| Tech Corner |
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| Written by Administrator |
| Friday, 26 February 2010 19:44 |
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By Daniel Zhang Hugo High School Co-Editor Buying a laptop might seem like nothing to some people, but to others it might be so difficult that they never buy one. There are many people who know the basics about what makes a laptop “good,” but there are just as many people who know nothing on the subject. Whether it be a child, who has never used one, adults buying one for a college-bound relative or a grandparent that wants to keep in touch with family, laptops can seem like a very confusing subject. There are many things to consider when buying a laptop such as brand, specifications and what store to purchase it from. Many companies manufacture laptops, but which one is the best? I, personally, would recommend either HP or Dell. HP and Dell are both reliable and easy to find at most stores. Next, the most important thing is the specifications, but keep in mind that higher specs translate into a higher cost. Windows 7 is a new operating system from Microsoft. It runs much smoother and has fewer glitches than the previous Windows Vista. Although there are many versions of Windows 7, Windows 7 Home Premium is a very good choice for an operating system. Windows 7 runs well with just 2 GB of RAM, but if you’re willing to spend more, 4 GB will run great. Next is hard drive space. This is more of a personal preference than a specific necessity. I would recommend 120 GB. The more hard drive space, the more a computer can hold. Processors are very important. Intel makes great processors. The Intel Core 2 Duo processor is a good and relatively cheap one. Any will do, but a 2.4 GHz or higher Core 2 Duo processor is recommended. There are a few more specifications but they aren’t necessary to pay attention to when buying a laptop for an everyday user. Finally, which store should you buy it from? Wal-Mart is a very convenient and reliable source, but if you need a bigger variety, stores such as Best Buy, CompUSA and Office Max are good choices. These are the basic steps and process for buying a laptop. All of these things will tie into the overall cost. So, if you’re on a budget and you need a cheap, good computer, just make sure the laptop’s specifications aren’t too high. |
