Tips To Reduce Cost On A Notebook

The technology used for manufacturing laptops and notebooks are advancing at a neck-breaking speed. Since companies are spending a fortune on the hi-tech research and development of the laptops, their prices can`t drop beyond a limit even if their sizes will. Laptops or notebooks are still being considered as high-end and expensive products. This article will guide you how to reduce you cost while buying a new notebook.

Here are some tips to consider for reducing the cost of that new notebook:

Overall Brand Quality:

Don`t compromise too much on this aspect. Bigger brands tend to offer better services. Hence, if you skimp on this aspect, then might have to take a big risk. However, there are some sites available on the internet that offers effective tools to find the best deal.

Processor:

It is always wise to pick the fastest processor. This is something you should never plan to upgrade later as doing so will require some addition cost. Compromising on this aspect is a bad idea as this has direct bearing on the speed of your work.

Memory:

You can save some money here because you can always upgrade the memory of your laptop as and when you need so. For example, getting 512 MB in the first memory slot (DIMM) will let you add an additional 512MB (in a second memory slot) later on for a total of 1GB, which means you will still make use of the 512MB that came with it.

Screen:

This is a personal consideration which is based on your use. Usually, older eyes prefer lower resolution of a less expensive screen. However, quite a few notebooks have 1 or 2 native resolutions that look good. But, these are high resolutions and most people over 40 find them difficult to read. Hence, to be on the safer side, you must compare before swipe your credit card.

Hard Drive:

If you want to skimp here, do so in terms of size but not speed. Insist on 7200 rpm and do not be influenced by varying views on this.

Video card:

Using a top video card makes sense when you are into graphics work, enjoying your favorite flicks or using Windows Vista with aero interface. Then you should consider including this top hardware feature seriously. However, if you are not doing any of them, then you might save a lot on this aspect.

Warranty:

Since repairing laptops are an expensive ball game, the longer the warranty, the more secured you are. Hence, if you think you will be able to skimp on this aspect, then it`s purely your call.

Operating system:

This is one area where you can substantially cut cost on you laptop. There is no point in paying extra for Windows Vista Ultimate if you are not going to use its features in your daily application. However, skimping down to Vista Basic would not be a good idea if you are planning to use the cool Aero interface. Hence, compare before you buy.

While buying a laptop, compare its cost with its performance. A laptop could cost you more if it is a high performer. However, you should consider the features you are going to use on a regular basis. It is pointless pay extra for the sake of features that are of little use to your purpose. Hence, consider your needs and pick the features you require to be there in your notebook. This will save you from hesitation and making potential errors while buying a laptop.

Author Resource:->  This article can be accessed in portuguese from the Article section of page www.polomercantil.com.br/notebook.php

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for www.PoloMercantil.com.br

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Simple Laptop Buying Guide – Unless you Like Techie Jargon

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A laptop, is simply a portable computer that runs on a battery and can be used anywhere without being stuck to a plug.

When determining how to buy a laptop there are certain features that are important to look at as well as knowing the purpose the laptop will serve for you. For example, if your are going to use the laptop primarily for gaming then the features you will want to get will be different than those of a laptop for business.

An important factor to look at when buying a laptop is the Processor. The processor of a laptop determines how fast a computer is and the speed is given in GHz. The Intel Core 2 Duo is one of the best in processors. The Core 2 Provides superior performance at half the cost of other similar types as well as a great battery life. 1.73 GHz processor is more than sufficient for everyday work like word processing, spreadsheets, email, gaming and internet surfing.

Memory(RAM)is another crucial factor when buying a laptop. RAM refers to the amount of programs you can run on your laptop without running into slow downs and causing your laptop to drag. 512MB RAM is the optimal amount of memory for any purpose and the best option for gaming and 3-D graphics. Buying Tip: The RAM the laptop supports tells you the most memory you will ever be able to upgrade to.

