Lap-Machines for us. Which ?

What Machines? (thanks for the face, Ray)

Salam. Peace be upon you.

Today we're going to discuss a lil' bit deeper into this matter. This machines matter. Since many of us, youths are more comfortable with laptop, the arguments goes on and on, which is the best? Some will say the best one is the best brand. Brand is another context of an issue, but generally, it becomes best when it fits your need and affordability and provides you with satisfying services. Well, satisfying service must come with a satisfying specs, right ? Then here's what we're gonna do, to take a look specifically on a laptop specs to select the best for us.

To provide with a clear view, I must say, best laptop comes with good combination of each component based on it's purposes and pricing. Take a look on each component.

1-CPU- (central processing unit)

Basically, CPU is the brain of your laptop. You must've familiar with these two brands - Intel and AMD. So which one? And what type?
To measure the processing power a CPU has, you consider it's clockspeed rate. The more GHz it gives, the more powerful it is. But remember, more power, means more heat. This depends on how you cope with it with your laptop. A laptop with 2.1 GHz CPU is already enough for an upper medium performance(advanced medium tasks) like amateur graphic works, sedentary gaming, and some software like CAD. A laptop with 2.1 GHz CPU can already run Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Flash, Media Player (Music Streaming) and Internet Browsing. But this gather along a good combo, with 4GB RAM and a low-class video (graphic) card. With less than that, less work it can perform.

You might also want to consider the amount of cache a CPU can handle. More means more job it can handle at once. Like 6 or 8 M, it can handle much work already compare to only 1 or 2 M.

However, if some of you might demand intense gaming with a 14'' to 16'' machine like Crysis, Left for Dead, Gears of War,you should get yourself more GHz, (clockspeed rate) and get more RAM, more powerful video/graphic card, and, a better cooling system.


There are simple steps to know which CPU that might best compatible with your lifestyle.

1. Imagine your live and what you're going to do with the machine on your lap for 4 to 5 years forward. Or if you plan to stick with it for entire of your life, that's up to you.

2. If you plan to do casual work like word processing, media streaming, normal games, movie watching, and stuffs like that with your laptop, Intel Dual Core or AMD Sempron, Turion X2, are best. But remember, if you're using Macintosh, always get higher requirements since it uses more on graphic and OS (operation system). In this case, Intel Duo 2 Core is allright.

3. If you love to play heavier Games and more often, and works with heavier software like Adobe After Effects, 3DS MAX, Blender, Adobe Premire Pro and several architecture and engineering software get a Intel Quad Core. It performs better. For macintosh user, get an Intel Dual Quad Core

4. But however, if you're rich and don't care at all about money, just ask for the latest CPU like Intel i7 980 and get the best out of your laptop.

There are also some fuss going around whether AMD is better than Intel or vice versa. Like I said, it all depends on clockspeed rate, cache, and performance. But there are some special properties that AMD has, but not Intel, so do Intel has, but not AMD.

AMD is cheaper than Intel, cooler and often related to has a best value. However, Intel has a better cutting edge technology and usually has higher capability in Overclocking.

But these also relate to video/graphic card ability you have. A bad CPU with powerful video card is as bad as a good CPU with bad video card.

2-Video/Graphic Card

ATI or Nvidia? Don't bother. Just notice it's memory. 512 Mb is just best enough for laptop gaming.

However, there are certain laptops that come without these card, they are built with integrated video or Intel HD video that perform less satisfying than ATI or Nvidia. But this usually resulting in lighter laptop since it save more space.


3-RAM - (random access memory)

This is way too simple, more RAM means better performance. However, if you have a larger Hard Drive, you must also have a better RAM as it requires more memory to browse through more space. Like you need more people to find stuff in a larger store, or warehouse.


4-Hard Disk

The bigger, not absoulutely better. But bigger hard disk gives you more space to save more stuffs. But this require more memory (RAM) to operate. You should also notice that it is SATA. SATA hard disk is faster in operation than no-SATA. You might also want to consider it's RPM, or rotation per minute, that represents it's speed. 54k RPM is good already

5-Others

There are still some other stuffs that you want to consider, like webcam availabitly, screen quality, bluetooth availability, wifi, card reader, and the weight ( though not so important i guess) but they still influence your way of using, comfort, and pricing or a laptop.

There is a feature that some of older laptops don't have, the HDMI. HDMI is the capability of connecting your laptop to a wider screen like your TV ( latest TV, not the big bulky one).

You also should consider the warranty of a laptop. The longer the better isn't?


Suggestions

Some would ask me to suggest, which should be best bought. Well for me, I'd list down some options ranking number 1 for the most I'd really want. But that depends on the price and some other aspects, if it is'nt possible, I'd go for number 2 and so on. And, some reasons why I chose them. (Note that these are just only my thoughts and opinion). And oh, I dont want to suggest Mac Book Pro, it's just unreasonable for a student.

1. Sony Vaio VPC CW28FG
Price : RM 4399
Pros : Sony always comes with great combo's. This is one. Sleek, and Stylish, comparable to Mac Book
Cons : It's hard to find a place good enough to repair if it is broken. And it is expensive, see ?

2. Acer 57416 ....Mn Olympic
Price : Rm 2999
Pros : Great price for a great combo and great video card. Easy to find someone to repair.
Cons : Life-spans is short. About 3 years (but depends on how you use it and manege it)

3. Compaq Presario CQ42 177TX
Price : RM 2499
Pros : Great price for a great combo and great video card. Last's Longer than Acer. Easy to find someone to repair.
Cons : Less CPU Performance, although it is an Intel i5.


Well, however, the choice in your hand, choose wisely. One thing in Malaysia that I love is, we can always bargain for a lower price. Especially those who has an exceptional way of speaking !