Laptops

For some of us, buying a computer now means buying a laptop

Today’s laptops compete with desktop systems on performance, but come in a much more convenient package that stows away neatly after use. And, if you’re on the road on business, a laptop makes more sense than ever, as Wi-Fi technology makes it easy to take the office with you, wherever you go.

There are some downsides. Laptops are more expensive than desktop machines and features, such as large 100Gb hard drives for storing oodles of digital photos, movies and music, and high-speed 3D graphics to cope with new-release computer games become expensive luxuries in mobile form.

Things to consider

Laptops fit into three basic categories. ‘Ultra-portables’ are designed to be as compact and lightweight as possible – ideal for commuters or anyone who takes frequent trips away. By contrast, heavyweight ‘desktop replacements’ are a compact alternative to desktop PCs – a good option if you have space constraints at home.

The rest come somewhere in between. Working out what to buy can be tricky, so we’ve looked at the needs of three typical buyers and made recommendations for each. But there’s no substitute for hands-on experience, so be prepared to try before you buy – in many cases ‘ergonomics’ are just as important as specs.

When it comes to laptops, warranties are important. Screens and keyboards are particularly susceptible to damage, especially if you’ll be lugging it around with you on a regular basis. Most laptops come with a one-year back to base warranty, but some vendors offer more for an extra fee. Terms differ, so be sure to check that common problems – dead pixels and broken keys, for example – are covered.

Last, before you start shopping, it’s important to understand what you’re buying.

In other words

CPU: central processing unit: determines how quickly you’ll be able to process data.
Ram: random access memory: determines how many programs you’ll be able to run at once.
HDD: hard disk drive: denotes how many spreadsheets, letters, emails and digital photos, etc you’ll be able to store.
Optical drives: A CD-Rom drive allows you to ‘read’ CDs while a CD-RW drive also lets you copy them. A DVD-Rom drive plays DVDs whereas a DVD-RW drive will also copy them. Combo drives let you copy CDs and DVDs.
Graphics: To process images, many desktops and some expensive laptops use 3D graphics cards with their own dedicated memory. This means they can display complex images at far greater speed than the integrated or built-in graphics found on budget desktops and the vast majority of laptops.

Budget Buyer

Under Ł1000

Shopping list

Processor Celeron or Athlon XP if you’re on a budget, Pentium 4 or Athlon 64 for high performance, and Pentium M for mobility and battery life.
Weight Keep to under 2.7Kg if you’ll be carrying it around, and under 2Kg if you’ll be carrying it around a lot.
Screen 14-inch at least if you’ll be using it for long periods, but 15 inches is better. You’ll have to compromise here if you want an ultra-portable.
Service and reliability Laptops can be expensive to repair so buy a trusted brand and make sure the warranty is up to scratch.
Ram and hard disk space Some manufacturers cut corners here, so, if you can, opt for 512Mb ram and at least a 40Gb hard drive.

Martin is preparing for his first year at university. He’ll have limited space, so it makes sense to use a laptop for his coursework, research and email.

Thankfully, even a budget Ł800 laptop with a good 14.1-inch or 15-inch screen, a 30Gb hard drive and 256Mb of ram should meet Martin’s needs. Standard features are an Ethernet port to plug into the college network and a dial-up modem for use at home.

A budget desktop replacement like this offers more features and performance per pound, but is only a good choice if portability isn’t a high priority.

If Martin economises by choosing a laptop with a cheaper, consumer processor such as a Mobile Celeron, Pentium 4 or AthlonXP, he may be able to afford some extras, such as a combination DVD-Rom/ recordable CD drive. This would provide entertainment and a means of backing up coursework to CD in one unit. At this price point speedy 3D graphics are in short supply, and integrated graphics (ample for word processing and web research) are the norm.

The commonly-bundled Microsoft (MS) Works 7 will suffice for Martin’s coursework, but he should look out for cheap deals that include MS Works Suite, which incorporates Word 2002. Alternatively, a free office suite, such as OpenOffice should meet his coursework needs.

Verdict

Celeron-based systems, such as the HP Pavilion ze5602EA or the Dell Inspiron 1100, would be a good bet for Martin, especially with the extended warranty options on offer. He could also plump for the Sony Vaio FR415B or the Toshiba Satellite A10. The Fujitsu Siemens Amilo D range also contains some bargains, with fast Pentium 4 processors and bundled software sweetening the deal. While Macs are more expensive than PCs, iBooks come packaged with all the software Martin needs and the 14-inch option comes in just under budget at Ł999.

Desktop Replacement

Under Ł2,000

Janet runs her own PR consultancy from home, but has regular meetings with clients and the press. She wants a laptop that she can use at home, en route and when giving presentations.

Janet needs more power than Martin and a big enough screen to do her presentations justice. That means she’ll need performance and portability.

For Ł2,000, it’s possible to pack in a fast processor, high-resolution 15-inch screen, 512Mb of ram, 60Gb hard disk and DVD-rom/Recordable CD combo drive without exceeding 2.7Kg in weight. A 1.7Ghz Pentium-M processor would be adequate, but a laptop with Intel’s Pentium 4 HT processor or AMD’s Athlon64 would equal many desktop systems for speed.

As Janet needs a word processor, presentation software and a spreadsheet package to manage her accounts, an office suite like MS Office is a must. Some laptops come with Office pre-installed, but, if not, she might be eligible for an upgrade if she’s an existing Office user or her laptop ships with MS Works 7. Or, she could opt for a cheaper, open source suite such as Star Office or its free equivalent, Open Office. However, these options may make it harder to share files with clients.

Verdict

Dell’s Inspiron 5150 would be a good choice, particularly with the three-year warranty and Office 2003 bundle options ticked. However, a powerful 15.4-inch widescreen model, such as the Toshiba Satellite Pro M30 or the Evesham Voyager Cinebook 1.7 would give her presentations a boost without putting too much weight on her shoulders. And if she’d prefer a Mac, either the 15 or 17-inch PowerBook would certainly fit the bill. Although the latter exceeds her budget by Ł400, it comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a wide screen that’ll rival many desktops’.

Ultra Portable

Under Ł2,500

Brian manages a small wine merchant business that takes him all over the UK and abroad. He wants to stay in touch with his office, and keep critical figures close to hand.

Brian’s priorities are portability, net access and battery life – all factors that scream Centrino, Intel’s mobile processor technology that balances performance with low power consumption. Centrino machines also support wireless networking (allowing you to access email and the web from hotspots in cafés, airports, hotels and major train stations) as do Apple PowerBooks with AirPort Extreme or any laptop fitted with a Wi-Fi card.

Being on the move so much, Brian should look for sleek, lightweight laptops that won’t weigh him down. While you’ll lose top-notch performance, hard disk space and screen size (12-inch screens are normal) your back will thank you. Ultra-portables often come without a built-in CD or DVD drive, so Brian should look at models with an external drive or docking station.

Security is another key factor. Windows XP Professional has file encryption features to safeguard Brian’s data against thieves. A laptop-bag alarm would also be a wise investment to scare off bag snatchers.

Verdict

The Toshiba Portegé R100-P-M with 12-inch screen is the same size and weight as a hardback A4 desk diary, which should put it high on Brian’s shortlist. The Sony Vaio TR1MP, which features a smaller 10.6-inch screen, a built-in DVD/CD-RW combo drive and weighs just 1.4Kg, and the Samsung Q20 are also contenders. IBM’s Thinkpad X31 continues the company’s long line of lightweight champions and a 12-inch PowerBook would be a good option for anyone more comfortable with a Mac.