I admit it. I am hooked. I am hooked on my Apple G4 Laptop. First, you have to know this. It is my first Apple and my first laptop. I always thought that laptops are what you used when you could not buy a real computer. Now I hang my head in shame for ever thinking that.

The Apple G4 laptop may be all you will ever need to buy in a computer. The G4 runs very fast so that you can play all the new games that require a lot of processor speed. Although for my Apple G4 laptop, I installed extra memory because I sometimes work with large documents.

This laptop is slick and compact with all the features you need. You can get the Apple G4 has a built in CD/DVD reader and CD writer. You can also add on a DVD writer. The Apple G4 laptop comes with a track pad that works very well even for a person like me with fat, clumsy fingers. But I have to tell you the truth. I like a mouse, which by the way, Apple invented. So, I plugged in a mouse to one of the two USB ports and now it performs exactly like my old desktop. The Apple G4 laptop keyboard has the feel of a desktop with all the function keys. Except the number keypad is integrated with the alphabet keys so you have to press a function key to get them to work as number input. This is annoying but it is the same as all laptops.

One other thing that is truly great about the Apple G4 laptop is the built-in speakers and microphone. You do not need to by a headset with the unit. I did add plug-in speakers for better music quality but it is not necessary and remember this. With the built-in microphone, you are instantly ready for web voice chat.

As with all Apples, the G4 laptop has automatic software updates from the Internet. Just hook up to the Net and it automatically calls home for updates. No checking the website, no figuring out what you need. The operating and installed apple software is updated automatically.

The LCD screen has great resolution and color quality and tilts to every position you need if you do decide to take with you off the desk. Also, the battery runs for at least three hours or more for normal no-sound applications.

The Apple G4 laptop is a neat, clean package that gives you both the feel and performance of the biggest desktop computer. You are sacrificing nothing but space to own this unit.

The best priced software for TV on laptop can be downloaded online. There are many reviews online that tell you the specs, recommendations, ratings, rankings, cost, requirements, qualities and value of such packages.

Being able to watch internet TV on a laptop is one of the coolest things to do while traveling away from home. Most laptops have enough speeds and memory required to run the web TV streams. Chances are, your laptop is already installed with most of the requirements for TV over the net.

Some of the requirements to watch pc TV online include having a laptop with a processor virtual memory of atleast 520mb. The laptop processor should also be a Pentium 4 or higher. Speeds are important for online television. Laptops and notebooks usually have higher speeds although the required minimum for internet TV is 400Mhz.

If you have a windows operating software in your notebook or laptop, then that would be fine to run web TV broadcasts. You could also get a windows media player which is downloaded free of charge from the internet. This will allow you better control of video and audio quality while viewing satellite TV channels over the internet.

There are many benefits of having television channels streaming from your notebook or laptop. One of the most important is the fact that you get access to TV on the move. Internet television broadcasting is considered as a mobile service since the internet is available all over the world.

You can therefore access your local stations from anywhere in the world. People who travel away from home for long periods can agree that nothing is as boring as watching foreign TV stations which in some cases might even be in a language you do not understand.

The other benefit of television channels over the internet is that it is absolutely free of charge. You will not need to pay the monthly subscription fees with TV from the net. Similarly, you are not charged anything extra if you want to distribute the TV channels into other rooms in your house. While cable and satellite TV might have extra costs for connecting any other extra room, online television can be connected to as many pc or laptop stations in a house or office. This is all free of charge.

One of the softwares that I have found to be the most popular for laptops is the pc satellite TV 2007 elite edition. This software offers over 3000 channels and in addition you get more than 2000 satellite radio channels

This is a good example of a pc TV software that I found highly recommended by most online reviews: WWWTV

The Hard Drive, as known as HD or HDD, is one of the most popular parts of the computers, of course, in the notebook world, this is not an exception.

The Hard Drive is where we store all the data, from the Operative System to the applications, games, videos, movies, etc. No need to mention that it’s of vital importance to have enough space in order to be able to add programs and have a good storage capability.

There are two fundamental factors that we might consider when choosing what kind of HDD adapts better to our needs.

The Capacity (or Size)

The capacity of these devices is measured in Megabytes (Mb), but in the actual times is far more common to see them catalogued on Gigabytes (GB), since we cannot find anymore Hard Drives with less than 1024 Mb (=1GB). In the HDD world when we talk about the term SIZE, it means that its DENSITY is higher, and in consequence, more data can be stored on them.

