Laptop lowdown: 25 things you need to know to buy the perfect notebook

Tiny, tinny sound

Notebooks are notorious for having terrible speakers. Our recommendation: get a good set of headphones, or a stereo or three-piece speaker set. You can even get speakers powered by USB if you want something portable that doesn't require a power point.

A lot of laptops these days are including some version of Dolby surround, or attempt to emulate surround sound using just the two speakers included. It's generally better than the standard sound, but not magnificently so. If you want real surround sound, either find a laptop with optical audio out (usually desktop replacements), or if you've got an ExpressCard slot you can add in Creative's X-Fi Xtreme Audio Notebook, with optional Speaker Docking Module for up to 7.1 sound.

It's not just size that matters

If you ignore the tiny flash-based drives that come in at 4GB, notebook hard drives tend to start at the 320GB point these days, although ultraportables mostly stay around the 120GB to 160GB mark. Currently, 500GB is the highest available capacity for notebook drives, although single 1TB drives are starting to make their way into the market as we speak. Capacity isn't the only issue though — if you have a choice, select a drive with a rotational speed of at least 5400rpm, with 7200rpm even better. The faster it spins, the faster you'll get your files.

Modern conveniences

Some common desktop features have made their way into notebooks. Quick-launch keys are a perfect example. You can often program these buttons to launch your favourite apps, turn on your wireless radio, or switch to a power-saving mode. A few of our other favourite luxuries are built-in TV tuners, and, for photo junkies, multi-format memory-card readers.

Turn on, tune out — instantly

Want to listen to music or watch a DVD without having to wait for your notebook to power up? An instant-on feature lets you do just that, so you can get right down to, um, business, without the boot time. Plus, going this route usually helps extend battery life. Although this isn't a necessary feature, it can come in handy on long flights.

(Credit: Belkin)

Connect the docks

A docking station quickly turns your notebook into a desktop. You connect your peripherals (monitor, keyboard, mouse, and serial devices) to the dock, which stays at your desk. Simply attach the notebook to the dock, and you instantly get the conveniences of a desktop without having to unplug everything when it's time to go. Most manufacturers offer docks designed to go with their notebooks, while third-party docks such as the Logitech Alto Cordless and Belkin High Speed Docking Station are also available.

Another advantage of a docking station is its inclusion of legacy ports many newer notebooks leave out, such as parallel, serial and PS/2 ports. If you don't need all the features of a dock, but could still use the extra connectivity, check whether the notebook maker offers a port replicator, which is basically a pared-down version of a dock.

When good notebooks go bad

Every notebook is susceptible to accidents and system failures. We recommend paying for a good three-year warranty with express service. If you can afford it, get coverage for damage caused by spills, drops, electrical surges, or any other accident.

Essential accessories

When pricing a notebook, set aside cash for important extras. These include a laptop bag, an extra battery, a mouse and keyboard, and software for office work, internet security and system maintenance. You may even want to consider an external hard drive for backup.

What's it made of?

Most laptop cases are still made from moulded plastic, but you can find some encased in metal, which dissipates heat better. Look for models made from light, strong metal alloys. If you're in the market for a desktop replacement, check that the case has adequate ventilation for the powerful (and hot-running) components inside.

Fixed or swappable

Less-expensive notebooks have fixed drives, meaning the optical and hard drives can't be removed. Some, though, have a swappable-drive bay, letting you change out an optical drive for a hard drive or extra battery — or just a spacer module so you can shed some travel weight.

(Credit: Toshiba)

Are you the tablet type?

Comparable in size and weight to ultraportable notebooks, tablet PCs occupy a different niche. They're available in two basic designs: convertibles, which have displays that swivel and fold flat facing outwards; and slates, which have no attached keyboards (some slates offer optional wired or wireless keyboards). Current tablet PCs work in tandem with Vista for navigating and entering data using a stylus. While these units used to be primarily used in specialised fields, such as health care, insurance and real estate, sexier models with new software are slowly reaching a broader audience.

Going for the perfect drive

Optical drives of all kinds are available for laptops — from basic CD-ROM units to Blu-ray/DVD±RW combos. We like DVD±RW drives for notebooks; they burn and play both DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray is a good choice if you're a movie buff, but make sure that your notebook can display a Full HD resolution (at least 1920x1080, usually only seen on desktop replacements) or at least can output the video to a screen that can — otherwise you'll lose the benefits of all that clarity.

32- or 64-bit?

Windows 7 should finally allow most vendors to sell the 64-bit version of Microsoft's operating system, as most want to sell units that contain 4GB RAM or more. The 32-bit version, even when running on 64-bit hardware has a limitation of not being able to access 4GB RAM, let alone more.

For those still hanging on to Windows XP — it's time to upgrade to Windows 7, lest you be left behind in features and usability.

Don't forget to shop for Apples

It's no secret Apple makes some phenomenal notebooks. If you're considering one, make sure all the speciality software apps you need to run are available for the Mac platform. Also, factor in what's required to incorporate your new Mac into your home network.