When you think of portability many people believed that you would not be able to get the power and functionality as compared to a desktop system, today is not true. Desktops are the preferred computer because of the ability to add peripherals and the power are much more than a laptop, but today laptops are able to add peripherals and have the computer power and have the ability to snap into a docking station which emulates a desktop. That has now changed and laptops are becoming affordable, light weight, faster and the ability to add many peripherals via USB.
Laptop computers are great portable offices, and as technology increases and speeds of computers increase, we are seeing battery life also increase and provide longer usage time with out the need to be plugged in. An extra battery is always a wise purchase when buying a used laptop. The batteries on many systems only last for about 2 years so if you get more life out of the battery you are one of the lucky ones. Battery life varies with the efficiency of the processor, so check out battery life in any reviews you read. When looking at the weight of the laptop don't forget to add in the weight of the battery chargers and other accessories, this should be included in the weight of the laptop.
Manufactures are able to create tiny screens, even as small as 8 inches, this size screen is great for portability, but many people are finding that the fonts and images are to small and to use they need to start squinting. The size of the screen is also important. When looking at laptops look at the hinges of the screen and make sure they are strong and do not look like they would crack or separate from the laptop. Every so often you need to clean your screen and get the dust out of your keyboard, make sure you handle the screen carefully because the screen is fragile and can break easily.
Wireless is the wave of the future, so when looking to purchase a laptop make sure you get one with wireless built in. To use the wireless you will need a wireless router at home. This is always good to remember if you are using a wireless system make sure you make it secure so no one can steal your data or use your wireless system.
There is a variety of different types of memory, and it is important that you choose memory that is compatible with your notebook computer. Many computer owners don't like to upgrade because of many reasons: they do not have the knowledge, fear of voiding the warranty or ruining their computers and some people don't know what to order, or by opening the computer they might break the system and need to pay more to get it fixed. Like a lot of things in life, a computer memory upgrade seems more complicated than it actually is.
With today computers having the ability to add many peripherals be sure that the laptop comes with many USB ports to add devices like a mouse, printer, digital camera, etc.
If you are on tight budget, buying a refurbished laptop is a great idea. Many manufactures have refurbished laptops and will sell them at a reduced price which will save a lot of money. Many of the refurbished laptops even come with warranties.
What I found was a lot of old machines - 1, 2, even 3 years old. And a ton of spam websites that took my search keys and created a dynamic page. That left going to the manufacturers and looking at actual product specs to see who actually has the lightest notebook computer. Fortunately I finally found a list to start from so here they are - the light weights.
The Fujitsu LifeBook Q2010 weighs in at 2.2 pounds with a 12.1 inch screen. Unfortunately it has a 1.2Ghz processor and a 30 GB hard drive though it comes with XP Pro and a DVD writer.
The Dell Latitude D420 also has a 12.1 inch screen and is significantly less expensive but again 1.2 GHz and a slow (4200rpm) 30 GB HD and it weighs around 3 pounds. It also comes with 512MB of DDR2-533 SDRAM on an integrated DIMM. The upgrade to 1GB or to 1.5GB is reasonable, but the 2GB configuration costs an extra $1000 (probably because it requires a 1.5GB DIMM).
The Sony VAIO VGNTX750PB weighs 2.76 pounds. it has a smaller screen (11.1 inches) than some of the others, a 1.2 GHz processor, but it includes an 80GB hard drive and a DVD+-RW dual layer combo Drive. The memory is upgradeable to 1.5 GB.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X60 at 3.3 pounds has a 1.66GHz Core Duo, a 12.1 inch screen and a 60 GB hard drive. The memory is theoretically upgradeable to 4GB, but it has no optical drive. You need to get a ThinkPad X6 Ultrabase to add a CD or DVD drive. That kind of hampers its mobile uses.
The Averatec AV2260, weighing in at 4 pounds, comes with a 1.8 GHz AMD Turion 64 Mobile, a 12.1 inch screen, 1GB installed DDR-SDRAM, an 80GB hard drive and a DVD+-RW Dual Layer Combination Drive. So it's a little like an overweight Sony on steroids. It's also the least expensive of the six lightweights. The others run from around $1200 to over $2300 depending on the seller and configuration.
Though slightly heavier at 4.4 pounds, the HP Compaq nc6400 is unusual in having a 14.1 inch Wide XGA screen. It comes with a 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo Processor, 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM, a 60GB hard drive and a DVD/CDRW Drive. The lowest price I saw in a quick search, was $1259.99. Most of the models I saw were being advertised with 80GB drives and DVD+-RW/DVD-RAM optical drives, rather than the 60GB and DVD/CDRW drives.
Obviously the lightest notebook computer in this list is the Fujitsu. If you really want an ultralight notebook computer then you will have to accept some sacrifices. Personally, I think I'd rather have a more capable machine. I also don't like the small screen sizes on the very light notebooks.
As with any computer purchase it's critical that you carefully analyze just what you're going to do with a machine. Lightweight notebooks are nice simply because they're less hassle to lug around, but there compromises involved that may make extra weight a less significant issues. Aside from tending to be more expensive, a light weight notebook computer will almost always have a smaller screen and a more compact keyboard than heavier notebooks. The real question you need to ask yourself isn't "What's the lightest notebook computer?" it's "What's the lightest notebook computer that meets my requirements?"
Both David Fishman & Richard Keir are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.