Buyer’s Guide to Mobile Computing

Choosing a Laptop

Back to top

Size matters: Size and weight are likely to be among the main factors you take into consideration when buying a laptop, especially if you’re going to be carrying it around a lot. When looking at the specification you will see three dimensions - width, depth and height.

Remember that the size of a laptop is determined on the size of the screen and keyboard, and you may not want to sacrifice these qualities for portability.

The weight of different models varies considerably. Netbooks can weigh as little as 1kg while laptops go up to around 3kg if you want a large widescreen display.

Accessories such as a power adapter also add to the weight.

Processor: Also known as CPUs (Central Processing Units), processors are commonly made by industry giants Intel or AMD. The processor is the ‘brain’ of your computer and its speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz). If you want high performance, for downloading or video editing for example, then the faster, the better. But for day-to-day computing needs, 1.8GHz should suffice.

Look for a laptop with a ‘dual core’ processor - most have these as standard these days. This means the computer has two processors on one chip - making multi-tasking a breeze.

Memory - RAM and HDD: RAM (random access memory) is an important point to consider if you want a speedy laptop. If you’re going to have a fast processor you need the right amount of RAM to support it. RAM, measured in gigabytes (GB), is the memory installed on the computer system and is used to process and store data that the computer is working with. Look to get a laptop with at least 2GB of memory, but ideally 4GB.

Your computer’s hard drive (HDD) - which also measured in gigabytes - is where your programs, photos, music, videos and other files will be stored. So, if you will be storing a lot of large files - such as videos and music - get a laptop with as much hard drive capacity as you can afford - at least 250GB. On the other hand, if you’re only planning to use your machine for surfing the web, vast storage space might not be necessary.

Optical disc drives: Apart from some of the ultra-mobile models, most laptops come with a CD/DVD drive for you to play music or films on. If you want to record on to blank CDs or DVDs look for a CD-RW or DVD-RW drive respectively.

The latest laptops may also feature a Blu-ray player for HD movies, although these are still pretty rare. BD-ROM drives will play Blu-ray discs, while a BD-RW drive will record on to a blank Blu-ray disk as well as read it.

Operating system and software: Deciding whether to buy an Apple or PC laptop is a big decision, and at the end of the day it comes down to personal choice.

Apples and PCs run different operating systems and each type has its own band of devoted followers. Despite often heated arguments about which is best, it essentially comes down to personal choice and your budget. Apple MacBooks are renowned for being slick and user-friendly, while PCs are considered to be more flexible and open, and there’s probably more software available for the latter.

Most current PC laptops will come pre-installed with Windows 7, Microsoft’s latest operating system. Other built-in software you may recognise includes Adobe Flash Player, Microsoft Works and trial versions of Microsoft Office.

Apple MacBooks generally run Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and come with a suite of Apple’s own brand software, such as Safari and iTunes.

Battery and touchpad: If you’re looking to buy a laptop, you don’t want it to have the restrictions of a desktop. So, considering you may not always have a power socket nearby, long battery life is essential.

A good battery should last between five and seven hours but it depends on what tasks you are doing - watching a three-hour movie is likely to drain the battery more quickly than a marathon game of Minesweeper.

Most laptops are fitted with a touchpad, which means you can navigate across the screen without needing a separate mouse. Although it may take a little getting used to, the touchpad is the ultimate companion when it comes to wireless portability.

Connectivity: Probably one of the most important aspects in this digital age is the connectivity a laptop can offer. Look for laptops with built-in Wi-Fi, essential to get on the web when on the move. If you want faster speeds, look for a laptop with 802.11n, rather than the older 802.11b/g setup.

You’ll need at least three USB ports on your laptop, especially if you want to plug in an external mouse, keyboard or digital camera.

Firewire ports can transfer files quicker than USBs. Your laptop and external device will need a Firewire/IEEE 1394 port.

Screen and graphics: If you’re planning on playing games on your laptop, then ample screen size and a top-notch graphics card will be top of your list. Laptops come with LCD screens, usually sized between 11 and 17 inches. For everyday use a 15-inch screen is generally considered standard. Remember, screens are measured diagonally from the top corner to the opposite bottom corner of the display.

Widescreens are ideal to watch TV or DVDs on your laptop and most models now come with a VGA socket to connect a bigger external monitor or TV.

For a quality 3D gaming experience you’ll have to spend a little more to get a separate dedicated graphics card - ideally you want one with at least 512MB of memory. Integrated graphic cards are usually fine for everyday home and office use, but can eat up a large slice of your RAM.

Netbooks: What’s the Difference?

Back to top

The laptop now has a younger, smaller brother to compete with. A netbook is basically a mini version of a laptop, but, as with all siblings, the netbook has a personality of its own.

The popularity of netbooks has grown recently thanks mostly to their inexpensive and ultra-portable design. Netbooks are smaller and weigh less than a fully-fledged laptop - topping the scales at around 1kg.

But this means everything is shrunk down to fit. Screens range from nine to 12 inches on a netbook - and the keyboards can be very compact. But for users who just want to get online wherever they are, they have all the essentials in a tiny package.

Specification: A netbook mirrors a laptop in terms of how it works - with a similar touchpad, battery, RAM, processor and operating system - but there are important differences which could have a big impact on your computing experience.

The essentials: The touchpad and keyboard will be smaller and you may find them more awkward to use. The keys are closer together, making long spells of use more difficult.

