Archive for category Laptop
Configuring a New Laptop
There are a lot of things to consider when you are shopping for that laptop, the two most important specifications however are going to be your processor and your RAM. Here I am going to explain some of the fundamental features of both so you can make a better choice when buying a laptop for yourself.
PROCESSOR (CPU)
Intel the world’s largest semi conductor maker has begun the process of transitioning into a quad core line of processors. Their range is branded as Core i3, i5 and i7. If you are hunting for a bargain then you could choose its older Core 2 models, but you would be better off sticking to its latest range.
You could also consider a processor from Intel rival AMD which has a compelling range of products branded as Turion II and Athlon II. If you are a budget shopper then these processes are well worth considering and will serve the purpose for most tasks. The big difference between processors made by AMD is they are simply not as fast as those made by Intel and they tend to act as a drain on battery life.
The most important task is working out exactly how much processing power you need. In general the Core i3 or i5 are suitable for most people. If however you do a lot of video editing then you are going to need a more powerful processor. Gamers in particular believe they need a powerful processor but in practice can actually get away with a slower chip.
Quad core chips still cost a lot and also tend to drain battery life quite quickly. You can identify a quad core chip by the Q denoted next to the machine’s model number. If you use your laptop as your main machine, and not taking it out on the road, or you are a gamer or video editor, the quad chip case becomes more compelling.
The decision over processor gets trickier when you are ordering a custom laptop from a manufacturer. You should as a rule avoid the most expensive chipsets on offer and go for the second or third least costliest chips. The increase in price is usually proportional to performance. You should not spend more than $150 upgrading a processor. If you are simply surfing the internet or word processing, even a dual core processor is more than adequate.
MEMORY (RAM)
4GB RAM is the standard memory offered by most manufacturers even on low end laptops and that is really all you need. Starting prices for a laptop with 4GB RAM are just under $500. In the past manufacturers used to make consumers pay through the nose when they upgraded the memory whilst custom ordering. More recently, this practice seems to have changed, and only Apple really still does this.
If upgrading your memory to 4GB costs you less than $90, which is what it costs separately, then you should definitely upgrade. Upgrading beyond 4GB is going to be expensive, and the only real reason to do it is if you are video editing, and even then it’s still not absolutely necessary when you compare it against the expense. For a desktop, spending an additional $100 is no big deal, but for a laptop where it is going to cost you an additional $300 for 8GB, it’s simply not worth it unless your laptop is your primary video editing device. Read the rest of this entry »
How to get a better resolution from a laptop computer
If you own a laptop or a netbook, I am sure that there is a time for you that you cannot see the picture in your laptop or netbook screen clearly because of the size of your laptop screen. If you want to get rid of this, PC to TV connector can help you to achieve a better quality that can help you see better any item from your netbook through the screen of television. The connector can be seen in so many online sellers in the internet but you have to make sure that the product they sell can give you a better resolution because some of the connectors just connect the screen and not give you a better and higher resolution. To make you avoid buying a connector which will not give you a better resolution, you might need to check the plugs in the connector. A good connector will consist of three things; the VGA and 3.5mm audio jack to connect your computer with the plug and the composite RCA jacks to connect the connector to the television. If you see those three jacks installed in the connector, you can choose this.
To connect your computer to a TV screen is actually very easy. You do not need to install any software or tweak you PC configuration to make this happen. What you need to do is to plug all the jacks to the right port. For example, you need to plug the VGA cable from your computer to the connector for the display and the 3.5mm jack from the computer to the connector to get the audio. After all of those jacks are plugged into the connector, what you have to do next is to plug the RCA cables in the connector into your TV and you can experience a different quality of picture.
When Laptop Chargers Go Bad
In order to keep your laptop up and running in good condition, it is important to treat all pieces with care to instill that it operates for a longer time frame. This not only includes your laptop, but also the laptop charger. A laptop charger is more than just a cord to plug-in the wall but instead is a necessity to keep the computer and the battery life up so that your laptop will be charged and ready to use for work or play as needed.
Most laptop computers have two power sources: One is the battery and one is the electrical cord.
The electrical cord, however, is essential to providing power to the battery. Once the laptop is unplugged, the battery will start to wear down. The older the battery and laptop, the shorter the battery life is. In order to keep your computer from dying in the middle of a project or activity, a person must use their charger to charge the battery up too. A laptop charger typically also will operate a laptop even if the battery pack is removed. A charger will provide power to the laptop, it just will not recharge the battery if it is removed.
Typically a laptop charger consists of a cord that runs from a wall outlet to a power box and from the power box another cord runs that can be plugged into the back or side of the laptop computer. Typically most charger devices have power light indicators that tell if it is properly plugged in and working. The laptop desktop will typically have an icon that shows the battery level and will also show if it is plugged in to a charger, therefore increasing the battery life again. Read the rest of this entry »