IT
In this regular column Charles Zealey, of ITSolve, covers all aspects of business and personal computing. If you have a question about IT matters, e-mail it to Charles at: itmatters@itsolve.co.uk
Since I last wrote on laptops, there has been a revolution in the marketplace.The release of the Asus Eee PC has transformed the equations of price, power and portability. In short, it is now possbile to by a functional laptop for about £200.
The Eee PC was introduced last year intended as a low-cost no-frills laptop. The basic model has no hard drive, just a flash memory disk, a relatively small screen and a small keyboard.
It weighs less than 1gg and has a battery life of 2-3 hours.
It runs the Linux operating system with an office package which is generally compatible with Microsoft Office, has a wireless lan connection, can browse the web and handle e-mail.
Copycat
It has spawned a variety of copycat laptops, some running Linux again, and has drawn a range of new machines higher up the price range still at prices well below those ruling last year.
What do you really need?
Despite this revolution, the questions you need to ask yourself when choosing a laptop remain the same. How small and light do you need it to be. How important is battery life to you? What software do you need to be able to run? What communications options do you need? Do you need the basic package to be able to read DVDs?
So for example, if you travel a lot you may feel that lightness and portability is important, as is long battery life (yes you can use spare batteries but beware the tedium of having to shut down the machine to change them).
You may need some software specific to your business – don’t assume that is is compatible with Linux. If you need a 3G mobile internet connection check that it is available on your machine.
If you only use a CD very occassionally you might choose a model with an external CD or with one in a docking station.
Equally, if your main use for the laptop is at home in order to save space and give some flexibility, you are probably much less concerned about size, weight, and battery life, but more concerned about basic functionality.
Satisfied?
As with all things in IT it is vital to know what you need before looking for the bargains! Make sure your intended purchase will really do the job you need of it, and you will be much more likely to end up a satisfied customer.
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