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What to look for in notebook PCs:

As in desktop computers, the processor, or CPU is the most important chip in notebook computers. The speed of the CPU is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).  The latest notebook CPUs have power management features.  The processor runs at a lower speed when the notebook PC is running on battery. It runs on higher speed when it's running on AC power source. Notebook PCs often sacrifice speed for its small size as compare to desktop PCs. Besides the well known AMD Athlon 4 and Intel's Pentium 4 CPUs, there is a third manufacturer called Transmeta.  The company produces Crusoe CPUs that perform like Celerons and Durons but draw very little power, making them good candidates for ultra-thin notebooks.

To learn about the latest PC processors, you can visit Intel and AMD's websites.

Most notebook PCs use SDRAM as well as the small-outline (SO) memory modules.  They generally cost a little more than the standard desktop modules.  How much memory you will need depends on your operating system.  You will need 256MB of RAM for Windows XP, 128MB for other operating systems.

Notebook hard drive are much smaller and use less power to operate.  They cost more than the desktop PC hard drives.  Currently, the size of the notebook hard drives tops out at about 60GB.  You should look for 5,400rpm drives other than the 4,200rpm hard drives for faster performance.  Notebook hard drives' failure rate is higher than those of the desktop PC counterparts.  You should look for hard drives which have the self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology (SMART) for early warning of impending problems.

Notebook PCs use LCDs ranging from 12.1 inches to 15 inches diagonally. Most notebook displays are adequate for mobile computing needs.  However, qualify does vary among different manufacturers, so you should do some comparison shopping.

Video cards in notebooks PCs are not as powerful as those in desktop PCs.  The amount of video memory tops out at about 8MB while the desktop PC video cars have 32MB, 64MB, even 128MB or more. However, for most presentation and office use, the notebook video cards are more than able to handle the job.

The floppy drives are almost non-necessary these days.  Some laptop PCs don't even equip with one.  But a CD-ROM is a must for installing software.  Unless you are buying a budget system, don't settle anything less than a CD-R/RW drive, so you can read and burn CDs.  For movies and games, consider a CD-R/RW and DVD combo drive.  While some drives are built into the system, others are external for most ultra light weight notebook PCs.

Almost all the notebook PCs are equipped with a built-in 56K modem. Older models might require you to purchase PC Card version.  Also, the built-in Ethernet connection are rapidly becoming a standard feature.  Some have built-in infra red port for communication with other office equipment such as a printer.  Many notebook PCs also include built-in antennas for wireless networking.

Look for these standard features in a notebook PC: a printer port for hooking up a printer; a VGA port to hook up to an external monitor if desired; at least one USB port for peripherals; at least one PC Card slot; a PS2 port for an external keyboard or mouse; multimedia jack for a headphone and a microphone.  A docking station or a port replicator adds convenience and expansion possibilities.  There are wide varieties of expansion options available for your notebook PC, but they tend to cost more than the desktop PC counterparts, you are generally better off buying a notebook that has everything you need right out of the box.

Like desktop PCs, notebook PCs also have different classes in weight and size. Ultra light weight notebooks weight less than four pounds, measure between 1 and 1.5 inches thick and have 12.1 inch or smaller screens. They usually come with no internal drives. The main stream notebook PCs are bigger in size and weight, may include internal drives.  They offer the best value for tight budget consumers. Finally, there are the heaviest "desktop replacement" systems.  They can weight as much as 10 pounds but offer the top performance the most features and the largest display.

Notebook PCs now use lithium-ion batteries. How long the battery will last generally depends on how you use the laptop.  The greater the performance and features the notebook has, the bigger and bulkier the battery is required. Check with the note book manufacture to see what you should be expected of the battery-life.  Most batteries should last at least about two hours.  You can check the batter-life either on a self-test button on the battery or using Windows' power setting feature.

Most notebook PCs manufacturers will provide at least a year of warranty service and technical support. Some even provide on-site service but might require you to pay a little extra. Make sure you check with the vendor about the after-sale service and support options.

There is a new trend in the notebook PC development as you might have already noticed: Tablet PCs. What set tablet PCs apart from the traditional notebook PCs are the input method and the display. In addition of the keyboard, now you can write on the screen with a digital pen. Also, the screen display can be folded flat or turn around.  Despite of the hypes, the writing recognition speed is still slow compared to using the keyboard as an input method.

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