| If you are like most student's, money isn't exactly | | | | RAM or get a RAM upgrade. Getting a memory |
| growing on trees. Choosing the right laptop can be | | | | upgrade actually isn't that expensive. |
| a matter of saving yourself a lot of heartache | | | | Hard Drive - If you are the type of student that |
| and money at the same time. | | | | loves having a lot of music files or videos, you are |
| In this article I am going to over the most | | | | going to want a bigger hard drive. Getting at least |
| common uses that a student has for a notebook | | | | a 60 gigabyte hard drive would be the perfect |
| as well as talk about the most important | | | | solution in this case. If you aren't going to be |
| components you should have for these uses. | | | | downloading music all the time or putting big files |
| Most student's will list the obvious things that a | | | | on your notebook, than 40 gigabytes or lower will |
| laptop is needed for; stuff like word processing, | | | | work fine. Most new laptops come with at least a |
| e-mail etc. The reality is that today's student's are | | | | 40 gigabyte hard drive. |
| using computers more than ever for a lot more. | | | | CD-RW - This is probably one of the most used |
| The average student's list may look something | | | | parts on a student's notebook, hands down. If |
| like this: | | | | you download music and want to transfer it to a |
| - Word Processing | | | | CD, you are going to need a CD burner. If you |
| - E-mail | | | | want to burn DVD's you are going to have to go |
| - Internet | | | | one step further and get a DVD-RW drive. If you |
| - Music Downloads | | | | don't need any of these functions, having a |
| - Possible Video Editing | | | | normal CD or DVD reader drive will work great. |
| - And More... | | | | Internet - Pretty much every student needs to |
| Every one of the above can now be part of the | | | | connect to the internet. With such a wealth of |
| student's functions when using a notebook. You | | | | knowledge available online, virtually every student |
| may or may not need some of the above, so I | | | | is connected now a days. Pretty much every |
| will also go over that below. | | | | laptop you find will be able to connect to the |
| Let's go over the 5 most important notebook | | | | internet in some way, but you most likely want |
| components for today's student. | | | | something that will work on your campus. For this, |
| CPU - In short, the CPU basically evaluates and | | | | you want your potential notebook to have a |
| executes commands given to it. So a faster CPU | | | | wireless internet card. |
| will be able to execute commands quicker, right? | | | | Ok, those 5 parts can't be everything to look out |
| Yes, but having the latest Intel or AMD chip is | | | | for, right? You are right; there are a few more |
| definitely not needed. Depending on your memory | | | | things that can actually be quite important to |
| and operating system you can get by just fine on | | | | some students. |
| a 1.0GHZ processor, or even less. Most of the | | | | Weight - If you are constantly carrying your |
| newer systems come with more than 2.0GHZ, | | | | laptop around campus you don't want something |
| and you may want this if you are doing any video | | | | that will break your shoulder. If weight is |
| editing or something that requires faster | | | | important to you, look for something in the 6-7 |
| processor speeds. | | | | pounds range. |
| Memory - The amount of memory that your | | | | Display - If you don't need something ultra big, |
| prospective notebook features has a big impact | | | | look for a screen size of around 15 inches. Most |
| on how fast applications will load, and generally | | | | people agree that 12-14 inch screens do not |
| how fast your computer will run. For this reason, | | | | provide comfortable viewing. Bigger than 15 inch |
| memory is one of the most popular computer | | | | screens are nice, but also add more weight to the |
| upgrades available. Newer machines will come with | | | | laptop. |
| at least 256mb of RAM (memory), but if you are | | | | One last important note before you head out and |
| going to be using Windows XP I highly | | | | get your baby... Plug in to an outlet as much as |
| recommend getting more. You can get by running | | | | possible. Laptops do not run on batteries forever, |
| 256mb of memory while using Windows XP, but it | | | | and you are wise to save your batteries power |
| will slow. | | | | for when you really need it. |
| I remember when I replaced my 256mb stick of | | | | Taking the time to really go over what you need |
| RAM for 512 megabytes -- It felt like a totally | | | | a notebook for and then finding something that |
| new computer. If you are on a very strict budget | | | | will meet those needs will save you where it |
| stick with 256mb. If you need more, either find a | | | | matters most -- The pocketbook. |
| laptop that already carries 512+ megabytes of | | | | |