Since there are so many uses for laptops, it is worth noting that my suggestions are for someone who is planning on using their laptop for running processor and memory heavy programs - such as those needed for web and graphic design. These specifications might also do well for a person who likes to have a lot of programs open at the same time, which takes a lot of processor power and memory as well.
Let's start with the physical memory. A lot of people look over the memory and focus on the processor speed, but it is just as important. For a laptop that is used for graphic design, it is very important to load up on memory to avoid unnecessary lag. The least expensive route is to purchase a laptop with the average amount of memory (which is usually around 1 GB.) Then, use a website such as www.crucial.com or 18004memory.com to order additional memory to boost it up to at least 2 GB. Laptop memory is really easy to install; usually it is a simple as just removing a couple of screws and a panel on the bottom and snapping it into place. If you are not comfortable installing the memory, you can order most machines preloaded with larger amounts of memory or have your local computer shop install it for you.
As far as the processor speed I would suggest a 1.6 GHZ or higher Intel Core Duo 2 processor or a 3.0 GHZ or higher Pentium 4 processor. You will get better raw performance out of the Pentium 4 processors, but the Intel Core Duo 2 processors usually make the laptop lighter and allow it to have a better battery life. The AMD processors are supposed to be even better in performance than the Intel processors, but I haven’t personally used AMD processors in a long time so I cannot recommend them. Stay away from the Intel Centrino or AMD Duron processors, because in my experience they won’t have the horsepower you need to run the heavier applications without lag.
Another thing to look out for is to make sure the laptop does NOT have an integrated graphics card. In a recent trend, computer companies have tried to save money on the manufacturing of laptops by using a software based (integrated) graphics card. Using this card also allows them to make the laptops smaller, lighter, and make the battery last longer. With integrated cards instead of allowing the card to have its own memory, it alternatively uses your system memory. The two drawbacks are that these type of cards affect both the load on your processor (which makes your computer run slower when running graphic heavy applications) and soak up your system memory (which also takes away from your applications.) I made this mistake when ordering my current laptop, which is a 1.6 GHZ Intel Core Duo. Even after maxing it out with 2 gigs of memory, I still experienced lag when running the dual monitor display and my Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and Flash programs at the same time (standard for my design needs.) The laptop I had immediately before it had a 3.0 GHZ Pentium 4 Processor, a dedicated graphics card and 1.2 gigs of memory. Although the older laptop was physically a lot heavier - it could handle the dual display and the same amount of programs with no problem.
The last thing to note when looking for a laptop is the amount of storage (hard drive space.) For a graphics design machine I would suggest a minimum of 100 GB of space, but I would purchase the largest size hard drive you can afford. With operating systems becoming more space hungry (such as Windows Vista) and as programs begin to require more space as well, there is no such thing (theoretically) as having too big of a hard drive. However, since upgrading from a 100 GB hard drive to even a 160 GB hard drive is a lot more expensive on a laptop than a desktop, a cost effective alternative is to get a portable external hard drive. These are usually small enough to fit inside your laptop case, and can give you quite a bit more storage space. They also add redundancy in case your laptop crashes because you can plug them up to any computer with a USB port.
These specifications should get you started on choosing the right features for your laptop.
- Presario