At this time a minimum to have in consideration is 80Gb, with this we can afford a general use without running out of space. We can find a wide variety of storage capability such as 100, 120, 160, 180, 200, 240… The NotebookDeluxe recommendation would be a middle term, like 160Gb. At the time this article is written, the maximum capacity of the HDDs is 1Tb (1 Terabyte = 1024 Gigabytes).

The Speed (or RPM)

Another especially important feature of the Hard Drives is the speed, will determine how fast the information can be accessed by our systems. The reader can be thinking now “Well then it’s easy, the faster the better!”, but is not always like that.

The speed of the HDDs is calculated in Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) and the common rates are 4200rpm, 5400rpm and 7200rpm. The technology is advancing at an incredible rate and really soon we will see faster drives on the market. Anyway and back to our decision… What speed is the perfect for my needs?

If we are going to give a simple administrative usage to the notebook, e-mail reading/writing or web surfing, a 4200rpm is more than enough. For a higher performance and faster data access, we should go for the 5400rpm one, and if we are fans of the high end gaming, video compression, visual design or other top demanding activities, we could go for the 7200rpm, but there is a negative side.

Usually the faster HDDs are as well the most feverish ones, this means that the overall temperature of the notebook is going to be high, not recommendable if you live in an already hot weathered place or work environment. Also some models produce a noticeable amount of noise.

For the laptop health and stability, we in NotebookDeluxe recommend the 5400rpm choice for most of the users.

A laptop computer or simply a laptop is a small mobile computer that usually weighs from 1 to 8 kilograms. It usually runs on a single main battery that can also be connected to an external AC/DC connector. A laptop has miniaturised components that have been optimised for mobile use and efficient power consumption. A laptop can generally perform all the tasks that a desktop computer can do, but they are typically more expensive than a desktop computer.

Many laptops come equipped with a 3 volts battery that will keep the device running for quite some time in case of a power failure so that the user can complete his urgent tasks quickly. Laptops usually have liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and most of them use different memory modules to access their random access memory (RAM). They have a built-in keyboard and many of them come equipped with a touch-pad. A pointing stick or an external mouse can also be attached to the device. These days, manufactures have released several new models of cheap laptops into the markets.

These cheap laptops are a big hit among the masses. Earlier, only high profile business people or executives could afford to buy a laptop. But one can see people bargaining for best price laptops at retailers in the markets these days. Thanks to the high competition in the mobile computing market, manufacturers are rolling out a new model of cost effective laptop every now and then.

Gone are the days when only high profile business people and executives could afford to buy a laptop. Now, several models of cheap laptops are available in the markets. Retailers across the UK have come up with many attractive cheapest laptop deals. These deals have made it possible for students, youngsters and housewives to own a laptop of their choice. The prices of laptops are bound to fall further in near future.

Nowadays desktops and laptops are much more durable and dependable that they were just five years ago. Therefore, buying a used or refurbished computer is becoming more of a trend.

Suppliers replace their computers on average every 6 months and companies frequently upgrade their equipment. Buying one of these used or refurbished computers can save you a lot of money while still using a quite up to date technology. This is even more relevant if you are not a heavy user (i.e. most of your time on a computer is spent online, you may use a few standard applications once in a while). Even modestly priced computers will more than suffice for these types of demand.

Thinking about buying a used or refurbished desktop or laptop?

Buying a computer is not at all an easy job, one has look get detailed information of the available computers of good and reputed brands. One must take into consideration the size, color, configurations, features etc… While your computer should correspond to your personality and lifestyle, you should always keep in mind the reputation of the brand in the market. Brand counts a lot; you can render good service by the manufacturer if your computer is damaged.

Important handy Tips before buying a computer…

* Verify if the brand is reputed and always buy a good reputed brand. Read about customer service experience for that specific computer issues.

* Check the warranty/guarantee of the computer (seek out computers which still have warranty/guarantee remaining)

* Compare the price of the new model in the market with what price your buying your used computer, try to get the best bargain. i.e. a two year old computer should not be bought for more than half of its original price.

* Check if the computer is outdated (if out of production it is difficult to get spare parts)

* Is the operating system current (Windows Vista/Windows Xp). Earlier versions probably run slower (windows 2000) and would not be advisable unless your needs are limited (i.e. web surfing, Word…). In any event, stay away with computers running on Windows 98 (granted you don’t find many anymore). Also be aware of Windows Vista. Many users are reverting back to XP and that is even more obvious in the corporate world. Why? Vista looks nice but doesn’t bring many technical improvements; therefore IT managers are not willing to implement something new when what they have works just fine. Some domestic users just don’t like the new way of navigation within the Vista Operating System.

