A couple of things may need addressing. One, PLEASE insist on a machine that is capable of wireless LAN (802.11x - 'g' preferably). Models based on the Intel Centrino processor will natively have this feature, as will certain models based on the AMD Athlon Mobile - anyway, you can get a WiFi (PCMCIA) card as well. If you are an overseas traveller, this will save you considerable time in accessing the Internet and if your mobile phone has this ability - your GSM roaming costs can be OBLITERATED. Two, make sure that at least ONE of your USB ports is USB 2.0 rated - most USB devices now come with this kind of specification. Three, a VGA/TV out port is quintessential if you have to make presentations on the fly - fortunately, this comes on-board most systems. Four - try going for a DVD/CD-RW combo drive - great for giveaways (copies of presentatons, electronic literature and so on). Five, INSIST on getting an all-liabilities-covered single premium insurance RIGHT along with your system. Most insurance companies offer such packages, and some offer them through system vendors too. Six, a Linux based system is just as good, and saves a cool 5000 or 6000 on your street price.
Before mosting these articles doesn't rediff verify if they make sense.
$for$ Currently AMD processors are eating up Intels in term of processing performance. Intel's perf'orm better in terms of power used (longer battery life for notebooks)
Looking for a cheap workhorse go for AMD Mobile Sempron 2800+ to 3200+ (check out any benchmark performaces with a simple google search and they beat the Pentium Ms/Centrino's pretty easily, while being priced at half of less).
Looking for high power go for AMD Mobile Ahtlon 64 3800+ (64 bit registers/addressing makes sure that the processor wont be obsolete in a year when things move to 64 bit), has a 32 mode also for todays applications and is among the fastest notebook processors available.
"Opt for an Intel Pentium 4 or an Intel Centrino processor. The processor forms the computing core of your laptop and is one area where you must not compromise" AMD's solution provide equal/better computing cores at a much reduced price
Now coming to the Pentium 4's they are not made for laptops, there used to be a Pentium 4 M, dont know if it is still manufactured, Intel is not pushing them. Pentium 4 are destop processors and they drink battery
RE:bad intel ad or what ?
by shyam on May 23, 2005 05:50 PM
athlon chips are more efficient than intel chips, agreed. but not a single dealer in india offers the kind of warranty on athlon machines as they do on intel based machines. besides intel is a far more prevalent and recognised brand for the average user. every company today, has machines that use intel processors, for the simple reason of better service. dont get me wrong, i am a huge fan of athlon chips, but i cant deny the after sales support on intel based chips.
i m planning to buy a laptop and m so eclectic buyer,thus confused in various configurations.U had given me some right direction.thanking u for that. rest will be complimented after tommorrow's coloumn. eagerly awaiting 4 that. -gaurav
The first point is quite controversial. "1. Opt for an Intel Pentium 4 or an Intel Centrino processor. The processor forms the computing core of your laptop and is one area where you must not compromise." Why the stress is given in Intel Pentium processor. Is AMD a bad choice ????????
What a pathetic advice, insisting on needless things to worry abt.. are u a HP-Compaq vendor?
Processor important- agreed RAM important - agreed OS? - not really CDRW/DVDROM - internal drive is a must Modem/Ethernet card -- agreed No mention on wireless card? Think abt future, 1 or 2 years from now
Mouse options - trivial, u can always have external mouse.
Laptops must be cost effective, I understand, but not to extent that u cut essentil stuff and take unwanted stuff. I have a celeron with 700+ MB RAM, I am very happy with its performance. If u need to play games with yr laptop and play ardwith 3d stuff or do matlab stuff, worry abt pentium or centrino. otherwise dont waste money on them!
RE:Bad advice
by Yogesh on May 23, 2005 04:37 PM
I agree with Karthik. Processor speed matters only when you are doing some processor intensive work like matlab. It is RAM which matters most for general purpose applicaitons. internal CD drive is must.
This article talks about only general or low end laptops. It do not talks about multi processor, graphic display. Again a general statement, that light weight Laptops are costly, but it is not like that.
RE:Laptop Purchase tips
by Yogesh on May 23, 2005 04:34 PM
Debjani- Are you sure there is any laptop which has more than one processor?? As far as I know till now no manufacturer has released multi-processor laptop. Yogesh
Very uneful information. Your timing couldn't have been better. Am planning to buy a ThinkPad T Series and many of these tips weren't even in my checklist. Thanks a ton and hope to see more such articles in future on rediff.
