Right in the middle
Aug 27 '01
The Bottom Line Replacing a desktop with a laptop is a great choice for anyone best it allows mobility and you can still keep power.
Many people are now thinking about replacing their huge desktops with a laptop. Some may ask why. Well the reason is quite simple. Many people want to have access to the information they have stored on their home computer when they are away traveling or at work. With having basically one computer you would be able to finish up something from work at home since it is the same computer. You could also use all of the different programs and other things that you would have on a desktop while away. You can put photos of family and friends on your laptop and it would always be with you and you could also contact them when away.
All of these arguments are entirely well thought out and true. So what is the laptop that can be your desktop and provide you with near equivalent service but also is portable to take around with you everywhere you go? I will give you my advice on all the main areas so that you know exactly what to look for.
Size:
It is best to get a laptop that is a little on the smaller side. This will allow it to be more portable but believe me they can still pack a lot into it. Something below 5 pounds will work wonderfully. Infact I find myself more than satisfied with my three pounder. To read more about it look at my essay on Choosing a laptop for business travelers.
Processor:
For this kind of laptop you would probably want a fast processor. Let me remind you though that a fast processor won't work well if you don't have any memory (ram) so it is especially important in a laptop to get a good combination of both. I would recommend a processor between 700 MHz and 1 GHz. I think it would be more conventional to get on the lower end of that spectrum because it won't really make that much difference.
Memory:
Your memory (ram) will allow you to run multiple things at a time and have several different operations going. To maintain speed it is best to be 128 MB of ram. I wouldn't recommend going over that unless you want a 10 pound laptop and I wouldn't recommend going below because then the system will be as slow as a snail. 128 MB will allow you to do as you like, keep the price low, keep the size small, and also have your system run smoothly.
Hard drive:
Most people really end up getting more hard drive than they need. Now unless you are going to download everything possible or are an extreme gamer (and if you are why would you want to replace a desktop with a bigger screen) the hard drive doesn't need to go in excess of 30 GB. This will be more than enough for your MP3s, documents, some downloads, etc. If you do end up with 20 GB don't worry. Worst case senario you need a little eternal hard drive. For more information see my essay on How to choose a removable cartridge drive.
Those are the most important things in your laptop/notebook. Remember that you don't need to get all worried over screen size, or a touchpad, or any other options because basically a small screen on a laptop isn't that bad since you are very close to it, you will get used to a touchpad, and other options such as a video card aren't too customizable after you nail down the main sections like hard drive, processor, etc.
But wait, you are probably saying, haven't you forgotten about the drives? No I haven't, in fact I was saving the best for last. What is really good with laptops, especially Sony and Compaq, is that most models are available with port replicators (aka docking station). This is basically a thing that plugs into your laptop, mostly from underneath or the USB port. A port replicator will contain your drives such as CD-Rom, floppy, DVD, etc. It will also have more places for plugs such as extra USB ports, a place where you can plug into your old desktop monitor, a place to plug in a normal mouse if you are so inclined and more. Once you are done you just take the port replicator out of the laptop and your done. You just unplug one thing. If you are traveling you just put your port replicator in the suitcase and use it, mostly for the drives, when you arrive. In the meantime you have the laptop to use on the plane.
With all of this you should be very surprised at how little you will miss your desktop. But believe me you will and prices on laptops have come down quite a bit so don't worry about that. Good luck with whatever you do.
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