* Check if the configuration of the computer you are buying is good.

* Check the speed of the processor. If possible start the computer and see how long it takes to fully turn on. If its slow just turning on, imagine the lack of speed once you start adding software..

Additional Tips for laptops

* Is the battery life good? (search for the computers with a very good battery backup).

* Check for the screen size of the computer your buying and see to it that it is not exceeding the Normal (normally the screen size should be between 15-17). Less than that generally translates in older computers and increases the chance of age failure. Once the screen breaks, you are often better of changing the whole computer.

* Review the connectivity of the computer (Network, USB, Video, Audio…) look to it that it has a good connectivity including wireless.

* Check out the weight. Ensure the computer is light enough for you to carry.

* More details at http://www.bestlaptopsreviews.com/index.php/Used-Notebooks.html

Where to buy used computers:

* Online auctions. Pro: Often offer the best prices. Cons: Cannot validate the accuracy of the described item. No warranty. Tip 1: Some companies will offer warranty for up to two years, the cost is about 12% to 18% of the purchase price. Tip2: Buy from sellers with great feedback, do not hesitate to contact the seller with questions prior to bidding.

* Online marketplaces: Pro: Set prices and quantities - Sometime warranty is available. Cons: Prices can vary a lot, do your homework.

* http://Craiglist.com Contacting sellers on http://Craiglist.com in your local area gives you a chance to meet with the owner and physically test the computer before the purchase

Where to buy refurbished computers:

Refurbished computers can be a great way to buy as they have warranties and are generally sold by manufacturers or companies affiliated with them.

* Manufacturers websites will tell you how to buy directly from them or from their authorized sellers. Pros: Warranty, established companies. Cons: Prices are higher than regular auctions (you pay more for peace of mind)

Buying a used or refurbished computer can be a great way to save money. If you use some of the advice discussed above you can avoid many pitfalls. One last thing concerning laptops, make sure you have a good bag to protect your computer from a fatal accident. Your bag should be big enough for a 17 inch screen computer as it is rapidly becoming the norm, you will probably change your computer within a few years, the bag you may keep a lot longer.

Good Buy!

The single most important reason anyone buys a notebook is for portability. This is something that you can take anywhere. If you frequently travel in your work, you need a notebook. If you are a student going back and forth to the university, you need a notebook. If you are journalist traveling the world and submitting articles, you need a notebook. And today’s notebooks can be as powerful as most desktops with dual processors, large capacity internal drives, and other attractive features. But which one is right for you? How do you determine what type of notebook will fit your current needs plus allow you to expand for the future?

And the first part of the answer to the question of which one is right for you leads to a half-answer: “It depends.” It depends on what you are going to do with the computer. Are you going to use it for work or recreation? Is it something needed for your profession or are you a hobbyist? Do you play a lot of games? What level of internet access do you need? It is also important to remember that unlike desktop models, notebook computers cannot be upgraded easily. In fact, they usually have no upgrade path so you should take the time to get exactly what you need in terms of features and performance.

One characteristic of a notebook computer one should consider is the screen size. If you need to be able to have a lot of landscape for projects you are working on then consider a wider screen. Screen sizes usually can range from 10.4 inches to 17.1 inches. If you do a lot of work on an airliner in economy class, you are probably better off with a smaller screen size (because of the reclining seatbacks in front of you). Also a smaller notebook is just easier and lighter to carry around. Some who do presentations with their notebook computers will benefit from larger screen sizes such as those that use the newer WXGA technology. WXGA notebook screens can achieve resolutions up to 1366 by 768 pixels.

Battery life in your notebook computer is very important too. If you move around quite a bit, you might want to consider buying a notebook with not only a long lasting battery (most go 2-3 hours), but also one where buying a spare battery is not very expensive. One very inexpensive solution for the battery problem is to buy an external universal battery that can last up to 3-4 hours.

Another feature you need to consider when buying a notebook is internet connectivity. You will find that a popular way for people to work these days is with a wifi-enabled notebook at a wireless hotspot (such as in coffee shops, restaurants, libraries and airports). If you are buying an older used notebook, you may have to get an additional wifi-card if you want to have the mobile connectivity provided by this technology. Also, you will find that most hotels nowadays offer high-speed internet access but it is usually through a wifi connection.

