Posts Tagged ‘laptop’
Dell Inspiron 15R Review And Specifications
June 28, 2011 | 
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Dell’s Inspiron laptops have always been the brand’s middle-of-the-road workhorse: equally likely to turn up in a dorm room or coffee shop as at your mom’s kitchen table. Dell periodically gives the series a physical makeover, but small differences in fit and finish are almost beside the point; this is still the go-to laptop line for reasonably priced systems that offer mainstream performance at palatable prices.
The new Inspiron 15R is built around Intel’s Core i3 and i5 processors, with a handful of upgrades available for hard drives and basic discrete graphics (the same goes for the 14-inch version, the Inspiron 14R). Our review unit included a 2.26GHz Core i3, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive, for a total cost of $639. Read the rest of this entry »
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Laptop Buying Guide: Portable Computing Made Easy
Does portable computing sound like the thing for you? More and more home users are joining the legions of business people that find laptops to be a viable alternative to bulky desktop workstations. In fact, some laptops are designed to be a desktop replacement. Before you plunk down that credit card, though, you’ll need to find out what will work best for your needs. Home Users: The typical home laptop user needs a laptop that offers a variety of different features and is not overly concerned with portability. Even the largest, bulkiest laptop is far more portable than other computing solutions. The best option for a home user is a midsize laptop or a desktop replacement model. These are bulkier solutions, though they offer the widest range of options and are usually the most affordable. Remember, as the size of the laptop decreases, the cost of the laptop increases.Business Users:Business users usually demand the utmost in portability, unless the laptop will be only for limited office use and nothing more. For the on-the-go businessperson, a thin and light model is the best option. These are smaller and lighter than other computing options, though they have smaller viewable space. In addition, the keyboards are smaller and the capabilities are somewhat lessened. Ultraportable devices are incredibly slim and small, though they have even more reduced power and features. For frequent drivers or air travelers, these are excellent options.Power Users: Power users can find a range of options to fit their needs. For instance, many thin and light combinations have more than ample power to keep you going strong, as well as other features that can make them attractive options. For those in need of powerful graphic capabilities, a desktop replacement option is still going to be the best deal.What You Want:Regardless of the actual style you purchase, there are a few items that you’ll need to make sure that you get in the laptop. For instance, you need a minimum amount of RAM, as well as a minimum processor speed and hard drive capacity. Remember, too, that the more you have of any of the items, the higher your end price will be.RAM: Your laptop should have a minimum of at least 1 GB of DDR2 RAM, though 3 GB models are available and offer better performance. At least 2 GB RAM is suggested for laptops with Windows Vista.CPU: A model with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor is the best option on the market, though a Quad Core is an even better choice if you can foot the bill. 2 GHz is a good processor. Hard Drive: A minimum of 120 GB is needed for your hard drive, though the more the merrier, especially if you save a lot of videos, movies and large digital photos. Models with 250 GB are available for a little more cash.Budget Buying Concerns:If you’re looking for a laptop on a budget, you can find quite an array of options available. The key is to find a reliable brand, as well as the right features in the computer, and not any more features than you need. Buying reconditioned models can seem attractive and can be a good idea in some ideas, though buying new is always the better choice with laptops. Gamers:Unlike older laptops, gamers can make good use of today’s laptops. In fact, many companies are manufacturing and marketing models specifically to this market segment. Combining high end on board graphics card, state of the art sound systems and large (17″) screen sizes, these are a great option for the gamer on the go, or one without the space to dedicate to a bulky desktop computer.Businesses:Many businesses are ditching their desktops and providing laptops for in office use for their employees. For these businesses, desktop replacement models offer the best options. These provide the same power and performance as a desktop model might, but they also provide portability. However, they are far too heavy and bulky for regular travel.
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Laptop Guide – All Purpose, Business Power Use, Ultra-Portability
After much consideration, you’ve finally decided to purchase a laptop computer instead of a bulky desktop. That may have been a tough decision for you, but there’s still one important question you must answer before anything else-what exactly will you be using the laptop for? More specifically, which of the following styles will best suit your needs: all purpose, business power use, or ultra-portability? If you need help deciding, this guide can help point you in the right direction.
All Purpose All purpose laptops can do it all and are a great choice for most notebook users. They deliver the best mix of performance and features at a reasonable price. Although they are heavy and somewhat difficult to lug around, their power and multimedia capabilities can match those of desktops. With an all purpose laptop, you can competently browse the web, do e-mail, archive your photos, play music, and even watch movies. If you need power but don’t have enough room for a large desktop, then an all purpose laptop is the perfect choice for you. Many entertainment lovers will want to invest in an all purpose laptop. A good brand for notebooks that can handle graphic intensive applications, hold loads of videos and data and come with all the bells and whistles you’ll want are Sony laptops. Business Power Use Business laptops are most frequently determined by the manufacturer. They’re more conservative in style, have added security, and use stronger materials around their cases. A good business laptop should have a hard drive big enough to store all your word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and any other important information. Also, it should come equipped with a CD or DVD burner so you can back up your data. Other important features you should look for in a business laptop include: wireless networking capability; portable printer; handheld scanner; and long battery life. Just make sure the laptop you buy is capable of handling all your business needs and in this economy, is a good deal. Toshiba laptops offer all the features above and are a great value for your business, getting the most for your money. Ultra-Portability If you want a lightweight laptop to accommodate your traveling lifestyle, then an ultra-portable laptop is the way to go. Ultra-portable laptops defy gravity by integrating every laptop component into the smallest frame possible. The difference between four and eight pounds may not sound like much, but you’ll certainly feel it the first time you have to carry it across town. Of course, there are a few tradeoffs: a smaller screen, less capacious battery, reduced-size keyboard. All in all, ultra-portable laptops have standard features and can perform basic functions, but there may be a slight difference in terms of power. If you want a true ultra-portable laptop and don’t need to store a lot of data or run several applications at once and just want web access then you should look into a netbook, which is an even smaller, lighter portable laptop specifically designed to access the net. As you can see, it is important that you take time to assess your needs and what you hope to accomplish with a laptop. Doing this helps you determine which laptop style is the best fit for you. Keep in mind that a laptop should be something you are comfortable using and carrying. Be sure to also check out Tablet PC’s, Thin Laptops, and Rugged Laptops in case these are a more exact fit for you.
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