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Choosing the Right Laptop
Display for Your Needs

When considering what price range laptop you're going to buy, an important factor is what size of screen you want.

The standard LCD laptop screen today is Active Matrix (TFT). The older models (much older) used a passive or DSTN screen. These types of screens are not even produced any longer. More important than the type of screen, is the size and resolution of the laptop display. This tutorial will help you determine what type of display is best for you.

Screen sizes and resolutions
Rather than the type of screen, which should be TFT, you will want to consider the size and resolution of the laptop screen. Here's a range of laptop screen sizes and the resolutions that are often displayed on the screen:

Screen Resolutions (in pixels) Possible LCD Sizes (diagonal)
1024x768 (XGA) 13", 14", 15"
1400x1050 (SXGA+) 15"

About Resolutions
Screens typically have the XGA (1024x768) or SXGA+ (1400x1050) resolution. For many, this resolution is fine as text is more comfortable to read. If you demand more desktop space, look for a higher resolution screen. But beware, just because a screen has a higher resolution, it does not mean that screen is better for you. The higher the resolution, the smaller, and closer the pixels. This means you can fit more info on your desktop, but the print will also be much smaller and harder to see for some users. But, it also means the picture detail may be better as well.

You may want to go and look at different screens at a local computer or electronics store to figure out what size and resolution you prefer. Or, take a look at a 17" Monitor and play with the resolution settings. A 17" CRT monitor is not much bigger than a 15" LCD because they are measured differently. A 15" LCD is measured on the diagonal viewable area while the CRT monitor is not. If you don't like the fine resolution of 1600 x 1200 on a 17" monitor, you definitely will not like it on a laptop screen.

Another consideration is native resolution. Unlike CRT monitors, LCDs should be run at their native resolution. Since LCDs use fixed-pixels rather than than a tube for the picture, any resolution other than the native resolution will look imperfect and "fuzzy." However, if an external monitor is connected to the laptop, the resolution can be altered without a loss in picture quality.

Laptop Size
A laptop with a 14" or 15" diagonal screen is going to be physically larger than one with a 12" or 13" screen. A laptop with a 16" or 17" will be even larger. The actual size of the laptop has been increased in order to hold the larger screens. Some laptop even can accommodate a full-sized keyboard with a dedicated keypad, if that gives you an idea of the size of these "desktop replacements."

So, choose wisely if you want a big screen. As time goes on, larger screens will keep getting cheaper, and instead of increasing screen size, laptop prices will go down. I can't imagine a laptop with a screen larger 17 inches, but it is possible if there is demand for it.


Which CPU is Right for You?

The most common question asked to us by our customers is, "Which type of processor is best for me?"

Aside from the screen type (size and resolution) you choose, the next choice to make is the which CPU type fits your needs. Below is a brief list of the pro's and con's of the two major CPU types. This list should give you a quick picture of what each processor type offers.



Pentium 4- Northwood
Pentium-M (Centrino)
Pros
Cons
  
Pros
Cons
Desktop Performance Heat Generation   Low-Power Consumption Higher Price
Hyper-threading support Poor Battery Life   Low Fan Noise Lower Processing speeds
Bus Speed Fan Noise   Thinner, lighter designs Slower bus speeds
Full-feature systems Weight of System   Integrated Wireless  
      Extended Battery Life  
      1 MB L2 Cache  
         
Users & Applications 
  
Users & Applications 
Power hungry users   Business/Home users on the go
HQ Audio or Video Editing    Students requiring true mobility
Heavy Gaming     

We have always chosen to rely on processors manufactured by Intel. Another name in the processor business is AMD. AMD processors have not been very popular in notebook computers. They are less expensive but tend to run extremely warm. Thus, the long term result of this type CPU has not impressed us. For this reason, we have chosen not to carry any models with the AMD CPU. This may change after we see a reliable track record develops; but for now, we will stay with genuine Intel based processors.

