Choosing a Laptop: A Laptop Classification to Make Your Choice Easier (2)

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Desktop Replacements
As the name says, these are laptops that are robust enough to totally replace your desktop PC and a bit too larger to be easily carried about. With more users doing away desktop PCs, desktop replacement laptops provide the next thing in size.

From 16” up would fit into this category, as these are hardly mobile laptops you want to carry about. Most times, such laptop would be on your desk, doing the work your desktop previously did. Or would you easily move your 18” laptop about?

In terms of capacity, it would vary as with other laptops. It’s more in the bulk, but if you need a replacement for your desktop, it should be configured to deliver the kind of performance you would get from your desktop.

Desktop replacements will be less economical with battery, though more comfortable to your eyes and fingers. You may also need a more portable unit to support this one, for road-work.

More Ways to Choose

Apart from size classification, capacity and performance will also distinguish laptops.

Entry-level laptops are those ones with capacity for the most basic computing needs. That will cover word processing and preparing other documents, internet browsing, send or receive email, playback CDs and DVDs, etc.

Most mini laptops and full-size laptops of 1GB memory and say 160GB hard drive, will be seen today as entry level. The processor may be single core or basic dual core. These are the budget notebooks which most intending basic users find more affordable. They are called consumer laptops.

Mid-range laptops have more advanced processors, more memory and hard drive capacity and can conveniently run fairly serious applications. Higher dual core processors, 2GB or more of memory, 250 GB or more of hard drive, good graphics card, etc, will be expected. Some dedicated graphics memory, say 256MB or 512MB, will be in tune. Prices are higher, but still within an affordable reach.

High-end laptops use advanced processors (like today’s Intel Core i serie), have more memory (say 4GB) and hard drive (over 320GB) capacity and can handle multi-tasking operations comfortably. Here, you’ll likely get solid graphics capacity, possibly with up to 1GB of dedicated graphics memory. They usually come with high price tags.

Gaming laptops
Gaming Laptops are for advanced gaming applications that require huge system capacity. Gaming laptops are designed to handle high-performance gaming as well as graphically intense applications like video editing, simulation, and audio editing. The Alienware machines are in this class. They come with the highest price tags and only those who can afford them can go for them.

Business laptops
Business Laptops are another grouping. They are targeted at business users. Business laptops are designed to handle tough work and withstand more bumps. They also come with features that support business productivity. So, you expect high capacity, a solid finish and productivity tools like Windows Professional edition or higher. Business laptops are in the high cost range which mostly companies can afford.

Tablet PCs
Tablet PCs or tablet laptops are also catching on. The main feature is the touchscreen that permits writing by hand, using a stylus or digital pen. Some are regular laptops but with a swivel screen that you can twist to turn into a ‘slate’ for writing. In effect, you can type or write. These are also in the relatively high price range.

Putting it Together
It wasn’t going to be easy, because laptop options are many – from choice of manufacturer to choice of size, to choice of processor, choice of memory and hard drive capacity, to choice of features. You still have to consider choice of pricing!

At the end, you are the one to make those choices. If you get a clearer idea of what you are up against, it probably gets easier. That’s the purpose here.

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