How to buy a laptop in 2005

DISPLAY
When it comes to screen technology, you'll be looking at an active matrix screen. You can get 17-inch screens on laptops these days. They are nice, but heavy, and very power-hungry. When shopping, look at the screen from straight on and from different angles. Then compare them against the other screens you've seen. If you like what you see, that's all that matters.

BATTERY
Battery power continues to be one of the biggest problems on mobile computers. More battery means more weight but few batteries will get you through a full working session on a transcontinental flight.

Your choice in portable power is pretty much lithium ion ("Li-Ion"). You may be able to find nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and nickel cadmium (NiCad) batteries around still, but perhaps at the local antique store.

IBM has a reputation for long industry-beating batteries, up to 8 hours. If you choose a laptop with a Centrino or Pentium 4M chip, you’ll get better battery life (but less speed), as well.

If you plan to use your notebook regularly on long trips, where wall power won't be possible for extended periods of time, choose a notebook that lets you insert a second (fresh) battery.

POINTERS
Next is the issue of pointing devices. Using a mouse isn't always possible if you don't have a flat surface to work on. Some computers are equipped with a pencil-eraser-sized nub mounted in the middle of the keyboard. This is anathema for some and prized by others. Another technology is the touch pad. Some machines have both. For example, I use an IBM ThinkPad T40, and it has both a touchpad and nub.

INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
You'll want to connect your notebook to the Internet at some point, so a wireless modem is ideal for this. Intel Centrino-powered laptops have Wi-Fi built in. But you can also upgrade a non-wireless laptop with a $50 US ($75 CDN) wireless PC Card that fits into a slot on the edge of the machine.

Tablet PCs all have built-in wireless capabilities. Note that the most common built-in wireless standard is 802.11b. In the future, you’ll see the 802.11a and 802.11g wireless standards built in (some already have "a" and "b"). The "a" and "g" standards offer connection speeds five times faster than 802.11b - up to 54 Mbps. Even with those, however, most coffee shops and airports only offer 802.11b. That will change over the next couple of years. Note that if you buy a laptop with 802.11b wireless technology, and you have an 802.11g wireless router at home or in the office, one will work with the other, just at the slower 11 Mbps speed.

Here's the short figure-it-out speech: Wireless? Definitely get it. Which version? Built-in 802.11b is fine, unless you want a faster connection at home or work. In that case, buy without a wireless system and upgrade with a separate 802.11g (recommended) or 802.11a wireless PC Card.

You can buy a wireless network kit for your home or business, to work with high-speed cable or always-on phone line connections. These give you a wandering range of about 300 feet with your notebook. They cost $70 to $150.

BRANDS
As for brands? Well, IBM machines are great, but will kill your budget. Toshibas are decent, have a nice selection, and are affordable. I don’t recommend Sony at all, primarily because the company’s crappy customer service and mediocre technology. If you're an Apple fan, then you know what to buy, no point in repeating it here. Yes, Apple is great and fantastic, and the PowerBooks are tasty. Yadda yadda yadda.

As for Dell? Take a look, they’re pretty affordable, and many people have been saying good things about them recently. Other brands to consider include: Fujitsu, Acer, Gateway and Sharp.

FINAL THOUGHT
A final rule of thumb: If you find a notebook you like, and the price is within your budget, buy it. Yes, there will be a cheaper, faster model available next month, with more features and better technology. But that, too, will be replaced by a better model the month after that. Buy the best you can afford at the time, or wait forever.

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