Guide to Buying a Laptop - Part 2

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Part 2: Differences between different types of laptops

Network administration - Different types of notebook products have been constantly evolving and changing. The introduction of the Netbook in particular has created a relatively new category and has quickly become the fastest growing segment of the PC market.

While there are many ways to classify - based on weight, price, and components - we use screen size as the main determinant, because that is the most obvious difference between types of laptops.

1. UMPC - ultra-portable personal computer

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UMPC (or ultraportable personal computers) are small handheld devices with screens ranging from 5 to 7 inches. Although the idea of ​​a palm-sized handheld device running the full-featured Microsoft Windows operating system that you want to find on a desktop or on a laptop is one thing attractive, but most devices are in fact not, except for a few for special users.

Keyboard with few physical keys and slow response, expensive low-voltage processor and weak touch interface. A typical UMPC, like the Sony Vaio UX390, can cost up to 2000 USD or more.

Over the past two years, cheap iPhones, iPod Touches, and Netbooks have been produced. A few remaining UMPCs are cheap UMPCs, using Netbook components, but they are still not really useful.

Main features: 5 to 7-inch screen; Nontraditional design

2. Netbook

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Netbooks have been the most exciting thing that has happened to mobile computers in recent years, and also the collapse of an industry in the end of a price war. Netbooks are laptops with 7 to 12-inch screens, full keyboards, and single-core low-voltage CPUs

The first netbook had a 7-inch screen and an Intel Celeron processor, today's Netbooks have a single Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB HDD, running Windows XP or Windows 7.

Small and light, no optical drive, small keyboard and touch keyboard, generally the Netbook is not strong enough for anything other than web surfing, emailing, and basic office work. . What is here is the price, a typical Netbook can cost less than $ 300, an unprecedented price just a few years ago.

Currently computer manufacturers are trying to upgrade Netbooks with faster CPUs and larger screens, and these new models blend in with the Ultraportable models.

Main features: 9 to 12-inch screen; No optical drive; Low voltage CPU with an Intel Atom core or equivalent. Usually costs under 500 USD

3. Ultraportable

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Before the emergence of Netbook, Ultraportable systems were 11- and 12-inch screen laptops with expensive low-voltage CPUs that allowed them to be smaller in size and better power performance, but still relatively weak.

The popularity of Netbooks has threatened to make this category no longer relevant - after all, users will have to pay $ 1500 or more for an 11-inch laptop, while a 10-inch Notebook $ 300 is a reasonable alternative to basic web surfing and office jobs.

Finally, the Ultraportable has been revived with the introduction of Intel's ultra-low-voltage and low-cost CPUs. These chips are slightly more expensive but more powerful than Intel Atom CPUs for netbooks, and they have both single core and dual-core versions.

Currently, some computer manufacturers are targeting high-end thin laptops with new ultra-thin processors 'ultrathin' rather than Ultraportable, many of these new laptop versions do not have drives. optical inside.

Main features: 9 to 12-inch screen; CPU low voltage ULV; no optical drive; Price to 600-800 USD.

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4. Slim and light

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This little unimaginable description is for a 13-inch laptop. Why are 13-inch screen laptops worthy of this different category? That's because they hold a unique space in the industry. We determined this by pointing out that a 13-inch laptop is the smallest size laptop we can work comfortably all day, and also the largest size we have. carry a lot more than once or twice a week.

Although it is not the perfect size for both resting and moving, it is at a reasonable boundary between the two. A very popular example is the MacBook 13-inch and MacBook Pro - perhaps this is the most pre-captured models of all time.

Main features: 13-inch screen

5. Medium-size laptop-Midsize ( Mainstream)

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The 15-inch traditional laptop, along with its newer 14-inch and 16-inch versions, belongs to this category. Although it is a portable product, most of these laptops tend to stay in one place, or just move around a home or office.

Cheap cheap laptops have a resolution of 1280 x800 pixels, 16: 9 wide screen models with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, expensive versions can receive all resolutions up to 1600 x900.

This Mainstream laptop line usually has a dual-core CPU, the most popular is the Intel Core 2 Duo line, along with 2GB or 4GB RAM, a 250GB hard drive or larger, a read write speed of 5,400 rpm, and a DVD drive .

This category occupies the widest range of prices and features, starting from about $ 500 to over $ 1,000 USD. The most common is from $ 700 to $ 900.

Main features: 14-16 inch screen; Dual-core CPU; internal optical drive.

6. Desktop replacement type- Desktop replacement

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Laptops with screens of 17 inches or larger can replace your old desktop, monitor, and keyboard combination with a single device that can be easily moved within a range. determined.

At a minimum, you'll find an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, and for the more expensive model you'll get an Intel Core 2 Quad or newer with Intel Core i7 processors. Most of this line of laptops has a discrete graphics card, to aid in enjoying HD video or 3D games.

Blu-ray drives are perfectly suited for some common laptops, but their biggest meaning lies in Desktop replacement because Desktop replacement is often (but not always) self-resolution. However, it is possible to handle high-definition 1080px content.

The price here is that these laptops have very short battery life. However, because they are big and heavy according to their definition, they don't seem to leave the power outlet on the wall at all, so computer manufacturers often choose designs that increase the hardware power. are energy saving designs.

While 17 inches is the most popular size, there are a handful of 18-inch models, even 20 inches. Close in size to a personal TV screen, this line of laptops becomes a good entertainment center for private or dorm rooms, allowing you to place your computer, video and music devices in one box. only.

Main features: 17-inch or larger screen; Intel Core 2 Duo CPU or better; Discrete graphics card; Short battery life.