How to Shop for a Notebook Computer
Shannon Clark writes about the frustration experienced as shopping for a new notebook computer.
Shannon presents a handy list of things you need to know in order to make an intelligent choice:
[tease]
1. Weight of the laptop (bonus for weight as configured + power adapter)
2. Battery life (Bonus for clear answers as to what additional battery options exist and what they add)
3. Screen resolution (note – not just screen size, the actual native number of pixels. And no WXGA etc isn’t all that useful). And an aside, have you noticed how hard it is still to get a laptop with at least 1400 x 1050 screen resolution?
4. Basic system details – processor, installed memory, hd size, graphics card w/memory
5. OS installed (bonus for Linux & Vista compatibility)6. Slightly advanced system details – internal microphone? built-in speakers? camera? # of USB 2.0 ports? firewire ports? memory card readers? Express card slot(s)? PC Card slots?
7. Exact wifi compatibility (i.e. a/b/g/n/?)
8. if built-in WWAN capabilities – EXACTLY which carrier and what contract requirements are implied?
9. The precise terms of the warranty including how to get it to at least 3 years, On-site repair, with FULL coverage (i.e. will replace the screen even in the case of accidental damage)
[via Anne Zelenka]