And lastly, you need to consider what other options you want for your notebook computer. Do you want a CD writer or will you need to record DVDs? Do you need premium sound? How large of a disk drive do you need? When it comes to disk space, CD/DVD writers, sound cards, memory, and processor speed, it’s best to get it now as opposed to get it later. Here’s why: The upgrade path for most laptops and notebooks is not very long. This is because notebooks are probably replaced every 2-3 years. They are quick becoming just as expendable as a set of tires for your car. And if you do not maximize on memory and processor speed, your notebook may not able run efficiently the new application and game software. The more your notebook is adaptable to software upgrades, the longer it will be an effective tool for you.

Let’s face it; the electronic world is just asking to be touched. The classic computer mouse is more than 20 years old and in that time more efficient methods of working with our computers have been developed. Touch pad phones, computer screens and even touch pad computer mice are replacing technology that previously needed an external component to reach within the screen. Touch screen technology is apart of each of our lives everyday: at the gas pump, the grocery store checkout, the library and on our cell phones. So what about our standard computer mouse at home?

 

Most of us either own a Microsoft Mouse or know someone who does. Double-clicking, once a frustrating experience for novice computer users, will soon be a thing of the past as people grow accustomed to navigating their computer system via touch. The world is turning towards touch screen technology for several reasons not just because touch screens offer a faster solution. Computer mouse alternatives are quickly becoming the standard for how we spend our lives online.

 

Touch Pad Keyboards:



Increase productivity

Decrease caporal tunnel issues

Offer up valuable USB slots for cameras and other storage devices



 

Integrated touchpad technology works in tandem with the computer system, keeping the ability to work with data close at hand. Using a Microsoft mouse for example, means moving your hand away from the keyboard. This small movement can waste time and dwindles productivity down to bare minimums. Imagine having to reach over for a new pen every time you write a note and you’ve got the basic idea.

 

Separate peripherals take up precious work space, as well as valuable computing resources like extra USB slots.

 

Imagine your next business trip, you are sitting on a plane and the executive next to you pulls his dinosaur computer from his bag, un-coils the computer mouse and plugs it into his USB port, excuses himself as he asks to borrow your seat tray for his computer mouse and mouse pad. Now imagine removing your sleek, paper thin laptop with touch screen technology built into the keyboard touchpad. Imagine being hassle free, independent of space and efficient.

Now that you’ve got your laptop computer, it’s only natural to accessorize. A laptop computer accessory may be necessary or just plain fun, but either way, there are lots of options.

The standard accessories are a computer mouse (unless you don’t mind solely using a laptop’s convenient touch pad) and any software that compliments your computer use. Additional accessories like a printer, scanner, and headphones are pretty common and grander add-ons like larger speakers or a microphone definitely can enhance your computer use (at least when the laptop is safe and cozy at home and not being shuffled around places). A more internal way of improving your computer’s sound system, as opposed to purchasing cumbersome speakers, is an audio card.

Another popular laptop computer accessory of late is the web cam. Web cams record still and/or motion video and transfer it all in real-time to other computers via an internet connection. A businessman may want a web cam so he can participate in videoconferences, while others may use it to stay in touch with family and friends.

There is a laptop computer accessory or two for whatever your needs and desires. As you may note, necessity is the mother of invention. At first you might be overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of available laptop computer accessories. Many people fall into the trap of buying just about every cool looking accessory they can put their hands on. However they end up not using 90% of the bells and whistles they bought. Before buying any type of laptop computer accessory be sure you really need it. The only way to know if you really need something for your new laptop is to go without any accessories for the first couple of weeks. If you notice that you need something extra, like a webcam, then you know it’s time to make a new acquisition.

As a business consultant, web designer and photographer my technical know-how around doing system administration on my Microsoft desktop is limited and sometimes I do require the assistant of my computer engineering son to get it right. In a Microsoft Environment, keeping updated with respect to potential security breaches and patches is a constant vigil. The rigor of keeping current with OS updates, Norton updates and Spyware updates is time consuming. Valuable business hours each week are spend and lost on this task of self-administration dictated by the Microsoft Operating Environment.

So with the purchase of an IBM T40 (a tough notebook), increasing system administration time was not an option. This alone forced an serious consideration of Linux as an alternative operating environment. That was five years ago. Now an established Linux user, I can clearly profess the capabilities and benefits of Linux for small and large businesses, especially, when it comes to notebook deployment.