Centrino vs. Pentium 4

Intel Pentium M & Centrino- The Intel® Pentium® M processor is a key component of Intel® Centrino™ mobile technology and is built to go the extra mile. It's advanced power distribution intelligence prioritizes power needs and increases battery life by shutting down any components which are not being used. It was designed specifically for the thinnest and lightest notebooks in the mobile world.

By the way, a notebook only carries the "Centrino" label if it has the combination of the Intel Pentium-M processor, the Intel 855 Family Chipset, and the Intel Wireless Pro wireless card. If you saw the pattern, then kudos to you, they all use Intel parts. Does this make a difference? Not really. The most important component is the CPU, and that's what you should pay attention to.

Systems with the Pentium M CPU are lighter, thinner, and generate less fan noise than system with the standard Pentium 4. They run at a much lower temperature because the processor does not require nearly as much power to run. They may run a lesser clock speed, but a performance boost occurs as a result of the increased 1MB of L2 Cache. These components tend to run a little bit more expensive than the Pentium 4, but it is important to pay attention to features over cost.

Intel Pentium 4- Notebooks based on mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 processor supporting Hyper-Threading technology offers near-desktop performance. In addition, desktop features such as large screens, full-size keyboards, TV-T8unser, and multiple drives are available. These notebooks provide better responsiveness when using multiple demanding applications, and allow users to take advantage of multithreaded (Hyper-threading) and processor-intensive multimedia applications such as video encoding, image processing, digital media 3D, gaming, etc.

If you are looking to run intense applications like CAD, gaming, multimedia editing, or similar apps, then you should consider a Pentium 4 processor with HT support. You will sacrifice battery life and mobility, but your work will get done at blazing speeds, just like a desktop


 Video Memory Information

If you are going to get a high-resolution LCD display on your laptop, or you're planning to attach an external monitor, pay attention to the amount of video memory in the laptop. Make sure you get as much as possible if you want to view a decent resolution with plenty of color. If you get less then 8 MB, colors will be limited if you switch to high resolutions.

Some solutions use "Shared Video Memory." If you get a graphics chip that uses that memory, subtract the graphics memory amount from your main memory. If you're cheaping out on main memory already, you'll run into performance problems with shared memory. For low-end graphics, you will find built-in graphics that don't require a separate chip on the motherboard called things like, "4X AGP with 8MB Video Memory." Not everyone cares about fast 3D performance. If you don't care, it's ok to opt for graphics like this. However, make sure that your laptop does come with separate video memory and doesn't just steal memory from your main memory.

Another consideration is 3D graphics. The best mobile 3D chips out there are made by NVidia and ATI. These options are appearing in high-end laptops. The bonus with going with a name brand video card, or even an outdated one, is that you typically get at least 32MB of video memory. 64 MB and 128 MB video solutions are bound to rise soon.

Operating System Options

If you are having a hard time deciding which OS to purchase, follow the link below
to Microsoft's website where you will find detailed descriptions of each:

Windows XP Home
Experience more than you thought possible with your home computer and the Internet. Windows XP Home Edition brings dependability and simplicity to your personal computer. It includes a cleaner, more intuitive visual design, advanced digital media features that make working with digital photographs or playing digital music simple and fun, and many new Windows experiences to explore. (Note: Windows XP Professional may be a better choice for you.)
   
Windows XP Professional
Designed for businesses of all sizes and for home users who demand the most from their computing experience, Windows XP Professional delivers the new standard in reliability and performance. It includes all the great features and new visual design of Windows XP Home Edition, plus premier security and privacy features, advanced recovery options, improved ability to connect to large networks, and much more.

If you do purchase the OS from us, we will install it and all necessary drivers so the system will be ready to roll right out of the box. A software license is always included when software is sold. The activation code is located on the license sticker which is either located on the plastic wrap of the software itself or on the underside of the laptop. It is important you locate the license sticker and keep it in a safe place.

 

 
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