Which Laptop / Notebook to buy – A notebook / laptop buying guide (August 2008)
The percentage of question which comes to me each day for a new computer is now being dominated by laptop / notebook segment. specially the budget range of Rs. 30,000/- to Rs. 35000/- is what seems people are really attractive too (USD 700-800 range !!)
As I continue to reply emails support request, I see not every model are available in all parts of the country hence I thought to listing few basic steps about finding the right notebook for you.
Why do you need a notebook / laptop ?
Before even you think of buying a notebook, ask your self, the most important question, what exactly would you do with your notebook.
List the mostly used applications for your purpose !! Will you do office jobs, like running tally / accounting software / MS office / emails / printing where you need some entertainment or rather you are looking for a desktop replacement or may be you simply needs to stay online while you are mobile and you are mobile for a longer period of day..
List your task in an oder in which you would mostly use it for…
For example, you have a good desktop configuration back home, so as in office, but for some reason often you have to travel an while you are in move yu must stay in touch of emails and your web site and use some MS office apps.. If you fall in this category, what you need is really light weight device with smaller screen size and just enough power to exicute Windows XP along with MS Office.. For this purpose, 7″ utra portable like ASUS EEEPC / Acer Aspire One / HCL MiLeap type devices are idle !!!
Find the right category for your self ?
There are certain category in notebook / laptop segment,
7″ Ultra portables
Like ASUS EEEPC, they are ultra portable 7″ / 8″ display products comes with 700 to 900 MHz VIA / Intel Celeron / Intel Atom processors, 2 / 4GB Flash based HDD Drive, 512 MB RAM, really light weight. Prices range from Rs. 13000/-
12″ / 13″ Ultra portables
Basically performance devices while keeping the system small. Comes with Core 2 Duo processors, performance graphics cards, upto 4 GB RAM, higher resolution display, upto 250 GB HDD, price may start from Rs. 45 or Rs. 50k for devices like Dell XPS M1330.
14″ / 15″ All in all performance
This is a really versatile platform, price range starts from Rs. 22000 with Intel Celerom mobile processors and can go upto a Rs. 1lack with performance hardware. They heavy and bit bulky too. Like Compaq C702TU / Apple MacBook Pro 15″
17″ Desktop replacement
Performance hardwares meant to replace the need of an desktop !!! They are not really meant for every day movement, price may start from Rs. 38k with compaq model to Rs. 1,35,000 for an MacBook Pro 17″ or Alineware performanc beasts !!
Hey, what about configuration ?
So many terms you see when you walk in to a computer store looking for a notebook, Intel / AMD / nvidia / Wifi / high definition and all that.. So what should you really look while buying a notebook.
The basic difference between a notebook / laptop and a Desktop PC is, there is assemble option available for a desktop, where as no such with the notebook / laptop segment !! Hence you cant make your own configuration, where as you are in need to rely on what the system builder is offering you. What you at max can do is alter few given option from the system builders web site for your notebook.
Budget of bellow Rs. 25000/- to (14″ / 15″)
This segment eyes for those who are in need for a portable solution for basic office need of some client presentation via office application suites.
Bad news is default RAM of the available options would be 256 MB or at max at 512MB. Where as good news is with laptop / notebooks, RAM is upgradeable !!
Things which you need to make sure at this budget is,
- Look for Intel Celeron M 550 based processors
- Make sure the chipset is GM965 / GL960 which would come with GMA x3100 (avoid Intel 945 chipsets with GMA 950)
- Make sure the notebook comes with DDR-II, then again Chipset GM965 / GL960 means you will have DDR-II based rams
- Make sure the installed memory comes in single slot, which means one signe RAM stick installed at the time of purchase where as keeping the second RAM slot free for you to add more RAM in future !!
- Windows XP support is must. Make sure the model has windows xp driver download option from its company web site. For example Compaq as a brand as really low support for Windows XP, where as Lenovo / Acer / Dell comes with windows xp drivers !!!
- Make sure hard drive is 120 GB or more.
- Make sure you have standard feature/accessories like DVD-RW / Web Cam / Wifi (ABG at-least) / LAN / Card Reader / PCIMCIA slots / BlueTooth 2.0 and USB ports off course.
- A personal suggestion would be, try and avoid brands such as HCL / SAHARA / Zenith PC / Amar PC
- Last but not the least is the price must not go over Rs. 25000 including TAX and every thing !!!
These notebooks with higher amount of RAM (1 GB+) can run Windows Vista (chipset GM965-GL960 / x3100), where as it is advisable is that you stick to Windows XP if you are on low amount of RAM. Use Windows Vista downgrade rights to downgrade your copy of vista to windows xp.
Few recommended models under this budget are
- Acer Aspire 5315
- Compaq C702TU / C754TU
- Lenovo 3000 G410
There are also HCL / Zenith and other brands available but personally I would suggest to stay away from them. Also Dell Votro series is there but some how dell India pricing doesnt make them an option for this segment !!
Personal vote would go with Acer 5315 because of the value for money where as Lenovo would win my vote for its solid built quality !!!
