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Ever walked into to a laptop or computer store, hunt for a laptop and be completely stumped by the buzzwords you hear? Sometimes I wish Intel and AMD would stop using bizarre words like Centrino and Core 2 Duo which confuses the heck out of people. In this article, we will take a look at the top 10 terms you might come across when buying a laptop. Learn about these terms so that you won’t be stumped at the store again!

1. Intel Core 2 Duo Now, what exactly does ‘Intel Core 2 Duo’ mean? Almost every single laptop you come across in the market now will say ‘Intel Core 2 Duo’. Don’t let that confuse you. The ‘Core 2 Duo’ is simply the Intel CPU replacing the older Pentium. The ‘two’ in ‘Core 2 Duo’ simply means that the chip contains two CPU cores. So you’ll, like, get two CPUs on one chip.

2. Intel Core Solo Next confusing term is ‘Intel Core Solo’. If you’ve been reading carefully so far, you’ll know that the ‘Core Solo’ is nothing but a stripped down version of the ‘Core 2 Duo’ CPU chip. It replaces the Pentium CPU in laptops, but it has only one CPU core, unlike the Core 2 Duo.

3. Intel Centrino The term ‘Centrino’ does not refer to an Intel CPU. I know you every time hear about ‘Intel Centrino’ and I used to assume it refered to a CPU, like the Core 2 Duo or Core Solo. Well, it is not. ‘Centrino’ easily refers to the various laptop technologies specifically designed for a mobile computer that you won’t find in a desktop. So we’re talking about especially designed laptop microprocessors, wireless networking and cooling technologies.

4. GHz Important term Number Three is ‘GHz’. This stands for gigahertz – which basically is a velocity measurement used to gauge microprocessors. You’ll hear the laptop salesperson boast about this or that laptop running at 2.4 GHz, while another is just 2.0 GHz. The truth is, these days, whether you have a 2.0 GHz microprocessor, you’re all set to do anything you want on the laptop. I don’t truly think in super high GHz speeds though – numerous manufacturers only utilize it to sell their chips.

5. DDR Memory This term pertains to your laptop’s memory capacity or RAM. DDR is also known as DDR-SDRAM. The ‘DDR’ stands for double data rate – which is a cut above the standard SDRAM. Usually, the latest laptops will contain DDR-SDRAM. And you’ll want at least 1 GB of DDR memory for decent Windows Vista performance. Incidentally, you can get some really great laptop deals at Crucial.com – do check it out.

6. SDRAM Memory Well, naturally, SDRAM is the older version of DDR memory. The ‘SDRAM’ acronym stands for ‘Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory’. This is the most popular type of memory used in computers today.

7. nVidia Now, the term ‘nVidia’ refers to a 3D graphics card company. So if your laptop spec has ‘nVidia graphics card’ in it, you will know it has a dedicated graphics card built into it to render graphics for games and multimedia.

8. Wireless 802.11 The term ‘Wireless 802.11′ used to stump the heck out of me. Well, now I know better. Just remember that wireless technology in laptops and desktops come in 3 flavors – Wireless 802.11a, Wireless 802.11g and Wireless 802.11n. Wireless 802.11n is the most recent and greatest in terms of speed.

9. UMPC ‘UMPC’ is a relatively new term in the laptop market. It refers to ‘Ultra Mobile Personal Computer’. We’re talking about the likes of the ASUS EeePC 900, MSI Wind and the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC. These computers are smaller than conventional laptops but are bigger than say, your PDA. And this category of computing device is literally taking the world by storm.

10. Operating System The term ‘Operating System’ is critically important for all your computer related purchases. You need to decide if you want Windows XP, Linux, Windows Vista, etc. installed in your laptop. These days, most laptops come with Windows Vista pre-installed – check if it is the Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate version. If you use the laptop mostly for home computing, Windows Vista Home Premium will do just fine.

Conclusion I hope this article has taught you some clue terms you need to know about laptops. This will surely aid you out when you’re purchasing or upgrading your laptop. The more you study about laptops, the less probable you’ll be stumped or cheated by laptop salesmen. So it’s absolutely fine to brush up knowledge there. I’ve consolidated a lot of essential laptop data into a tiny guide book. If you’d like to discover more about laptop basics, be confident to to download it.

Francua Smith is a skilled Computer specialist who has a lot of experience on laptop computers. He will help you to choose your own skilled laptop computer.

Are you paralyzed by indecision when it comes to buying laptops? The truth is, deciding on the finest laptop to buy is a hard decision. It stumps the finest of us – even my more technically inclined friends can’t determine on a model that will finest fit their needs. To aid you out, I’ve determined to list down 5 ways to aid you select the finest laptop to buy. Make confident you run through this list the next time you’re out purchasing a laptop.

