be able to find
the laptop bargain of your dreams.
2. Refurbished Laptops
Factory refurbs represent another great bargain
opportunity. It works something like this:
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Joe Blow buys a new laptop, but decides a week
later he doesn't like the color.
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He takes it back to the store within the store's
stated return period, so the store is stuck with it.
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Since they can't sell the laptop as new, the store
sends it back to the manufacturer to be "refurbished."
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The factory inspects that laptop to make sure
everything works right, and then ships it out to a retailer that deals in
refurbs.
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The refurb retailer then sells it to you at a great
discount off the original price.
Buying a refurb can literally save you hundreds.
3. Online Auctions
You can always logon to an auction website and
find a great deal on a used laptop. However, beware!
Buying anything used carries with it some risk.
Buying a used laptop carries more risk than most people should be willing to
take.
When you buy a used laptop from a private party,
you don't get any sort of warranty beyond DOA.
DOA stands for "dead on arrival", a common
auction term that means the seller guarantees the item will work when it arrives
at your house.
But what happens if your laptop dies two weeks
after it arrives? You're out of luck, that's what.
There are enough bargains available on
warrantied laptops that all but the most meager budgets should be able to avoid
buying used.
Stick to clearance and refurb machines and
you'll save yourself hundreds on your next laptop computer.
Copyright (c) 2004 HowToBuyALaptop.com.
About The Author
The author, computer journalist John San
Filippo, has created the definitive guide to help you navigate through the
laptop jungle. Visit the site today and find out everything you need to know
about laptops before you buy. Check out:
http://HowToBuyALaptop.com/
Courtesy of
http://www.ArticleCity.com/
5
Tips For Buying The Right Laptop Computer
by: John San Filippo
It's easy to be intimidated by all
the laptop models on the market today. There are literally dozens and dozens
in every price range.
The key to finding the right one
for you is to step back and consider exactly how you plan to use your laptop.
When you define what you need before you go shopping, buying the right
machine becomes much easier.
Here are 5 basic factors to consider:
1. SIZE
In the world of mobile computing,
size definitely matters. The size of a laptop affects two key areas: portability
and display size.
If you're always on the go and will
be using your computer only in short bursts, a so-called ultralight will
save you some shoulder strain.
On the other hand, if you're going
to spend hours in front of your laptop, a larger display may be in order.
Today, some laptop displays exceed
17 inches, rivaling the display size of many desktop systems. The down
side is that these monsters can easily weigh three times as much as an
ultralight.
2. HARD DRIVE
Speaking of size, what about the
size of the hard drive? One way to approach this issue is to ask yourself
the following question:
Will this be my primary computer,
or will it supplement my desktop system?
If the former, you should look for
a bigger hard drive - 60 GB or more.
If the latter, you may be able to
make it with a 20-30 GB hard drive.
But even this isn't absolute.
If, for example, you plan to copy
a huge MP3 library from your desktop system to your laptop to make your
music library portable, you'd be well advised to err on the side of too
big.
3. MEMORY
In determining the right amount of
system memory, or RAM, take a look at the ways in which you intend to use
your laptop:
If your needs are somewhat mundane
- email, spreadsheets, word processing, etc. - 256 MB of RAM should be
plenty. This is a common configuration for many laptops, so it means you
probably won't need to spend extra for more RAM.
On the flip side, if you're an aspiring
mobile digital photographer or videographer, you should stuff your laptop
with as much RAM as it can hold.
In fact, exactly how much RAM your
laptop can hold may in part drive your purchase decision. Applications
for editing and manipulating multimedia content are notorious resource
hogs.
4. NETWORK CONNECTIONS
Thanks in no small part to the Internet,
computing in the 21st century relies heavily on being connected:
Connected to the Internet, connected
to a corporate network, connected to a wireless network, connected to a
home network, connected to an online service.
Your life will be easier if you buy
a laptop that includes built-in means to connect to them all.
5. PRICE
If you're considering a laptop, you're
probably wondering how much money you'll need to spend.
A few years ago, you'd be hard-pressed
to find one for under $2,000. Today, there are plenty of laptops to be
had for under $1,000.
What's more, most of the major manufacturers
offer a variety of financing options.
Laptop prices have come down, to
be sure. However, a laptop still represents a fairly major purchase for
most people.
If you take the time to search for
a laptop that meets your specific needs, you should get many years of use
and enjoyment from this important investment.
--
You may republish this article,
but must keep the resource box and copyright at the end.
About The Author
The author, computer journalist
John San Filippo, has created the definitive guide for buying a laptop
computer. It's an easy read and explains everything you need to know. Check
out ==> http://howtobuyalaptop.com/
Courtesy of http://www.ArticleCity.com/
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