BEFORE BUYING A NETBOOK

Netbooks have nearly identical components. Almost all of them run on a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor or a VIA Nano processor with integrated Intel graphics.

Netbooks are much cheaper than conventional laptops. But before you buy one you need to be aware of its limitations. Netbooks are much slower than the average 14 inch or 15 inch notebooks. Because of their low-end configurations, they will run better with Linux or Windows XP than the more demanding Vista.

Most netbooks are still capable of handling use around the house. For instance, you can easily surf the web and work on Office applications. On the other hand, you may have problems running games or decoding HD video.

Screen Size
Netbooks have smaller displays. The standard netbook display measures 9 or 10 inches. Some manufacturers have started offering even bigger displays.

Hard Drive or SSD
Solid State Drives are sometimes used on netbooks. But remember that the SSD variants used on netbooks are much slower and cheaper than the high-end SSDs used in expensive laptops. A conventional hard drive is still the best storage option for a netbook.

Linux or Windows
Netbooks run better with Linux than Windows XP. Linux also costs much less and is more secure than Windows.

RAM
Most netbooks come with 1GB of RAM. Some manufacturers offer more, but the 1GB RAM is usually sufficient for meeting the basic purpose of a netbook.

BUYING A USED LAPTOP

Everybody likes to buy a brand new laptop, but sometimes budget constraints make it impossible. Used/refurbished laptops are the ideal solution for users who don’t want to or can’t afford to buy a brand new laptop.

Before you buy a used laptop make sure that you will be able to upgrade its components when you want to. New and improved networking options arrive almost everyday. If you can’t upgrade the networking capabilities of your laptop, you will not be able to make use of the newest connectivity options.

Used laptop or refurbished laptop – what to buy?
A used laptop is not the same as a refurnished laptop. In fact buying a refurbished laptop is better than buying a used laptop. This is because refurbished laptops are much less likely to have problems. Used laptops, on the other hand, are not certified. They don’t have warranties and there is no guarantee that they will work or for how long. In many cases you will have to make repairs or replace components.
Refurbished laptops are certified for resale. They have warranties and have been closely examined and damaged or worn out parts replaced. In many cases you will be given an opportunity to try the machine before you buy.

Where to buy a refurbished laptop
Check with laptop manufacturers; they will recommend authorized sellers or refurbished laptops.

THINGS YOU NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT BEFORE BUYING A LAPTOP

Before you buy a laptop you need to evaluate the tasks you perform and compare them with the features offered by the laptop to make sure that you get the right machine. So what are the factors you need to take into account?

Size and Weight
Mobile workers need a laptop that is thin and portable. Best choices are ultraportable and thin and light laptops. Desktop replacement laptops provide many features useful to mobile professionals, but they are too heavy.

Connectivity
Mobile workers need a laptop that provides multiple connection options. So the laptop you choose should have the necessary networking capabilities.

Batteries
If you travel a lot, you will need a laptop that has a long battery life. Some laptops will also allow you to add an extra battery. You may also want to consider how long does it take to recharge your laptop batteries.

Security Features
Laptops are a prime target for theft when you travel. Many higher-end laptops come with sophisticated security options. They may be costlier than conventional laptops, but the additional security options will save you both money and trouble.

Specifications
Don’t buy a laptop just looking at the size or price tag. You may have bought the thinnest laptop possible, but if it doesn’t have sufficient processor speed or RAM you will not be able to carry out your job. The size of the keyboards and monitors are also important.


Upgrades
Technology is constantly changing. You should be able to upgrade your laptop when you want to. Avoid buying laptops that have onboard components: You will probably not be able to upgrade them.

COMPANIES BUYING USED COMPUTERS FOR XP

This is quite interesting as it seems to actually make some sense. According to IDC and Rescuecom its cheaper for businesses to buy used XP systems than to buy new ones and downgrade to XP. So of course they're going for it. The only problem is that the scum bags are loading bootlgged copies of XP onto used systems and selling them on such sites as eBay, Craiglist and others. So according to those working at ComputerWorld is is safer to buy used Dell or HP machines than to take the risk of running a bunch of pirated software on your system.

I never dreamed that XP would get more love than the Max OSX. I guess that people don't know what they have until its gone. Lets hope Window's 7 fixes that.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING GAMING NOTEBOOK

Gaming comes in variety of ranges, and group of game players are now the mainstream. This simply means that gaming laptop has come real long way and today lots of options are available to be selected from. When it comes to games you really need to consider certain important things, as gamers demand lot from the laptop. Here are some of the most important factors you need to consider when choosing your most excellent laptop:

First and foremost thing is you must go for an amazing graphics. The more graphic options you have the more you will enjoy the game practically. So look the laptop that is integrated with graphics and huge amount of video RAM space. Intel’s Graphics Media Accelerator 900 could be one of the required factor.

Speed is the factor you need to consider next. Speed of a laptop is calculated by megahertz or gigahertz. So the higher you choose the speed, the faster your notebook would be. You may go with SATA processor as they are really advanced and consume less power. Safer to go with pentium.

Then you must check out for good amount of RAM memory, so go with at least 246MB for Windows XP and Mac OS X. This would particularly helpful in handling the graphic and works well when you play the current 3D games on your laptop.