IST Recommendations for Buying a Laptop/Notebook

Last updated November 7^th, 2008

As more people on campus require the portability of a laptop IST has gained more experience with what features one should be looking for. Below are the features one should be insisting on and others you may appreciate knowing about in advance. As with desktops, laptops come in several classes. Please be sure to purchase a “business-class” machine over a “home-class” model from whatever vendor you purchase from. They cost more but will better withstand the rigours of everyday use. (NOTE: Although much of what is covered does apply to the Apple OS machines, the focus here is on Windows-based notebooks.)

Minimum Requirements

• CPU: Mobil CPUs consume less power and generate less heat. You may not be able to compare the speed values given for mobile CPUs with their desktop counterparts.
• Memory: No less than 1GB of system memory should be considered. 2GBs is a safer choice for Vista.
• Hard Disk: Disk is cheap. More is better. Speed should also be considered as some manufacturers offer faster disks but they consume more power and run hotter.
• Operating System: Consider buying a notebook with Vista in mind. At the very least the notebook should be Vista-rated.
• Networking: Most wired connections are capable of a minimum of 100MBit. Most laptops with a wired connection will support this so this should not be an issue. See “Wireless Networking” below.
• Ruggedness: Make sure the model chosen doesn’t have any obvious weaknesses in terms of body ruggedness. This is where class of laptop chosen will have the largest impact over time.
• Case: Choose a practical case for your travel needs as you will always have extras you will want or need to take along.
• Warranty: Many vendors now offer an extended warranty that covers most accidents. This often includes being dropped, having coffee spilled on it etc. It often does not cost as much as one would expect and should be seriously considered.

Personalized Requirements

Two separate purchases of laptops may have very different requirements. Here are some points to consider:

• Weight: If you expect to spend a lot of time carrying your laptop you’ll find the larger size one can purchase, quickly loses its appeal. You’ll need to consider not just the weight of the laptop itself, but the bag, the AC power supply and perhaps an extra battery as a minimum. We’ve had several people trade in their larger laptops for more portable ones for this reason. See “Docking Stations” and “External Monitors” below.
• Size: Laptops are available with 17inch screens but the rest of the computer is the same as in smaller models. As with weight, the more you carry the unit the less appealing this larger size will be. Again see “Docking Stations” and “External Monitors” below.
• Screen: The LCD screen sizes available come in various resolutions. As with LCD monitors for desktops, make sure you buy the one that best meets the way you intend to use it. Do not buy one resolution and expect to use it at another.
• Wireless Networking: This option has become cheap enough that wireless NICs exist in most business-class laptops. Most laptops capable of wireless support at least IEEE 802.11b. Considerable additional speed can be achieved if 802.11g or 802.11n is available (which also support 802.11b if required).
• Heat: Do not expect to use your laptop in your lap. They run much too hot. Some designs are better than others and some options contribute more than others so see if things can be turned off, or toned down to generate less heat during these times.

Options to Consider

• External mouse: The pad or button mouse interface is quite dramatically different than the mouse you use on a desktop. Many prefer to bypass the internal mouse with a regular, wireless or miniature external mouse. Since most connect via the USB ports now the only additional requirement of the laptop is that it have enough ports to supply your needs.
• External keyboard: Even many larger laptops have compressed keyboards. An external keyboard is cheap and may be worth considering.
• External monitor: This is a better way to make up for the portability of a small, light laptop. If you spend your money on horsepower and save on size of a laptop you may have enough left over for a “proper” external monitor. Unfortunately you’d need more than one if you have several work locations.
• Docking Stations: Some laptop classes from several vendors have the option of a docking station. This lets you plug in your laptop and keep your external mouse, keyboard and monitor connected to the docking station. Ideally you’d want one in the office and at home, if these are your primary work locations. NOTE: Some will let you plug and unplug your laptop live. Others require a notification procedure before doing so.
• Battery: Consider buying a second battery. It is rare to get more than four hours out of one. A lithium battery, if available, does not have a “memory” effect and will outlast a comparable NiCad battery. If more than one battery is offered, go for the longer-life. (Note: They are usually not interchangeable as they tend to run at different voltages.)
• Power Consumption: Simply by turning off the wireless networking option, when not in use, you can dramatically increase the length of time your laptop will run on one battery charge. Buying power-efficient hard disks were already mentioned. They all come with power-saving profiles that can be customised to your requirements. If you need the monitor to stay at full power, count on shorter battery life.
• Management Tools: This is something you will not have much control over but several manufacturers still produce their own hardware and software management tools. This is less important than it used to be since most of this is now built into Windows XP. If your hard disk needs to be re-imaged or rebuilt, you’d be fine without these.
• Tablets: We have been reviewing tablets as an alternative to laptops lately as they have several features not found in a laptop or desktop unit.

Vendors

IST has experience with Lenovo, Dell and Toshiba laptops. We have no reason to believe that HP or other well-known manufacturers won’t have acceptable models as all seem to have fairly standardized features. Aside from drivers all types we’ve tried meet the minimum requirements outlined above and accepted our IST Windows XP image. We strongly encourage one department to stick with one vendor so experience is easily shared.

Security

Once purchased don’t forget about security: Many steps were taken to harden the operating system in the IST Windows XP image. Please make sure yours is too. You may also be well advised to have a contact name and number etc. prominently etched in some visible part of the laptop to discourage theft. The security number should be recorded as part of your inventory.

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Last updated by: Manfred Grisebach, IST – Systems, November 7^th, 2008