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

In the market for a new notebook? Check out our list of 25 things you need to consider before you hit the shops.

Targus Armoured Notebook Case

The TANC is a tad bulky, but it's a reasonable price to pay for the protection it could afford your child's school laptop.

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Reviews

  • Acer TravelMate 2483WXMi

    The TravelMate is clearly not the laptop for a power user -- nevertheless, at a budget price of $999 it has a very good feature set, including a DVD burner.

  • BenQ Joybook A33E

    The A33E is a reasonable notebook for those on a budget, but its dearth of features and low battery life when compared to some of its competitors is undoubtedly a deterrent.

  • Dell Inspiron 630m (14.1-inch, 1.6GHz)

    Dell's Inspiron 630m is undoubtedly the king of the budget notebook hill. Its battery life blitzes the competition, and its performance and features are also top notch.

  • Apple PowerBook G4 (17-inch; 1.67GHz)

    The 17-inch PowerBook G4 delivers a competitive set of features, a great software package, good battery life, and style in spades, but you can find plenty of less expensive options out there.

  • Asus W5A

    Spritely performance and an attractive case design makes the Asus ideal for home office tasks in an IKEA-obsessed age.

  • Samsung PS-42D5S

    The sleek and affordable Samsung PD5S is a fine plasma TV which requires basic video calibration to unlock its full visual prowess.

  • Toshiba Portege R200

    Though it's a tad expensive, the Toshiba Portege R200 is a well-designed ultraportable with enough speed and battery life for business travellers.

  • Apple PowerBook G4 (17-inch, SuperDrive)

    The foxy Apple 17-inch PowerBook delivers the performance and the features most users will need, but it's more expensive than a similarly outfitted Windows laptop.

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Features

  • Memory cards: All your questions answered

    With all the different types and variations available, it's easy to get confused about memory cards. But as they now fit into everything from digital cameras to printers, phones and televisions, it's important to know your way around the memory card maze.

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The Explain Series