4 tips for getting the laptop you need

By Kim Komando

I was at one of those super-duper mega-electronics stores awhile back buying an antenna for my new high-definition television.

Just for giggles, I wandered through the computer department. Sitting there like an anxious teen waiting to be noticed at the school dance, I saw no less than 50 different laptop makes and models.

Notebook PCs are now the computer of choice in the United States; their sales have eclipsed those of desktop PCs. And competition has caused their prices to descend at a rate roughly similar to those of desktop PCs.

So that's why I came up with these four simple ways to pick the laptop that's right for you.

1. Know your needs.

There is a bewildering array of sizes available. The smallest of them � I'm talking true laptops, not handhelds � are the ultraportables. Generally, anything under 3.5 pounds falls into this class.

If you live out of a suitcase, and can identify airports by smell, you know the value of a light computer. A six-pound computer can feel like a sack of potatoes at the end of a long concourse. An ultraportable can feel ultra-friendly in this situation.

But ultraportables have obvious limitations. Their screens are usually small, no bigger than about 10 inches. Keyboards are junior-sized. And they are often underpowered. Personally, I think there are too many compromises in this class. But I don't travel much on business; if you do, less weight might make an ultraportable worthwhile.

Next come the thin & lights. They can weigh up to five pounds. You can probably get a CD-RW or DVD drive. You should be able to get a full-size keyboard. The screen will be 12 to 14 inches.

Mainstream computers will be similarly equipped. They weigh more because they usually have bigger screens. I believe in big screens. Don't make a decision before you look at the screens. But remember that you're picking up weight.

Lastly, we have the desktop replacements. These are big honkers, up to 10 pounds. They have all the equipment you'd expect in a desktop PC. They're for people who don't travel much. It doesn't matter how much they weigh in the office. Screens run up to 17 inches, in both Windows and Apple versions.

2. Choose your speed from a multitude of multiprocessors.

People buying more expensive computers will be bombarded by microprocessor names. Here's what you might run into, along with my take on them:

Pentium III-M: This is an older chip, based on an obsolete desktop chip. It's workable, but there are better choices.

Pentium 4: This is a desktop chip. It's powerful and power-hungry. You won't get much more than two hours on your battery. These run hot, so the laptops have to be big for cooling.

Pentium 4-M: These are less powerful than their desktop brothers. But they are better with batteries, and the computers are not as heavy.

Pentium M: These run slower than the 4's, but they're just about as powerful. This is Intel's newest chip, and, for my money, the best of the Pentiums.

Athlon XP-M: Advanced Micro Devices' answer to the Pentium. This is a good chip, and it's usually cheap. Not widely used, but definitely worth considering.

Athlon 64: This is a top of the line chip from AMD. It could run 64-bit software, if any were available. It also runs today's 32-bit software very well. This chip is extremely fast, but probably no better than its Athlon XP cousin. Don't pay extra for the 64-bit capability; you can't use it.

Celeron and Celeron M: The budget chip from Intel. This is not as fast as the Pentiums or the AMD chips.

Transmeta: These are used by a few Japanese manufacturers. Transmeta chips are on the slow side.

3. If you travel a lot, invest in a wireless-equipped laptop.

Many laptops come equipped for Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity). That's becoming more and more critical for the road warrior; many hotels and airports have Wi-Fi available for accessing the Internet.

The Wi-Fi standards can be confusing. All carry the number 802.11, but there are three varieties: a, b and g. The most common has been "b," but it is being supplanted by the much faster "g," with which it is compatible. The Wi-Fi networks you find on the road are geared toward 802.11b, but "g" should also work there. The third flavor � "a" � runs on a different frequency. I'd avoid it, unless it comes in combination with "b" or "g."

In 2003, Intel brought out its Centrino system. This includes the Pentium M and wireless technology. Intel's advertising has stressed this wireless capability. I don't think that's a big deal; everybody's got wireless.

What is a big deal is Centrino's battery capacity. Four or five hours on one charge is commonplace; some computers will go six hours. That will get you through an airport wait and a cross-country flight. Furthermore, some of these computers have "hot-swappable" batteries. So we're talking 8, 10, even 12 hours without turning the computer off. Anybody flying to Europe?

4. Here are some other things you'll want.

Unless you're storing video or large volumes of music and photos, the hard drive should not be an issue. You can get by with a 20-gigabyte drive; most machines have a minimum 40-GB drive. If you do lots of video work, get the biggest drive you can find.

Both Windows XP and Apple's OS X are excellent operating systems. But they require gobs of memory. Get 256 megabytes of random-access memory (RAM), minimum. If you can afford it, jump to 512 MB.

Your new machine should have at least two USB ports. Try to make them USB 2.0. The 1.1 variety is much slower. If you will be downloading video from a camera or running an external hard drive, get a Firewire port. That runs circles around USB 2.0.

Many laptops run the video system with system RAM. That's fine for office applications or Internet surfing. If you're doing photo or video work, or playing games, you'll be happier with a separate video card. Get one with a minimum 32 MB of RAM. The more RAM the better in this case; some computers have cards with as much as 128 MB.

You'll need a spare battery. Also, invest in a surge suppressor to take on the road. Electricity surges can damage or kill your computer. Portable printers are inexpensive and handy when you're out of town. And when you hit the road, you'll need a carrying case.

Yes, buying a laptop isn't easy. But who said life would be a bowl of cherries? With a little research, you can find the laptop that is perfect for you.