Another factor in buying a laptop is the HARD DRIVE. Generally speaking a 40-80 GB hard drive is more than sufficient unless you plan to generate mass amounts of music or data files or you want to install more than one suite like Microsoft Office.

Laptop Weight is another thing to consider when buying a laptop. A 5 pound plus laptop is best. Ultra light laptops, below 4 pounds have cramped keyboards, less speed and memory, usually no CD or DVD drive and smaller screens. If you buy an ultra-light laptop, its performance may be so compromised that after all of the accessories you carry with it are added up (a CD drive, a larger battery, a better keyboard, etc…) it may weigh as much as a regular 5 or 6 lb laptop.

Another feature to look at is Ports. Simply put a port is a specialized outlet on the back of a computer to which a plug or cable connects. (If you’d read the techie definition you would have passed out by now). The more ports you have the more variety you will have. You should have at least one USB (multipurpose, very useful port), at least one VGA (video connection to external monitor/ projector), an Ethernet Port for wired Internet connection, Headphone and Microphone ports.

Other ports include: FireWire port for iPod connections. S-video port for video output. Printer port for printers. PC card slots (card bus), which provide a large variety of functions. You can usually buy a PC card to replace any type of port.

Another good option for buying a laptop is choosing an All-In-One design. All-in-one design is best unless you really need a lightweight laptop because it comes with with an internal bay for the optical drive. Simply put this drive is very beneficial and lets you to swap in other devices, such as an extra hard drive or a second battery.

Screen Size is another feature of laptop computers. When buying a laptop, you don’t want to sacrifice viewing comfort in order to gain portability. A screen larger than 14 inches is best to avoid strain on the eyes. The screen size dimension of laptops is measured diagonally across the screen. Larger screens or wide screens result in heavier laptops and are more bulky but do provide a more comfortable experience whether you’re surfing the net, watching movies or playing games.

More screen viewing options to consider: An anti-glare feature is very beneficial when you don’t want to have part of your screen invisible due to a light source. Outside-readable screens are made to use in very bright light (outside) and are very costly. Wide Screen viewing angle is important if you don’t like decreased visibility when you move your head to the side.

Wireless Internet Capability is necessary if you’d like to surf the net without being tied to a wire. One of the best things about laptops is that you could surf the net anywhere and WI-FI provides just that. Wireless cards are easily installed into most laptops.

The Keyboard is another important factor in buying a laptop. The keyboard should be full size or it will take some time to adjust, and mini keyboards are quite uncomfortable to use. Buying Tip: Look for the percent of full size when looking at the keyboard features of a laptop.

Mouse Options are very important in choosing a laptop. Option 1: is a touch screen, which is controlled with finger movements on a pad. Option 2: is a knob feature that lets you control the mouse by moving the finger in only one spot. This feature is harder to adjust and unless you have a preference get the touch panel. Option 3: Best get both a touch screen and knob on your laptop. Buying Tip: You can always hook up a standard mouse to your laptop (that is when using the laptop on a flat surface and not on your lap.

The Battery is another important factor in buying a laptop. Watt-hours determine the life of a battery. Lithium batteries use cells to determine life, more cells equals more life. Usually a laptop needs a new battery every 1 to 5 years. The way you determine battery consumption depends on how you use the laptop. Please note that most battery ratings are given for a laptop running minimal processes which does not include Internet usage, graphics, power-save mode etc. Buying Tip: If you want more more freedom from the outlet buy a laptop that has a modular bay which is capable of holding a supplementary power pack.

Audio is a feature of laptops that maybe pertinent if listening to music is a high priority. Media Centers have higher quality speakers built-in. Laptops that save weight and space will have small speakers which give just an okay sound quality and quieter music.

Video and Graphics are important features in buying a laptop computer and have multiple uses, such as playing and editing movies and is really crucial for 3D gaming. Dedicated memory usually comes with a graphics card (ATI Radeon, GeForce, etc…) and has its own memory in MB which includes 32MB, 64MB, and 128MB. Buying Tip: If video/gaming is important to you pick the highest one you can afford. Buying Tip: To get an idea of what memory you might need you can refer to the back of your games or media software CD-case or manual to see the “system requirements” for the video memory requirements.

