Component
|
Minimum
|
Preferable
|
Notes
|
| Modem |
56 K
|
Cable
or
DSL
|
- Modem must
support V.90 standard
- Get broadband
if you can afford it and it is available
- Get laptop
with network card built in to hook into networks
|
| Backup
System |
CD-RW
|
CD-RW
|
- Backup
is extremely important! A good CD-RW burner is a must.
- DVD
burners not yet recommended
|
| Floppy |
none
|
3.5" 1.44 MB internal
or
External USB unit
|
- Internal
floppy drive wastes space and increases size
- External
USB unit preferred
|
| Body
Casing |
|
|
- Ports: 2 type
II PC Card compliant slots, 1 audio line in, 1 headphone/ speaker
out, 1 parallel, 1 ps/2 mouse, 1 serial, USB, 1 VGA
- Laptop can
be turned on and off by opening display screen.
|
| Screen |
13"
|
15"
TFT active matrix
|
- Do not skimp,
you need quality here
- TFT active
matrix
- Consider getting
an extra monitor to hook to your laptop
|
| Keyboard
/ Pointing Device |
|
|
- Test as many
models as you can, choose what you are comfortable with
- Consider buying
an external keyboard to hook to your laptop
|
| Mouse |
Optical Mouse (300 dpi)
|
High res. Optical Mouse
(500 dpi)
|
- Buy an external
mouse to hook to your laptop
- Great buy:
Logitech Pilot 3-button
- an optical
mouse is better - no mechanical clogging
|
| Software |
Windows
MS Office or OpenOffice
Norton System Works
Netscape/Mozilla
Lotus Organizer
Total Commander
|
Windows
MS Office or OpenOffice
Norton System Works
Netscape/Mozilla
Lotus Organizer
Total Commander
|
- Windows is
the best all around OS for PCs
- Linux is
an alternative for advanced users only
- MS Office
is the standard
- MS Works
not recommended
- OpenOffice
is a good FREE alternative
- Corel WordPerfect
good alternative (not as widely used)
- Netscape or
Mozilla integrated browser and email (free download)
- Get Norton
System Works! Essential for keeping your machine functioning
optimally
- Lotus Organizer:
best PIM, very intuitive
- Total Commander: best file manager
|