Centre Com - Choosing the Right Laptop

Windows or Mac OS?: First thing you will need to decide on is which operation system you are comfortable with. Yes, there are other operating systems out there, but the majority of the marketplace products are comprised of either a Windows based machine, or a Mac OS machine.
Remember, both platforms have very strong strengths with little weaknesses for each. Most users will find their daily tasks doable on both operating systems and it really comes down to which one you are familiar and comfortable with.
What Suits Your Lifestyle?: This question falls under the categories of Laptops, Notebooks, Netbooks, Ultrabooks and Tablets.
Laptop/Notebook: Both titles refer to the same style of portable computing and a generalised title to this document. Generally start from around 13 inch screen size up to approximately 18 inches. These are the dominant type of portable computing we see everywhere and is generally the favoured option due its balanced performance to portability ratio.
Laptops can weigh anywhere from 2kg to 4kg (rough guide)
Netbooks: These are slimmed down Laptops with smaller screen sizes (up to around 10 inches) and reduced performance capability. Majority of netbooks don’t have an optical drive and are limited to 1 or 2 expansion ports. They also come with inferior CPU’s and limited Memory and Hard Drive space to their laptop counterparts. Netbooks are ideal for those who need ultra-portable computing to complete simple tasks like emails and spread sheets on the go.
Netbooks generally weigh around the 1kg mark.
Ultrabooks: Relatively new to the scene, Ultrabooks are a category of high-end thin and lightweight computing as defined by Intel with base models to start below USD$1000. The benefits of having an Ultrabook are the performance power and ultra-thin design. Though the Ultrabook category features all Windows based machines, the Macbook Air can be unofficially classified as an Ultrabook.
Ultrabooks will weigh no more than 1.4kg. Anything higher than this doesn’t allow it to use the Ultrabook label.
Tablet: The latest boom to hit our country. Tablet sales have sky rocketed in Australia during 2011 and it seems like it will only get stronger. Tablets provide their own operating systems (Mainly Android or iOS) and users install applications by downloading ‘apps’ from their respective app stores. The limitation of a tablet is the fact it is not a replacement for a Laptop. It is merely a means of an entertainment unit with the function and ability to do a little bit more. Unless you need a tablet (and your reason should be very precise) it really is a bit of a luxury item.
A Tablets weight is not standardized and depends on the size and materials used to build it. However due its ultra-portable nature, they are generally the lightest of all portable computing.
How Fast Do You Need It To Be?: The processor (Known as CPU) of the Laptop is the brain of the computer and determines how quickly it can process the tasks you ask it to do. It is measured in GHz (Gigahertz). Higher GHz does not always means faster, as majority of laptops these days have multiple cores, so it comes down to what you are intending to do with your laptop in choosing the right CPU in your laptop. The difference in price from a high end CPU to a low end CPU can be anywhere up around the $500 mark. So it essential you think about what you will be exactly doing with your laptop to ensure you make the right decision.
How Much Resource Do You Need it to Handle?: Measured in GB (gigabyte, not to confuse it with the brand), the memory of a laptop (Or RAM for short) is used to store temporary information from applications use. The more memory you have available to your software, the better the performance will be. Always remember that even when you’re doing nothing, anywhere up to 15% of your memory will be taken up by your operating system’s resources.
Digital Storage Space: Also measured in GB (gigabytes), the hard drive is where you store all your downloaded files. Laptops generally start around 320GB mark and go up to 1000GB (also referred to as 1TB (terabyte)). To put simply, the more space you have in your laptop, the more content you can store on it without the need for an external drive. As a rough idea a 320GB drive could roughly hold 60,000 photos or 24 hours of video or up to 80,000 songs (one of each, not total). Of course these numbers are a rough guide and it depends very much on the size of files, the quality of files and the format of files.
Battery Power: Battery life can vary from 2-5 hours on Laptops and up to 10 hours on Ultrabooks and Tablets. If you’re going to be on the go a lot, consider the battery life of your desired purchase.
Connectivity: Ask yourself some simple questions like,
Do I plan on connecting devices to the laptop?
What sort of wireless transmissions will I need?
Will I connect it to a TV?
Will I play games on it?
These things will determine how many USB ports you would ideally need, if you need wireless internet and Bluetooth connectivity, a HDMI port to connect to a television or VGA port to connect a separate monitor and a dedicated video card for better multimedia performance and gaming.
Tablets are generally invincible from questions like these apart from wireless connectivity as all tablets have some sort of wireless support, be it WiFi or 3G.
Software: Laptops these days may come bundled with Microsoft Office and Anti-Virus software; however these software packages are only Trial versions and will be unusable after a certain amount of time. Applications like these MUST be purchased separately. In cases of preloaded software it may be as easy as buying a special Product Key Card from Centre Com and using the Key Number provided on the card to register your copy.
Always remember to ask about what software is provided and how you can go about getting full legit versions of software on your computer.
Centre Com condemns the use of pirated software and cannot offer support to any customer found with pirated software on their machines.
Protecting Your Investment: Large purchases like Laptops deserve peace of mind protection. These days’ machines are built to last and generally will go an entire lifetime with no issues; however there is always the odd likelihood of hardware failure within the machine.
All Laptops sold at Centre Com come with standard manufacturer’s warranty. These warranties can range from 1 year to 3 years depending on the product; however we understand some customers are interested in extended warranties.
Centre Com offer extended warranties for their range of products. Extended warranties are handled by a 3rd party insurer which offers speedy service and streamlined warranty procedures.
However, not all faults are covered by warranty. Always remember things like water damage (caused by spilling liquid substance on the keyboard), cracked screens, physical damage and stolen property have limited or no warranty protection. Speak with your insurance agency to further protect your investments.
Protecting Your Data & Information: Always remember to backup your delicate and important data. Centre Com is not responsible for any data lost with repairs and cannot guarantee data will be saved. Always ensure you have backup copies on external sources of the latest version of your files. Ask one of our friendly staff when making purchases on how you can backup files.
Hopefully this guide will give you enough information when planning your next purchase from Centre Com. Always remember our staff are always ready and on hand to answer any questions you may have.