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Laptop computers
Built-in wireless capability and larger displays add to their appeal
Bigger, crisper displays and more usable key layouts have replaced small screens and cramped keyboards on laptop computers.
Processors have caught up in speed with desktop models, and innovative dual-core processors are also available. Fast CD- and
DVD-recording drives are common, as are ample hard drives.
As computers become a repository for digital photos, music, and video, manufacturers are making laptops and their peripherals increasingly competitive with home-entertainment systems.
And a growing interest in wireless computing plays to the laptop's main strength: its portability.
A laptop is the most convenient way to take full advantage of the growing availability of high-speed, wireless Internet access at airports, schools, hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops.
Most laptops now have wireless networking capability built in and deliver commendably long battery life. The thinnest laptops on the market are less than an inch thick and weigh just 3 to 5 pounds. But to get these light, sleek models, you'll have to pay a premium and make some sacrifices in performance, screen size, and features.
A desktop computer typically costs less for equivalent performance and is easier to upgrade, expand, and repair. It usually offers better ergonomics, such as a more comfortable keyboard, bigger eye-level display, and enhanced audio. But as costs plummet, a laptop computer is your best choice if portability and compactness are priorities.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Acer, Dell, Gateway, HP (which also makes Compaq), Lenovo (formerly branded as IBM), Sony, and Toshiba are the leading Windows laptop brands. Apple makes Mac OS MacBook and MacBook Pro models. Laptops can be grouped into several basic configurations:
Budget models. These have slower processors and fewer features than others but are suitable for routine office work and home software. Price: $800 or less.
Workhorse models. These have faster processors and more built-in devices, so there's less need for external attachments. They also have larger screens and enhanced sound and video components for home-entertainment uses. They're not lightweight or battery-efficient enough for frequent travelers. Price: $800 and up.
Slim-and-light models. These are for travelers. They are about an inch thick and weigh about 3 to 4 pounds. Some require an external drive to read DVDs or burn CDs. Price: $1,000 and up.
Tablet-style. These sit in your hand like a clipboard and have handwriting-recognition software. Some convert to a "normal" laptop with a keyboard. Price: $1,000 and up.
As computers become a repository for digital photos, music, and video, manufacturers are making laptops and their peripherals increasingly competitive with home-entertainment systems.
And a growing interest in wireless computing plays to the laptop's main strength: its portability.
A laptop is the most convenient way to take full advantage of the growing availability of high-speed, wireless Internet access at airports, schools, hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops.
Most laptops now have wireless networking capability built in and deliver commendably long battery life. The thinnest laptops on the market are less than an inch thick and weigh just 3 to 5 pounds. But to get these light, sleek models, you'll have to pay a premium and make some sacrifices in performance, screen size, and features.
A desktop computer typically costs less for equivalent performance and is easier to upgrade, expand, and repair. It usually offers better ergonomics, such as a more comfortable keyboard, bigger eye-level display, and enhanced audio. But as costs plummet, a laptop computer is your best choice if portability and compactness are priorities.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Acer, Dell, Gateway, HP (which also makes Compaq), Lenovo (formerly branded as IBM), Sony, and Toshiba are the leading Windows laptop brands. Apple makes Mac OS MacBook and MacBook Pro models. Laptops can be grouped into several basic configurations:
Budget models. These have slower processors and fewer features than others but are suitable for routine office work and home software. Price: $800 or less.
Workhorse models. These have faster processors and more built-in devices, so there's less need for external attachments. They also have larger screens and enhanced sound and video components for home-entertainment uses. They're not lightweight or battery-efficient enough for frequent travelers. Price: $800 and up.
Slim-and-light models. These are for travelers. They are about an inch thick and weigh about 3 to 4 pounds. Some require an external drive to read DVDs or burn CDs. Price: $1,000 and up.
Tablet-style. These sit in your hand like a clipboard and have handwriting-recognition software. Some convert to a "normal" laptop with a keyboard. Price: $1,000 and up.
