I need to purchase a laptop for business/travel and would like some feedback on a few brands and styles that have worked well for the TalkBuys community. I don’t need anything heavy duty and would like to stay under $500 if that is even possible. I will be running the basic Microsoft office programs and email. Preferably light weight with a comfortable keyboard. I will also need wireless internet access. Who is the best provider for wireless internet these days?
motivate1,
With the Holiday season fast approaching, manufacturers and retailers are stepping up their efforts to capture market share early. This translates into an excellent opportunity for consumers, especially in the areas of consumer electronics. We just searched over 400 different stores for you and located some excellent buys on laptops. In this reply, we’ll give you some items to consider as well as some purchase recommendations.
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ASUS EEPC1000HE Netbook Computer
Netbooks vs. Notebooks
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Toshiba Notebook Computer
The first decision you’ll need to make is what size of “laptop” you’re most interested in. In the under $500 category, there are products called “Netbooks”, which are very small, lightweight computers. Generally, they have a slightly smaller keyboard and the screen is anywhere from 9″ to 12″ (measured diagonally). These computers run on a new miniature computer processor developed by Intel® called the Intel Atom processor. Not only is this processor designed to be small, it is also designed to draw very little power. This means fewer batteries, translating into less weight. Netbook styled computers have gained in popularity over the past two years because of their small size, light weight and the ability to perform well with the majority of today’s software titles and internet technologies. Although they handle these tasks fairly well, they do not function as efficiently as full sized notebook computers, meaning that they are not as fast. For a complete article on what netbooks are, see the link at the end of the article.
On the other hand, unlike portable computers of yesteryear, notebook computers today are very fast, very efficient and capable of handling nearly any home or business computing task, including many of the higher end graphics or gaming requirements. Though this may not be important to you today, software developers continue to push the limits of computer systems. If you want something that will last you a few generations, it’s best to scale up a little bit if you can. Notebook computers operate with better processing power and better graphics capabilities. They’ll be a little heavier than the Netbooks, but most people find that they’re worth it.
Once you’ve decided on the size, it’s time to consider the available features. The following is a short list of what you’ll find on both styles of computers.
| Feature |
Benefit |
Recommendation |
| CPU Processor |
The processor is the heart of the computer. It is what “processes” the data. There are two major brands, Intel and AMD. Both are good quality and will perform well. |
Get Dual Core if you can afford it. This means the processor core is capable of processing twice as much data on the same processor. It’s simply faster. |
| RAM Memory |
RAM (Random Access Memory) is the active memory on the computer and is available in many sizes. It also comes in different “FSB” (front side bus) speeds. The higher the number in GB (gigabytes) the more memory there is. The higher the MHZ(Megahertz) number on the FSB, the faster that memory transfers the information it’s holding to the processor. |
Today’s operating systems (Windows, Apple, Linux, etc.) demand higher amounts of RAM to function. We recommend that you get at least 2 GB RAM. Strongly consider 4GB if you can afford it. Also, get a FSB speed of at least 533MHz, but preferably 800MHz. |
| Video/Graphics Card |
On many laptop computers the video processing is done directly on the main computer board (called a motherboard). This means the CPU processor must process more data because of how video on computers works. Some computers feature a separate Video Card, the sole purpose of which is to process the video data and then send the finished product to the video screen. |
We’ve found at least one computer in your budget that features an ATI Radeon® video card. Most laptops in your price range will have the video processing done on the main CPU which, for what you’ve described as your use, won’t make a noticeable difference until later in the life of the computer. |
| Hard Drive |
The hard drive is where all of your data resides. The bigger the number in GB, the more storage there is. The higher the RPM number, that more times the disc spins in a minute which means faster access to your data. |
The netbook sizes will start at 160GB, which is not that much space in today’s multi-media world. The notebooks start at 250GB. Get at least 250 GB with an RPM of 5400 if you can. |
| Ports- Video and Audio |
As the computer plays a larger role in our media and entertainment needs, more people are integrating them into their media/entertainment centers. If you think this may be important to you in the future, consider it now and make sure the computer you purchase has the correct video ports to do things like stream movies via Netflix, play YouTube videos on your TV, connect with your home audio system, etc. |
Flat panel TV’s and other multi-media screens have several inputs. HDMI is becoming the standard for connecting computers and HD flat panel monitors. Other port types are VGA and SVGA. At minimum, make sure that at least one of these video ports is on the computer you select. To our knowledge, all laptop computers have some sort of an audio out port, so this will integrate regardless of what your home audio system is. Just make sure you have the correct cables. |
| Wi-Fi |
Wi-fi is a wireless technology that allows you to connect to public and private networks using radio wave technologies. There are several versions of wi-fi available and most operate on the IEEE 802.11 standards. The most prominently used is the 802.11b protocol, which simply means that is the standard that two devices would communicate using. Increasingly, the 802.11g platform is becoming more popular. |
Most laptops built today will have both the 802.11b and the 802.11g technologies built in. A few, though mostly in higher priced products, also incorporate the newer 802.11n wireless technology. |
| Extra Features |
Most laptops now come with an integrated webcam, some combination of media card readers, and built in speakers. |
Recommend at least the webcam capability, which will be available on almost all netbooks and most notebook configurations. |
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Recommendations: Notebooks, Netbooks & Where to Buy Them
We considered many brands when compiling this list. They included many of the top brands like Dell, Gateway, Acer, ASUS, Sony VAIO®, Apple and more. We also researched hundreds of stores, both online and off. Below is a list of recommendations.