Warranty is another factor to consider when buying a laptop. A laptop with a warranty can save money down the road. Buying Tip: If the laptop you wish to purchase comes with a warranty check to see if they cover shipping charges in the event you need to send it in for repair. There are also warranties that cover an in-home repair.

Laptop Security is very important in protecting laptop and personal data. Since laptops are portable and mobile, security is important to protect your laptop and data from theft. A variety of methods are available including lock cables, biometric fingerprint readers, data encryption software and laptop anti-theft alarms. Buying Tip: Some laptops do come with a biometric reader included. Cables and other items mentioned are purchased separately.

This laptop buying guide outlines general features, the brand of laptop is important and should be considered in regard to personal use and budget. For example Dell is considered to have the best gaming laptops like the XPS M1710. The Toshiba Oosmio is the best multi-media type of laptop providing exceptional video and audio experience. Most affordable laptops are HP Compaq Presario V 5000Z and the GATEWAY NX100X. The key to buying the right laptop is determining personal use and then buying the one that has the most features for the right price.

Author Resource:->  JR Lang is a computer applications specialist and small business owner. To browse and buy all brands and models of new low price laptops, laptop auction and lots of used cheap laptops that you can buy with confidence with our comprehensive buyer feedback program please visit: Used Cheap Laptops

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Game Design Tips For First Person Shooter Games

First person shooters (FPS) are one of the standard computer game genres. After the phenomenal success of Doom, many companies made attempts at this type of game. Today there are single player FPS games, multi-player combative FPS games, multi-player cooperative FPS games and all of the above come in both plot driven and straight combat forms. Some of the first person shooters are about problem solving, some are about stealth and some are about getting the BFG-9000 to create the highest body count possible.

The tasks of a game designer in this type of game are to figure out the direction the game will take, create the setting and increasingly create the tools to let players mod the game, adding their own content or even replacing everything but the game engine with an entirely different look and feel.

The game designer must wrestle with realism. This comes in two flavors. One is the type seen in America’s Army, where the goal is to replicate reality well enough to serve as a recruiting and training tool. You can’t carry a zillion weapons nor can you run across an open field at a hundred enemy soldiers and kill them with impunity. The other is basically an attempt to do the slasher genre of the movies, only more so. Blood and flesh fly from bodies with each impact, leaving stains on the walls and floors. Bullet holes are stitched into the walls and drums explode when hit. It is the latter form of realism that gets the most complaints.

There are critics that attempt to link FPS games with murder, and just about any very violent action will be examined for a computer game link. Dealing with those sorts of challenges is for lawyers and scientists, rather than game designers. The game design end of the issue is to know why you are designing to serve a specific market. If the game is intended to appeal to adults who like black comedy about gruesome death, blood and flesh is likely to be needed. If you are producing a game about hunting cartoon creatures, it would be wrong.

The game designer must determine the goals of the game. Some are puzzles, where the player attempts to learn enough to solve some mystery. Some are tactical games in which battledrills are selected, practiced and used as needed. Others are about obtaining some MacGuffin.

A growing feature in FPS games in interactivity. The classic examples of the genre featured a single player who would do everything, with computer-controlled foes. Later games provided multiplayer modes where the humans fought against each other. Then it became possible to cooperate in team play, and still later reasonable computer controlled allies were available for a player to lead and influence. Now it is normal for a first person shooter to be built around online play in at least some form, with many games providing support for both single humans to play with the computer and multiplayer online games.

In many ways the FPG game designer faces one of the more difficult challenges. That’s because they need to be able to take a genre with so many stereotypes and so much public opposition, and create something unique that stands out and gets noticed in the marketplace.

Author Resource:->  BONUS TIP: If you’d like to get your foot in the game industry door, why not start as a video game tester? For more information, grab your FREE REPORT right now at: http://www.BeAGameTester.com

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