What Linux variant is best for small business and notebook deployment in your company?

As a small and medium business development manager with Sun Microsystems, exposure to Linux and the debate around its viability was a daily event. Questioning and challenging the virtues of Open Source (FREE) Linux versus Licensed Linux versions like Red Hat and Novell SuSE continues to this day . After years of personal use of Open Source (Free) Linux, I can never go back to running the Microsoft Operating Environment on my notebook. And once you can get Linux versions of Quick books, Quick Tax and Picasa (now available on Linux), there is no reason to stay in that perpetual administrative nightmare world of Microsoft.

Having successfully deployed two Open Source Linux variants on my IBM T40 notebook over the last 5 years, a compelling comparison can be made between Fedora and Ubuntu. Fedora, the Open Source version of Red Hat, required the installation expertise of some Linux gurus from Belleville Ontario. It worked fine, but required some Linux ninja system administration every 6-9 months. Administration items applied during these visits included upgrades to Open Office (the open source version of Star Office), Linux OS fixes and new peripheral drivers. This, again, turned out to be a drain on my scarce time for doing real business.

Now the Linux called Ubuntu is installed on my notebook. Ubuntu by Canonical is a full Open Source Linux based on Debian Linux. Ubuntu is now available on Dell systems and Federal Governments are adding this Linux operating environment to their list of standard available OS’s for all desktop and notebook computers.

Right out of the gate, Ubuntu was simple to install. You could even bring down a trial copy to experience exactly how it would behave on your notebook before downloading and committing the Ubuntu OS environment to your machine. But the best part is that Ubuntu continuously keeps on top of OS and all related application software updates. Ubuntu has an Update Manager that magically appears in desktop tool bar. And with a simple click (and password) you are kept current on the latest versions of Ubuntu patches, any Linux application software you have installed from Canonical and Open Office upgrades.

With Linux rebooting your machine after an update is nearly non-existent.

Oh, as an added treat with Ubuntu, Ubuntu boots up on your machine in less than a minute. I still go get a coffee when my Microsoft desktop is booting up. An additional benefit of Ubuntu: there is no requirement for installing ant-virus and anti-spyware software. Ubuntu inherently repels these vial scourges of the internet.

With Ubuntu your system administration life will become simple and painless. You can spend more quality business hours selling and marketing.

Want to cut hidden costs in your organization that manifest themselves as Microsoft self-administration by your end users?

Ubuntu is a must for you or your IT folks to consider. Seriously consider, test and deploy.

Compaq is one of the companies lately that has gained a reputation for offering laptops at prices that are somewhat more affordable for the consumer. And if you are considering a Compaq laptop, a good choice may be the Compaq Presario V2000.

The Compaq Presario V2000 laptop is a lightweight attractive unit that features a great 14.1 inch screen and excellent battery life. It weighs in at only 6.1 pounds and is compact and easy to carry with you. It is worthwhile to spend the extra $25 or so to upgrade to the optional 12-cell battery that lasts almost 6 hours.

This Compaq laptop includes a bright WXGA screen with a resolution of 1280 by 768 pixels. But you will not strain your eyes trying to read the screen, as it displays icons large enough to see and read plus includes an extra inch of width. Though not as tall, it is as wide as a standard 15 inch screen.

The keyboard is responsive to touch and hardly make any noise when the keys are depressed. The V200 also includes a lock button for the touchpad that prevents the cursor from wandering as you input your information. The standard version includes an optical drive, FireWire port, three USB ports, and a convenient six-in-one card reader. The six-in-one card reader makes it really easy to grab data from your camera or PDA.

Speakers are front mounted on this Compaq laptop and have a surprisingly full and robust sound. Volume control is located right at the top of the keyboard.

The hard drive and memory compartments are protected by grooved panels held in by screws, which are clearly identifiable on the bottom of the laptop computer. The computer also includes WiFi access with blue LED status lights that are located on the front.

Even if you do not travel a lot, the Compaq Presario V2000 will make a suitable replacement for your desktop PC, when it is used in conjunction with HP’s Xb2000 expansion base. The base serves as a notebook stand and port replicator and includes built in speakers. It can also accommodate an additional hard drive and includes a wireless keyboard and mouse.

This particular Compaq laptop is perfect for travelers and homebodies alike. But for those on the go, it helps that it is lightweight with an easily readable widescreen and long battery life.