Top Pick Overall – BEST VALUE in a Laptop Computer
Acer Aspire AS1410-2039 Notebook PC
Product Features:
1.3GHz Intel Celeron 743 Processor
2048MB DDR2 667MHz Memory
250GB SATA Hard Drive
802.11a/b/g/Draft-N wireless
11.6″ HD Widescreen CineCrystal LED-backlit Display
Windows 7 Home Premium
Up to 6 Hours of Battery Life
Top Pick in the Netbook Category
Samsung N110-12PBK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook – 6 Cell Battery (9.5 Hours)
(Includes Free Super Saver Shipping)
Samsung N110-12PBK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 6 Cell Battery (9.5 Hours) Just $326.95 with Free Shipping from Amazon.com
Weighing just 2.8 pounds, the Samsung N110-12PBK improves on its predecessors with a sleeker, curvier design, a glossy LCD screen, a larger touchpad, and a 6-cell lithium rechargeable battery that provides up to 9 hours of continuous use. An affordable mobile PC that’s ideal for all your online needs, the N110 is designed to go almost anywhere–from kitchen and living room at home to Wi-Fi hotspots at coffee shops, airports and more. It sports a 10.1-inch LED-backlit SuperBright screen and a 93-percent full-size keyboard that’s easy to use.
It’s powered by the 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, which is designed especially for mobile devices and features an innovative hafnium-infused circuitry that reduces electrical current leakage in transistors to conserve energy. The integrated 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) will keep you connected to email and all your social networks, while the Bluetooth 2.0+EDR technology enables you to use handsfree communication headsets while video chatting via the integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam.
Other features include a 160 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM, built-in speakers and microphone, SD/SDHC/MMC memory card reader, three USB ports, and a VGA output to an external monitor. It comes preinstalled with the Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system, which offers more experienced users an enhanced and innovative experience that incorporates Windows Live features like Windows Live Messenger for instant messaging and Windows Live Mail for consolidated email accounts on your desktop.
- Acer Red 11.6″ Aspire AS1410 Laptop PC With Intel Core 2 Solo ULV Processor SU3500& Windows 7 Tech Guarantee Upgrade
Second Top Pick in the Netbook Category
Acer Red 11.6″ Aspire AS1410 Laptop PC With Intel Core 2 Solo ULV Processor SU3500& Windows 7 Tech Guarantee Upgrade
At just over 3 pounds, the Acer Aspire AS1410 Notebook offers great performance features in a Netbook size that lets you travel light. Enjoy music, video, photos and more on the 11.6″ HD display and work comfortably on the full-size keyboard wherever you are with Draft-N wireless and long battery life. With Intel Centrino processor technology, Windows Vista Home Premium, 2GB of memory and a large hard drive you have plenty of power to do your favorite things.
Product Features:
Intel Core 2 Solo Processor ULV SU3500 operating at 1.40 GHz speed, with 3MB Cache and a 800MHz FSB; 2GB of DDR2 system memory rated at 667MHz (upgradeable to 4GB); 250GB SATA hard drive, 5400 rpm with can store up to 71,000 photos, or up to 60,000 songs, or up to 29 hours of HD video; Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n – Wired Ethernet Connects to a broadband modem (cable or DSL) wirelessly or using the wired 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet port. Also wirelessly connects to Wi-Fi signals/hotspots with Intel WiFi Link 802.11 b/g/n wireless LAN; Integrated Acer Crystal Eye Webcam and digital microphone deliver smooth video and superior voice quality so you can stay in contact wherever you are by means of real-time video streaming, video chat and conference calling; 11.6″ HD LED-backlit display screen for you to see more of your movies, photos, documents and web pages with less scrolling; Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD delivers smooth video playback, sharp images and precise color control.
Coupons and Recent Price Drops
Check Out Coupons and recent price drops that may help you save even more by clicking here.
Other Resources
What is a Netbook computer?
Travis 11:07 pm on November 10, 2009 Permalink | Log in to Reply
We were just notified that Toshiba is having a Veteran’s day sale with notebook computers starting at less than $350.00. Also, they are featuring up to 25% off during this sale. Here’s a link to the site.
Buy Notebook Computers Direct From Toshiba
Travis 11:09 pm on November 10, 2009 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Sorry, the information we got was a little incorrect. It’s actually customizable computers from $374.00. When you go to the site select the “Special Offers” tab.