New York, NY, March 31, 2011 – iYogi, the provider of on-demand remote tech support services, has announced a new report to help consumers with some of the complex decisions associated with buying a new laptop. You must always keep a watch on certain key aspects when you plan to purchase a new laptop or buy one for the first time. The latest edition of ‘iYogi Reviews’ is intended to help users learn about these important areas.
We rely on laptops for so many day-to-day needs like communicating for work and with family and friends, storing important data, and entertainment. When the time comes to purchase a new laptop, the process is often difficult, given that the technology gets updated very frequently with more advanced editions and versions. Also, with the diversification within the technology sector it is becoming practically impossible to stay up-to-date. This edition of ‘iYogi Reviews’ is aimed at providing information about the things to look out for while buying a laptop and helping consumers make the right decision depending on their specific needs.
A laptop is different than a desktop computer as far as features and functions are concerned. Here are 10 of the most important features to look for while purchasing a laptop for yourself to get the maximum value for your money:
The Processor – Faster the processor better is the performance of your laptop. While comparing laptops it is important to review the processors. Always choose the fastest processor that you can afford. The Intel Pentium M CPU lineage offers excellent speed combined with good battery life. If you combine these chips with Intel wireless LAN electronics and either the 915 Express or 855 chipset, Centrino mobile technology is ready. The only drawback with the Pentium M series is its high price. If price is a concern, you can go for the affordable AMD mobile processors. AMD chips offer optimizations for high performance, wireless capability, and long battery life, but slightly vary in performance when compared to Intel. However, a faster processor, such asCore 2, will have less battery life. So, if you just want to run Microsoft Office, play an MP3 and do a little bit of browsing, perhaps the ULV processor is the best deal for you.
Display/ Screen size – There are two types of displays, active-matrix (thin-film transistor or TFT) and passive-matrix (or dual-scan). It is advisable to opt for the active-matrix display, if your budget allows. With this technology, the picture appears sharper and smoother. A wide 17-inch laptop is always a favorite option unless you travel a lot. Wide-screen notebooks are another option with 16:9 aspect ratios, offering larger, sharper and all-round better images than their otherwise standard 4:3 screens. You can easily open two documents or web pages side-by-side. The most common laptop screen sizes are 12.1, 13.3, and 14.4 inches. Unless you are a frequent traveler, larger screens are always a better option.
Different Editions of the Operating System – If your main requirement is high speed, your best option is most likely the Windows XP operating system. On the contrary, if you want a modem interface, the only option you have is the Windows Vista. If you are a media buff and use your laptop for work as well as play, you can opt for the Windows 7 operating system. In case you want to switch to Windows Professional or Windows Ultimate edition, you have an easy option of the ‘Windows Anytime Upgrade’.
Upgrades – Before you jump into an expensive purchase, check on the cost of upgrades like more RAM, a larger hard drive, a Blue-ray Disc movie player etc. You can enhance your new laptop’s capabilities by paying a little extra. It’s cheaper to buy extra RAM with a brand new laptop than getting it later. This way you can save on money and the effort of installing new hardware later.
Power back up/ Batteries – Batteries act as the in-built UPS (un-interrupted power supply) for your laptops, making it very important to check the battery life of the laptop that you plan to buy. You must always check for Nickel-Cadmium batteries as they are lighter, have a higher energy density, and do not suffer from recharge-inhibiting memory effect. However, most laptops have Lithium-ion batteries. Not only this, consumers must also look out for battery capacity and the number of cells as higher the range of the battery capacity, longer is the backup time. You must also ensure that the manufacturer clarifies what the standard battery usage life is when using the portable computer in all power modes. This is a necessary step as manufacturers usually indicate battery usage time at the lowest possible settings.
Slots/ Ports/ Drives – Ports are an essential part of a laptop as they will determine how many external devices like your phone, MP3 player, digicam, external USB drive etc., you can connect to your laptop. If the laptop has an e-SATA or 1394 port, or both, it can still serve the purpose. Old laptops will also have a memory slot and a memory card reader. An Ethernet port is a must for all laptops and there also has to be dedicated switches for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Drives are sometimes overlooked while considering features for a portable computer. However, it is an important aspect and laptops come with various drive configurations like ‘One drive bay’, ‘Two drive bay’, ‘No drive bay’. When the CD-ROM and the floppy drive are interchangeable, it is called a ‘One drive bay’. ‘Two drive bay’ laptops will have a floppy solution as well as CD-ROM solutions while a ‘No drive bay’ laptops are extremely light-weight and utilize external drives instead of internal.
Graphics or a Graphical User Interface – If you are vying for video RAM and have to make a choice, you must always aim for a graphics chipset that is capable of sharing at least 64MB of system memory and you must have the best and the latest GUI (Graphical User Interface) on your laptop. If you are a serious gamer, graphics or the quality of the graphics chipset in your laptop will be your topmost priority to determine the performance of your laptop. For this, you must have a Dedicated Graphics Card. You can choose the latest card and also check if it is possible to upgrade the graphics on the particular laptop you choose to buy. The latest NVIDIA or ATI GPUs are the favorite picks for gamers as they give you higher performance at lower battery consumption and make your laptop capable of several functions like 3D games, wide-screen HDTV, dynamic presentations, graphic processor and more.
Memory/ RAM – It is extremely vital for any laptop to have enough memory space as a pre-requisite to high performance. You must determine the memory space included in a PC as well as verify the possibilities of upgrading the available memory in the future. Lots of RAM allows you to run more applications simultaneously. Features like graphics editing, image editing and video editing – crucial for 3D gaming – also demand for sufficient space. The more memory the laptop has, the more efficiently it will run.
Weight and Portability – You must always look for a easily portable laptop; in other words, how easy is it to carry and fit into tight spaces. Most laptops weigh between 1-2 kgs on average. Depending on your requirement, whether you travel often with your laptop or just confine it to home or office premises, you can make your choice. Buying a sleek and lighter laptop that could fit into your bag, is a better idea if you travel often, whereas, if your use is confined to your home and office, you can opt for a bulkier option with more features.
Warranty – Last but not the least, you must check the manufacturer’s standard warranty. In case there’s any problem with the laptop, the company either offers a repair immediately or within the first few months of use. So, it is essential that a manufacturer’s warranty should last for a year. This will give you coverage without requiring you to pay for an extended warranty. Moreover, an extended warranty can be a valuable piece of insurance if you believe that your laptop stands a high risk of damage due to travel or rough use.
What iYogi has to say:
“Choosing a new laptop is always difficult given the wide variety and new versions available at any given time,” says Vishal Dhar, President, Marketing and co-founder of iYogi. “It is important that consumers keep in mind their own needs and usage patterns and matches them against the best value for their money when purchasing a laptop.”
About iYogi
iYogi is a global on-demand services company that provides personalized computer support for consumers and small businesses in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. iYogi’s unique model, including proprietary iMantra technology and highly qualified technicians, is designed to eliminate computer-related stress and keep millions of digitally dependent consumers and small businesses protected and productive. iYogi — with its proven global expertise delivery model, intelligent customer insight systems, easy-to-use, self-help tools and automated PC optimization and computer support services – offers users a simple yet comprehensive path to digital serenity. iYogi has perfected the remote technical support model to overcome the current limitations of in-store, on-site, or call center services. Major resellers and technology companies are turning to iYogi to improve customer satisfaction, reduce return rates, and deliver a compelling new-value added offering to customers. For more information on iYogi and a detailed list of technologies supported, visit: http://www.iyogi.com.
Media Contact:
Matt Farrell
GlobalFluency
Tel: (646)652-5204
E-mail: [email protected]
