| Before you purchase your laptop you'll want | | | | ports, to accommodate a number of peripherals |
| to familiarize yourself with the various | | | | such as printers, cameras and external floppy |
| features and determine what you need and what | | | | drives or modems. The number of ports you |
| you do not. Some folks seek out all the | | | | need depends on the internal features of your |
| latest bells and whistles. For others it's | | | | laptop as well as your own need for |
| about getting your typical job done | | | | peripherals.Obviously, if you have an |
| efficiently and cost effectively.Here are | | | | internal modem you don't need a port for an |
| some helpful hints:To save yourself money | | | | external one. But if you have only a CD drive |
| look for a Celeron processor. Less expensive | | | | and copy to floppy on your PC at home, for |
| than a Pentium, it will work fine for all but | | | | the two to talk to each other you're going to |
| the most detailed graphics projects. If | | | | need an external floppy drive on your laptop. |
| you're a graphic artist or a professional | | | | For this you'll need a port. Be cognizant |
| programmer, however, seek out a laptop with | | | | also of the types of ports. Your old mouse |
| Pentium processing.126 MB RAM is the least | | | | may connect by parallel port, but the newest |
| you can be comfortable with nowadays, no | | | | versions require USB connection.Make sure you |
| matter what you're doing. And, unless you're | | | | have an internal modem and fax rather than |
| buying used you're probably not going to find | | | | external. And if you're shopping for a brand |
| a laptop with less anyway. But what if you | | | | new laptop the wireless feature is terrific. |
| want to upgrade your memory? How easy is it | | | | Many places, such as RV and other resorts are |
| to do that? How accessible is the panel for | | | | totally Wi-Fi capable now.If you're used to a |
| the memory chips? Are you comfortable with | | | | traditional mouse do play around with several |
| doing it yourself if you have to remove the | | | | versions of mice available on laptops. Some |
| case? Make sure it's not a laptop that | | | | will drive you crazy until you get used to |
| actually requires some outside technical help | | | | them. See if you're most comfortable with |
| to install more memory. .The life of the | | | | trackball, touch pad or trackpoint. While |
| installed battery is important. Generally the | | | | you're checking that, play with that |
| range of battery life available to laptops is | | | | keyboard. So much smaller than a PC keyboard, |
| two-four hours. Which is adequate depends on | | | | you may have difficulty typing accurately |
| where you're going to be when you use your | | | | with some. Try several.The final things |
| laptop. If you're a traveling sales rep who | | | | you'll want to compare are the software and |
| needs a laptop to your emails and prepare the | | | | the warranty. Major software programs such as |
| daily report from your hotel room each | | | | Windows are almost always included in brand |
| evening you won't be using your battery a | | | | new systems, but do check. Especially if |
| lot. If, however, you envision the life of | | | | buying used. You can spend many hundreds of |
| the mobile warrior, sometimes creating your | | | | dollars on Microsoft Office and the latest |
| graphic or written masterpiece from the | | | | Windows version if you don't have a version |
| beach, or while traveling by air, you won't | | | | that you can upgrade.Alan Jason Smith is the |
| be able to rely on the power cord and | | | | owner of which is a great place to find |
| electricity. You'll want that four-hour | | | | computer links, resources and articles. |
| battery.Make sure you have a minimum of three | | | | |