Which Laptop should you buy?

That's up to you, of course. But here are some considerations and some of our suggestions..

Ask yourself:

• Is ultimate speed and/or battery life a concern?
  
  Generally, the faster the laptop, the faster it drains the battery. Therefore, it is often a matter of weighing up the benefits of having a faster laptop compared with the benefits of having a laptop that provides longer battery life.
  
  However, this is simply a general rule (for example, the quality of batteries also varies). Please refer to our list of current stock. You'll see (under each laptop photo) most recent laptops (Factory Recertified and New laptops) have the performance score (measured by PCMark05) and the battery life (in hours) noted to assist you with your decision.
  
  Please note: Speed is only really a consideration if you're doing something extremely demanding (for example, high-end video editing or high-end games). You're unlikely notice any difference in performance between models (provided 1GHz+ CPU & 512MB RAM) with applications such as MS Office (Word, Excel, etc), the Internet, and other general applications.
  
  If you do have a demanding use for your laptop, then we recommend looking at the PCMark05 performance scores instead of the specifications alone, as the specifications (such as the processor type & clock speed, and the graphics card type & size) provide only a rough indication. PCMark05 performs tests to determine the actual performance of the laptop as a whole.
  
  A special note about graphics cards: Integrated graphics cards (such as Intel GMA900/GMA950 and ATI 200M) are fine for general use, including the Internet, office applications, basic photo editing, and watching DVDs. Also, laptops with integrated graphics cards tend to provide longer battery life. However, if you have a graphics demanding use (such the latest games, video editing, rendering, 3D modelling), then the NVIDIA 7400, 7600, or 7900 dedicated graphics card will provide much better performance. The 7900 provides much better performance than the 7600, and the 7600 provides much better peformance than the 7400. Look at the model number rather than the amount of graphics memory (MB) as, contrary to popular belief, a greater amount does not necessarily mean greater performance.
  
  Please also note: Car adapters are available for just $110. Extra batteries are also available.
  
  
• Is size and/or weight a concern?
  
  This is often a matter of weighing up the benefits of having a larger display (less eyestrain) compared with the benefits of having a smaller/lighter laptop (more portable).
  
  
• Which ports to you require?
  
  For example:
  • USB (v2 is faster than v1) - very common port that many
       devices use - recent printers, mice, etc
  • VGA - external monitor
  • PCMCIA (AKA PC Card) - internal port for various adapters
  • ExpressCard: The replacement technology for PCMCIA
  • S-Video - TV out
  • FireWire (AKA IEEE 1394 or I-Link) - for camcorders, etc
  • Card Reader - digital camera memory cards
  • Parallel - older printers (rarely used nowadays)
  • Serial - rarely used nowadays
  
  
• Do you require Wireless / Bluetooth / USB v2.0 / FireWire / Card Reader / TV Tuner?
  
  These features can be added to any of our laptops. Click here for more information and prices.
  
  
• Do you require a CD Player / DVD Player / CD Burner / DVD Burner?
  
  If you don't, you can save money by going without.
  
  
• Do you require a Floppy Drive?
  
  You'll find that most recent laptops don't come with floppy drives as it's now obsolete technology due to their low capacity (1.44MB), size, and relatively low speed. Nonetheless, we can sell you a USB Floppy Drive for $55 if you require one. If possible, we recommend using a USB Flash Drive (also known as a pen drive, thumb drive, memory stick, USB key) instead. Flash storage devices, compared to other storage media, are fast, high-capacity, durable, and compact. They will work on any laptop or desktop that has a USB port (i.e. practically all computers). Various capacities exist. And yes, we sell them.
  
  
• What are the hardware requirements for the software you wish to install?
  
  Think about what software you want to install, including both the operating system and any applications. Check the minimum hardware requirements for these.
  
  
• Which operating system are you after?

  Windows Vista is now the norm, although a few machines are still available with XP (although they are quickly disappearing!).

  Please do not assume that you can load XP on a Vista laptop as the drivers may not be available.

  Where a choice is available, which operating system would you prefer? As we see it, it's a matter of either suffering a little now or suffering a little later.

  New operating systems (in this case, Vista) tend to be full of bugs, security problems, and compatibility issues (both software and hardware). They are also more demanding (ie not as fast), although recent machines are more than equipped to handle it.

  On the other hand, if you get XP now, you may find compatibility issues later on. Furthermore, it will cost you good money to upgrade to Vista if you choose to at a later date.