Budget with Rs. 28000 to Rs. 30000/-
Basic suggestive points of above configuration remains the same, like,
- Make sure the chipset is GM965 / GL960 which would come with GMA x3100 (avoid Intel 945 chipsets with GMA 950)
- In case of AMD make sure it comes with nvidia 7000+ GO integrated graphics adapter.
- Make sure the notebook comes with DDR-II, then again Chipset GM965 / GL960 means you will have DDR-II based rams
- Make sure the installed memory comes in single slot, which means one signe RAM stick installed at the time of purchase where as keeping the second RAM slot free for you to add more RAM in future !!
- Windows XP support is must. Make sure the model has windows xp driver download option from its company web site. For example Compaq as a brand as really low support for Windows XP, where as Lenovo / Acer / Dell comes with windows xp drivers !!!
- Make sure hard drive is 120 GB or more.
- Make sure you have standard feature/accessories like DVD-RW / Web Cam / Wifi (ABG at-least) / LAN / Card Reader / PCIMCIA slots / BlueTooth 2.0 and USB ports off course.
- A personal suggestion would be, try and avoid brands such as HCL / SAHARA / Zenith PC / Amar PC
- Last but not the least is the price must not go over Rs. 30000 including TAX and every thing !!!
Where as the difference is now in processors and RAM size. With this budget, one may now eye for Intel Pentium Dual Core or AMD Turion X2 / Athlon X2 mobile processors and off course least of 1 GB RAM is must.
Few things to look out here are, beware of Intel Core Duo models. The basic difference between a Core Duo and a Dual core is the missing support for feature EM64T (List of Intel Core Duo processors, along with model numbers T2060 / T2080 / T2130). Where as with AMD counter part, try to get your self a Turion X2 over any Athlon X2 models.
Personal suggestion would be opting for an AMD solution under this budget as Nvidia 7xxx Integrated graphics would perform better than Intel x3100 IGP and off course X2 processors are much better than Intel Dual Core counter parts.
Few models to look out are,
- Lenovo 3000 G410 -> Intel Dual Core T2330 / 2GB DDR-II
- Lenovo 3000 N200 <- Review @ Choto Cheeta Online -> Intel Dual Core / 512 MB Default -> Upgrade it by adding 1 GB extra
- Acer Aspire 4520
- Acer Aspire 4720z -> review @ Choto Cheeta Online
Where as all though compaq offers plenty of options with their range of products under this budget, but personally I have felt that their TFT screen performance is not upto the mark as when I have reviewed available options at 30k range. One more major downside with compaq is, official compaq web site doesnt offer any drivers / support for Windows XP, one may have to painstakingly visit 3rd product sites to find and install drivers if planning to go for windows xp.
My suggestion under this range is for Acer 4520 for its value for money performance, aswell as Lenovo 3000 N200 with its rock solid built quality !!!
Budget of Rs. 35000/- more or less 2000
Unlike previous budgets, at Rs. 35k you have less option to worry about. There is no doubt, at this budget one must look for Intel Core 2 Duo based notebook along with x3100 or if can afford then higher end Nvidia 8400 GM graphics adapter !! All brands comes with more or less same configuration, hence you are in no real need check parts by parts configuration. Just that Wifi is now getting upgraded to 802.11n platform, so try to buy a notebook with support of 802.11n platform !! Notebooks like Lenovo 3000 N200 and Dell 1530 already come with Wifi 802.11n setups !!!
Although there not much technical setup to worry about, but this area of budget brings another important factor to consider. That is, the screen performance, under different lighting and wile playing High Definition content !!
Most of the notebooks at over Rs. 35000 would come with Windows Vista Home or Home Basic, hence before buying take a real good look at the screen from different angel, try and ask the dealer to play some High Definition videos for you (you may carry some with your self in pen drive also). Screen performance and looks are some thing which is really depend on person to person, so though I may suggest few models to look for but it is you who has to decide which notebook screen and look you like the best.
Models to look for
- Lenovo 3000 N200 Core 2 Duo
- Acer 5920
- Dell Inspire 1525 / 1430 / Vostro 1000 series
You have higher budget ?
The platform would stay same as the before one, where as you would get option from HP / Dell / Lenovo to upgrade system configurations, such as a higher end processors, more RAM, better looks (Like compare Dell 1525 with same config platform of Dell XPS m1530), 9 cell battery, Higher end OS, Nvidia Dedicated 8600m GT GPU for rich gaming experience at budget of Rs. 50000 to 60000.
Or those who wants mobility with performance, they may look at 12 / 13″ performance models like Dell XPS m1330, or Apple MacBook 13″.
Where as with even higher budget like at 80000 or such one may start thinking for an Apple MacBook Pro if he is in heavy multimedia work and editing profession !!
Feel free to post your question comments, as if you have any regarding your choice of your model !!!
where as Maxtor External 500GB USB based hardware would cost Rs. 3200/- !!!
Sanjib Nath on July 26th, 2008
What about the IBM Thinkpad Series. How are those in preformance and price wise. I have personally used one of my cousins thinkpad (model i dont remember) and its quite nice. I would love to know u r expert comment. I am planning to buy one within 35-40k range and my first preference goes to IBM.