1. What Speed Do You Need? One of the most important decisions you need to make before buying a laptop is to decide the speed required. If you’re using the laptop mainly for word processing or emailing, you don’t need as much computing horsepower. In that case, you might want to settle for an AMD Turion or a standard Intel Centrino CPU. If you need to use the laptop for graphics or heavy gaming, then you will certainly want a powerful CPU chip one like the Intel Core 2 Duo.

2. The Display Screen The next thing you should do when deciding on the best laptop to buy is to consider the display screen. These days, large 17-inch, glossy display screens are becoming more and more common. But ask yourself, do you really need all that glossy eye candy? If you just want a functional, business-based laptop, then consider getting a smaller screen with a matte display.

3. The Laptop Weight Another approach I use to eliminate laptops in my purchase is to consider the weight. Most people I know want to buy lightweight laptops. Which is perfectly understandable – who wants to lug a 6 pound machine all over town or all over campus? So it is important for you to consider if weight is an issue for you. If it is, then eliminate those desktop replacement or heavy laptops from your list and concentrate on ultraportables.

4. The Keyboard Surprising, a lot of folks put a lot of emphasis on laptop keyboards. You may think that a laptop keyboard is pretty standard fare, i.e. there is not much difference between one laptop and the next. Well, I can tell you that the keyboard is the one laptop component that your hands will be touching 90% of the time. So comfort in typing is extremely important. When choosing the best laptop to buy, pay attention to the comfort of the keyboard when you type. Some folks prefer a ‘click’ sound on the keys (I do), while others prefer a more silent typing experience.

5. The Battery Life And the concluding way to check whether a laptop is for you? Simple – its the laptop’s battery life. Remember, a laptop is useless whether it is flat out of juice. Some laptops I know run out of force after 10 minutes of unplugging them from the wall socket. Be really careful and do your research on battery life – select a laptop that will final at least 3 to 4 hours is possible.

Conclusion Hopefully, the above 5 ways of choosing the best laptop will help you out. Remember, the most important thing in buying a laptop is that it must suit your needs. So always bear that in mind – don’t bother too much about what models others are using, just decide on one model that suits your requirements best. If you’re interested in learning more about laptops, you may want to check out my free PDF guide to laptops – download it here.

Francua Smith is a skilled Computer specialist who has a lot of experience on laptop computers. He will help you to choose your own skilled laptop computer.

What is it about PC Magazine? I can tell you that PC Magazine is one of my favorite websites for laptop reviews. The writers there constantly churn out very good reviews of the latest laptops and they just blow me away! If you want to find authoritative laptop reviews, the best place is to go to PC Magazine. I’m not kidding pay a visit and you will know what I mean.

Laptop Review Sites Just to put things into context, there are tons of laptop review sites out in the Internet. I’ve seen places like CNET.com, Tom’s Hardware and several others, but none of them come quite close to the quality of PC Magazine’s laptop reviews. Now I’m not trying to plug PC Magazine (really) nor am I receiving any kind of commission from them – I just find their laptop reviews up to the minute and chockfull of information – so I thought I’d share that with you.

PC Magazine Historically, PC Magazine has always been one of my favorite magazines. Even before the advent of the Internet, I was reading PC Magazine for their quality reviews of desktops, laptops and all things to do with computers. Did you know PC Magazine now covers everything from desktops, laptops, digital cameras, projectors and computer software? It’s simply great.

Why PC Magazine Is Good What’s the reason why PC Magazine is good? Well, I can think of three reasons. Firstly, they are very, very timely with their reviews. I find that PC Magazine reviews of laptops come out faster than many of the competing sites.

Secondly, the PC Magazine webpage is really clean and well-designed (I prefer it to CNET’s). You can look the material organized really well, with reviews and how-to guides within simple reach of the navigation bar.

Lastly, PC Magazine has a very strong hardcopy magazine following. Many of the websites which review laptops have no equivalent hardcopy magazine, so sometimes you can’t be sure of their editorial robustness. PC Magazine is a full fledged magazine and has the full capacity of a professional editorial team.

Conclusion I know the above sounds like a shameless plug for PC Magazine, but their website gives such good reviews of laptops, I simply had to mention it. Go check out PC Magazine and see the laptops being discussed there. Bookmark it and soon you will be returning again and again to catch up on laptop and other computer technology.

Francua Smith is a wise Computer specialist who has a lot of experience on laptop computers. He will help you to choose your own wise laptop computer.