Optical drive? Netbooks have no optical drive for CDs or DVDs, so you will have to rely on USB ports or downloads to transfer data or buy an external drive to install programs from a disc.

Ports: You will probably be able to get the minimum required three USB points on a netbook, but expect them to be tightly packed so bulky USB devices may not fit.

No games allowed? If you’re looking for the ultimate device in portability that can perform day-to-day computing tasks then a netbook is for you. However, if you’re a games enthusiast, you will probably feel deflated at the graphics a netbook can offer. Netbooks usually come with relatively low-spec integrated graphics cards and this is where gamers may prefer to opt for a full-size laptop.

Connectivity: This is where a netbook really comes into its own. Designed for surfing the web and emailing, netbooks come with built-in wireless connectivity, making them ideal for keeping connected, whether you’re on the train, at home or in a cafe. To benefit from faster speeds look for Wi-Fi version 802.11n.

Battery: As with laptops, you will get an external power supply adapter, but as you’re more likely to want to slip it in your bag, you should look at the expected battery life. A high-end netbook should last six to eight hours on the battery - but remember this is governed by what tasks you perform. Some - like Wi-Fi - are more draining than others.

Processor: Most netbooks are built around Intel’s Atom chip, which aims to give you more power without eating up the battery. AMD’s Neo chip may also pop up as an alternative.

Storage: If you opt for a netbook, you’ll have less RAM and hard drive space to work with than on a laptop, but most come with at least 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive. If you expect your netbook to have to put up with a few bumps and bruises along the way, you may want to consider a solid-state storage drive, which may be more expensive. As there are no moving parts, it is more resistant to the odd knock and it uses less power.

Tablets & eReaders

Back to top

Tablets have become a bona fide craze in mobile computing since bursting onto the scene over the last year or so. They offer users the power of a laptop in a slim touchscreen package that looks a lot like a big smartphone.

Until recently, if you’d seen someone pulling and squeezing their fingers together on a touchscreen then the chances are they would be using Apple’s iconic iPad. But now the competition has well and truly caught up, so you can choose between tablet offerings from Motorola, Advent and Samsung, as well as the iPad.

There are now tablets to suit every budget, from state-of-the-art models coming in at around the £500 mark to entry level contenders at about half the price.

As well as their undoubted desirability, they offer a different and very flexible user experience and are ideal for the internet, email, photos, videos, ebooks, emagazines - and the thousands of applications (apps) which can be downloaded.

So, here’s a list of features for you to mull over:

With the touch of a finger... Tablets don’t have a keyboard - the screen itself is your portal into files and internet sites via touch screen, although some tablets, like the Asus Eee Slate Transformer, have an attachable keyboard option. Many tablets now boast a multi-touch screen too (it knows when it’s being touched in two different places at once).

Topsy turvy:Unlike laptops and netbooks, most tablets have a self-leveling screen, giving you the choice to view content in landscape or portrait aspect ratio.

Screen: Choose a tablet with the right screen size for your needs. If you want a tablet to carry around in your pocket so you can quickly check your emails or the football scores, then look for one with a screen on the smaller size. The Dell Streak 7 has a 7” screen, which should do the job. But if you want to watch movies on the go or get a wider look at a spreadsheet, then you can go up to 12.1” with the Asus Eee Slate.

Operating system: What you see on your tablet’s screen is largely dependent on the operating system it runs. Apple’s iPad 2 features iOS 4.3, offering the smooth experience users of iPhones and iPod Touches enjoy.

Many other tablets now run Google’s operating system, Android, and the latest version 3.0 (Honeycomb) is made specifically for tablets. Android will generally give you access to the Android App Market, so you can download useful programs and games for your handheld device.

If you have a desktop PC running Windows 7 then you might like to stick with what you know and get a tablet running the same operating system. BlackBerry users may be tempted by the BlackBerry OS on the PlayBook for similar reasons.

Connectivity: Tablets come with built-in wireless connectivity. With the iPad you can either choose from Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi and 3G phone connection. If you’re going to be using the device for watching movies, listening to music or playing games, Wi-Fi connectivity will probably suffice, and you can connect to your wireless network at home and in public hotspots. If however you know you’ll want your tablet to let you stay online when you’re on the move, the 3G tablet is the answer. This is a more expensive option, and you will need a 3G provider and will have to sign up to a contract.

Storage: Less expensive tablets may only have 4GB or so of hard drive disk space, while the top or the range models can have up to 64GB to save your digital files. If you’re using your tablet strictly for browsing then 4GB is probably sufficient, but if you have any designs on watching HD movies or saving your music collection to the tablet, then it’s best to go large.

What is an eReader?

Designed to bring the humble book into the digital era, eReaders represent an attempt to do for literature what the iPod did for music.

Slim, light and small enough to fit in your bag or pocket, they allow you to store hundreds of books at any one time and are fast becoming a holiday pool-side essential.

More interactive than a book, you can change the font size and read in landscape or portrait to suit you.

Screen size: Standard size is about six inches. That means the device has a similar feel to an average paperback.

Content: eReaders can be tied to an ebook provider, such as Amazon, Samsung or Sony, so you may first want to research which titles you’re going to be able to get your hands on.

Memory size: Around 128MB is standard, but many come with an SD card slot for you to expand the memory.

Battery life: Manufacturers are aware that you don’t want to be left hanging at a cliff-hanger situation, so most readers will allow you to read up to 8,000 pages on a single charge.