How to choose a laptop computer

A laptop computer is similar to a desktop computer in that they both use a processor, hard drive, high-speed memory, and a graphics processor to display images on the screen. However, laptops since they’re built to be portable have several differences you need to consider before purchasing.

Probably the most important is the battery. The better the battery, the longer you can use your laptop without having to re-charge it. Laptop batteries are rated by the number of cells they have, much like a car battery. The more cells your battery has, the longer it can go between charges. However, the more cells in the battery, the larger and heavier it can get. A typical laptop has a 4 or 6 cell battery. You can usually upgrade and get an 8, 9 or even a 12 cell battery. If you travel a lot or need to go for more than 2 to 3 hours between charges, you’ll want to look at getting an 8 or 9 cell battery. The screen size of your laptop also determines how long a battery will last. For example, a 12 inch laptop can be used continuously for about 3 hours on a 4 cell battery, while a 17 inch laptop needs an 8 cell battery to go for the same amount of time. You’ll definitely want to consider investing in a spare battery and keep it in your laptop bag. Just make sure to charge it once per week so it’s ready for when you need it.

The quality of the screen is also very important, and is a big reason for the difference in prices between laptops of the same size. The three things to know about a laptop screen are: screen size, screen quality and screen resolution. First, screen size – choose from 12.1 inch and 13.3 inch for great portability and personal use, 15.4 inch for presentations, good entertainment possibilities and as a complement to your desktop computer, or a 17 inch for great entertainment, business presentations and a true desktop replacement. While there are some other slightly different sizes, these are the most common. Next, you’ll want to look at the image quality of the screen. Laptop screens are either standard backlit, which provides a nice image, but it can change as you look at the screen from different angles. Or, they are LED backlit which provides the most dynamic image quality and doesn’t change with the viewing angle. A laptop with an LED backlit screen is more expensive, however the difference is noticeable. Finally, there’s the display resolution. Laptop screens, just like desktop computer monitors and LCD televisions are rated by their display resolution. The higher the resolution, the sharper the image you’ll see on the screen. The next time you’re in a television store, look at a large screen TV with 1080 resolution versus a TV with a 720 resolution display. The 1080 is noticeably sharper.

The final consideration is the weight of the laptop. The Nova Mesa 12 and 13 inch laptops weigh about 4 pounds and are great for traveling and true mobility. The 15 inch laptops weigh about 6 pounds and are portable and great for presentations and entertainment. The 17 inch laptops weigh from 9 to 12 pounds and are true desktop replacement computers. While they are heavier, the 17 inch laptops feature enough power for high-end games, computer modeling, dynamic business presentations and incredible entertainment. Don’t forget the extra battery and a good quality carrying bag to complete your laptop experience.