Are you about to purchase a new laptop? If so, you should ensure that you check some basic components before you buy. This article runs through some of the key components that you need to check whenever you buy a new laptop. Check these the next time you buy a laptop – just to be safe.

1. Check Package Contents The first thing to do is to check the laptop package to ensure it guides, CDs and components that should be there. In particular, check to look that fundamental cables are all in the box.

2. Inspect Your Laptop’s Exterior The next thing to do is to check your laptop’s exterior. Check the front, back, top, bottom and sides to ensure that there are no dents, scratches, etc. If you detect any, then you should return it back to the manufacturer and request for a replacement.

3. Boot Up The Machine Boot up the laptop and check for any “out of the ordinary” messages during the boot-up sequence. Hopefully, there is no weird message – if there is, you need to contact the manufacturer immediately.

4. Ensure That The Hardware Is Correct The next thing to check in a fresh laptop is to ensure that the hardware is in line with what you ordered. If you’re a Windows user, correct click My Computer and choose Properties. Check that your CPU data is correct. You should then choose the Hardware tab at the top of the dialog box and click Device Manager. Check the list of hardware listed by Windows against the items you ordered in your receipt.

5. Test The Keyboard The keyboard is something users usually fail to test. You should open up notepad and test out every key on your keyboard. Don’t skip any keys – I’ve sometimes owned laptops for months only to realize that an infrequently used key is faulty.

6. Test Out The Ports And Connections The ports and connections on your laptop are necessary components. Make confident you check that the DVD tray, fingerprint reader, USB ports, Firewire port, Bluetooth, video output ports and printer connection all work normally.

7. Check Your Laptop Screen An necessary check that you need to do is to scan the laptop screen for dead pixels. You can do this with some aid from a program called DeadPixelBuddy. If you spot any dead pixels and they are above the bound specified by the purchase policy, you have the correct to return the unit to the manufacturer and get it replaced.

Conclusion I hope this article has shown you some good tips for inspecting a new laptop you’ve purchased. Keep these points in mind the next time you get a new machine – if you detect any serious problems, contact the manufacturer quickly. Hopefully, they will give you a replacement unit.

Francua Smith is a skilled Computer specialist who has a lot of experience on laptop computers. He will help you to choose your own nice laptop computer.

1. Price You should still expect to pay more for a laptop than for a comparable desktop computer. You really are paying a premium for the added flexibility a laptop offers. Something else to bear in mind is that laptops are much harder to upgrade than desktops, so you should look for a laptop that meets all of your needs from the start, as the ability to upgrade components later on is much more expensive.

2. Battery Life While the big attraction of laptops is that they offer the freedom to use your computer anywhere, remember that this is not strictly the case. Take special care to note the average battery life of your laptop. Some machines can only manage around 2 hours before you need to find a wall socket to plug them in to. If you will be running your laptop from the batteries a lot look for a long battery life, and be prepared to carry around 2 or maybe even 3 spare batteries.

3. Display Type and Size The screen of your laptop is the main interface that you will use to interact with, so it is important that you get the right type of screen for you. Make sure that your laptop features a TFT screen; these screens give a brighter display which can be viewed from an angle. Non-TFT displays seem dim and have to be viewed from straight on. The downside to being so portable is that most laptops have smaller screens than desktop systems. If you are used to a large display then you will be able to get this in a laptop, but it will add to the overall cost and weight of the laptop.

4. Connectivity More or less all laptops offer the same connectivity options today, but if you have any special requirements you should be sure to make sure your laptop can meet these needs. For example, it would be very embarrassing to turn up to an important business presentation and discover that your laptop doesn’t actually have the correct type of port to allow it to connect to your company network.

5. Power As with desktop computers, you will have to pay more for a faster processor, or for a large amount of memory. Be sure that your new laptop can meet the system requirements of all of the software you want to run on it. It really is worth buying the best you can afford when it comes to power, as you will want your laptop to last for years to come. Remember it is harder to upgrade a laptop, so make sure you have enough power for the foreseeable future.

Conclusion Buying a laptop can be a great investment, and give you much more freedom over where and when you actually work. Hopefully this guide will show you how to buy a laptop, and help you in making your next purchase.

Francua Smith is a wise Computer specialist who has a lot of experience on laptop computers. He will help you to choose your own best laptop computer.

Its a busy week for new WordPress Blogs, but here is another blog laptopreview.me.uk (curiously on a me.uk domain) reviewing the latest laptops and notebooks with video hands on demo’s. At the moment the blog focuses on Acer Laptops including the very popular and compact Acer Aspire One Netbook A150-Ab Netbook which runs a user friendly version of Linux (XP can also be installed, but Linux is likely to be faster.