  Before deciding on Vista, you might like to first check that any important or expensive applications you have will run on it (patches may be available, but please check). Likewise, any important or expensive hardware (driver updates may be available, but please check). If you do decide on Vista, we recommend reguarly updating it with the free patches that Microsoft release.

  You'll find a lot of companies have a two year rule on new operating systems before allowing them to connect to their network, so you might like to check whether it's the case at your work.

  If you're a home user, it's probably safe to go with Vista, and soon there may not be a choice anyway! :-)

When buying a laptop stick with a quality brand

Unlike with desktop systems, with laptops the brand does make a considerable difference - particularly with reliability. If you purchase an off-brand laptop and require repairs - which in itself is much more likely with an off-brand, chances are you will not find anyone who can get the parts at a reasonable price.

Sony laptops generally provide the best quality and reliability. There are also some Toshiba and IBM models that are just as good.

We do our best to get in (and recommend) the most reliable models (after all, it benefits us both not to have you back in here every few months with problems), so please feel welcome to ask us!

Warranty, warranty, warranty

In the case of a laptop, warranty is a very good thing to have. Repairs can be quite expensive with both parts and labour. We recommend ensuring your laptop is always under warranty for as long as you're using it. You might want to consider purchasing extra warranty; This can be done at any time your laptop is still under the provided warranty.

We offer a warranty on all our products, unless otherwise stated. You can extend your warranty any time within the warranty period for $150 per year. Warranty is very important - according to a magazine review even with brand new Toshiba laptops, there is a 1/4 chance of having a problem every year (and Toshiba is one of the most reliable brands!).

Unlike many of our competitors, we have the means to backup our warranty. Laptop parts are very expensive and often hard to get a hold of. A display or motherboard can set you back $3,000. Because of the quantity we ship Australia-wide, we have the parts we may need. We also have several competent technicians working here who have specialist knowledge of laptops (laptops are actually quite different from desktop computers). Most people will be surprised to know that we have been operating out of the same premises since 1998 and provide full time service technicians that fix issues on demand.

The need for speed ...and space

It's a common and costly mistake to purchase a laptop far faster and with much more storage space then required.

Consider what software you intend installing on your laptop. If you check the manufacturer's minimum and suggested specifications, you'll likely be suprised.

CPU Clock Speed

First of all, you'll find that the clock speed is somewhat a marketing gimmick. The type of CPU (eg Core Solo or Core Duo) and model of CPU plays much more of a role in the actual speed of the laptop. The clock speed is simply the clock speed, it is not the speed of the laptop. All other things being equal (cache, FSB, etc), you can actually save a lot of money in getting a laptop with a lower clock speed, such as Core Duo 1.60GHz instead of a Core Duo 1.80GHz, yet the difference in performance is really quite small.

Please note: The CPU speed of your laptop plays little role in the speed of the Internet. To speed of the Internet is dependant on the speed of your ISP, and whether you have broadband or dialup.

RAM RAM is another factor to consider - and a potentially expensive one with laptops. For Windows XP, 1GB typically provides optimal performance; For Windows Vista, 2GB. Going higher than this will generally makes no difference to performance (yet will cost you a fair bit more!), unless you have an unusually demanding use (eg: high-end video editing).

Storage Space

80.0GB+ is enough for most uses. You’ll find that only downloading ridiculous amounts of MP3s or Videos may fill it up in time. In which case you might prefer to burn them to CD or DVD in any case (which is also a good way to back up!).

Have you considered Salary Sacrifice? Save up to 48.5%

Government legislation allows you to salary package one laptop/notebook per financial year without penalizing your employer with Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT). To learn more, please click here. Anyone who has a permanent full-time or part-time job can purchase their laptop/notebook with their pre-tax salary, potentially saving up to 48.5% (if the laptop price is $2,500, the effective cost of the laptop with 48.5% saving is less than $1,300). Please ask your accountant and/or employer for more details.

GST - Going overseas? Save 9% (1/11th)

If you're travelling overseas, you may be able to get the GST back through the Tourist Refund Scheme (don't worry, you don't need to be a tourist). The purchase must be within 30 days of departure, and you must take the tax invoice (in your name) and laptop/notebook with you as hand luggage. If these rules are satisfied, they will give you a cheque for the GST or refund it to your credit card (whichever you prefer). Just ask for the Tourist Refund Scheme after you pass through Customs. To learn more, please click here.