sree.net | tv: wabc


Eyewitness News This Morning
5-7 a.m. weekdays / Channel 7 in the New York Area
& Archived on www.7online.com

Tech Guru @ WABC/ Channel 7
Thursdays 6:45 a.m. (New York time)

Comments and ideas: techguru@sree.net

Sree's Thoughts on Buying a Laptop
 Thursday, April 5, 2001

If you are considering buying a laptop (a.k.a. "notebook"), there's a confusing array of options and choices. Companies want to move inventory, so you should be able to find something right at a price range that works for you. Anywhere from $1,000 to $4,00-plus.

Difference between buying a desktop and a laptop:
Generally, laptops are more expensive than desktop machines. You are paying for the portability and the convenience. First thing you should do is evaluate your needs and decide whether a laptop (of any kind) is right for you. I see too many people spending money for a laptop, when all they need is a desktop. So ask yourself how often are you going to need this on the road. Once you determine that you are going to need it when you travel, unless you are going to be traveling more than twice a month, there is no need to get the smallest, lightest or most eye-catching models.

Some things to keep in mind while shopping...

  • DEFINE YOUR NEEDS
    How often are you going to be on the road? Are you going to need access while traveling or do you just need to be able to get your files in multiple places? Will a desktop -- combined with portable storage such a Zip drive -- do instead to give you access to your files? You need to ask yourself these questions.

  • CHECK OUT SCREEN SIZE & WEIGHT OPTIONS
    Since you will be spending a lot of time staring at the screen, you can harm your eyes if you get a substandard one. A minimum size would be 13 inches. As far as weight goes, try to keep it below 4 lbs -- between the batteries, the cables, and the bag itself, the weight adds up fast.

  • CHECKOUT BATTERY AND KEYBOARD OPTIONS
    Ideally, you want a battery that can last 5 or 6 hours without recharging. Unfortunately, most last just 1.5 hours. So look for one that at least promises 3 hours -- then you might get 2.5. Also consider buying a spare battery, too. Test out the keyboard so that you are confortable with its "feel." And to move your cursor, decide whether you want a touchpad or one of the eraser-like pointing devices.

  • SPLURGE ON MEMORY & STORAGE
    It's always safe to spend any extra money on buying more memory and storage -- at least 64 megabytes and at least 4 gigabytes of hard disc storage space.

  • DO YOUR HOMEWORK
    There are plenty of stores around town that sell PCs, but do some research online. Sites such as Buy.com and ComputerShopper.com offer good bargains, as do companies that sell directly to you, including

[See my Feb. 2001 segment on desktop suggestions]


Send your feedback -- and ideas for coverage: techguru@sree.net

 

Sree's Site of The Week


GolfSearch
http://www.golfonlinecom

American golf's most prestigious tournament, The Masters, tees off today in Augusta, and I will be following the action closely (am a fan of both Tiger Woods and last year's champ, Vijay Singh). I won't be there in person, of course, so I will be depending on the Web to keep me informed.

The official Masters site is Masters.org, but my site of the week is GolfOnline.com -- the site I turn to when I want to explore golf on the Web.

The site is put together by the editors of Golf Magazine and is a comprhensive look at the sport and its various aspects. Details galore on tournaments and players, as well as tips to help the occasional golfer. Through its associated sites, GolfSearch.com and GolfCourse.com, GolfOnline covers the world of golf in an easy-to-navigate way.

http://www.golfonline.com

o o o o o o

To join the LOW-volume "Sree Tips" e-mail mailing list, send your name and e-mail address to sreetips-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. No more than once a month, you will receive an e-mail message with tips and tricks about new, useful and fun Web sites.