I put together this guide for a recent business meeting.
If you are looking to buy a laptop for use in presentations to clients, compiled here are some guidelines that you might consider when purchasing.
Screen size recommendation: 15-inch, 1280-by-768 pixel Active Matrix (TFT) LCD screen or higher
The Schrader CDs make use of video and animation on screen, which you�ll want to be able to easily view along with clients. The larger the screen, the easier it will be for you both to view sitting at a table. The screen size also affects the size of the laptop computer itself and therefore impacts the portability. A good tradeoff is the 15� screens that are currently available.
Processor recommendation: 1.7 GHz and higher
The processor is the engine of a computer, and you can think of GHz as the engine�s horsepower; the higher the GHz rating, the quicker the processor will complete the tasks you ask of it. Continuing the analogy, engines are not all created equally. A twin-turbo four-cylinder and a naturally aspirated V-8 may both produce 400 horsepower, but the experience of driving them will be significantly different. It is much the same in processors. Intel has two basic lines of processors that you�ll likely find in laptops: the Celeron Mobile and the Pentium 4-M. The bottom line is that you�ll need more GHz in a Celeron to attain a similar experience from the Pentium but it�ll cost you less at the cash register.
Networking / wireless networking recommendation: Built-in 10/100 Ethernet / 802.11G
If you are now entering the market for a laptop, you�ll have to look hard not to find a model with both built-in wired (Ethernet) and wireless networking. In our line of work wireless can be advantageous by allowing you to access the Internet and email while on the road. Many hotels, cafes, and libraries offer �Wifi� which can be quite useful and many times free. It will take some time to get comfortable with how to connect to these networks, but once you do it will make you more accessible while on the road. 802.11G is the current standard for wireless networking and is backward compatible with the original specification named 802.11B. While G is 5x faster, B will be more than enough to connect to the Internet at high-speed. Another term you might see, Centrino, is Intel�s marketing name for built-in wireless networking on its Pentium 4-M laptops. Centrino computers use the 802.11G standard.
Storage / optical drive recommendation: 40 GB and larger / combo drive
There are two drives that you�ll need to consider when buying a laptop: the hard disk drive (HDD) and the optical (CD/DVD) drive. The HDD is where all the information that runs your computer is stored, along with and files that you have created, downloaded, or received from emails. 40 GB is pretty much the barebones size these days. If your laptop comes with more, take it. 100 GB of data would likely only be used if you keep a lot of music or video files on your laptop. Another aspect of the HDD is the RPM, usually 4200 or 5400 in a laptop. A 5400 RPM drive will generate more heat and use more battery power, but will load programs faster. As far as the optical drive goes, make sure your drive is at least capable of reading DVD media. Many laptops that you�ll find will have CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo drives which are very useful: they allow you to read and write CD media and read from DVDs. If slot-loading is an option, take it.
Memory recommendation: 1 GB
Your computer�s memory affects its ability to work on a complex task (playing a DVD video) or several simple tasks at the same time (surfing the web, checking email, and working up a budget in Excel). Do not buy a laptop with less than 512 MB and twice that (1 GB = 1024 MB) will be worth every penny of the upgrade.
Operating system / Office recommendation: Microsoft Windows XP Professional / Office Standard Edition
Microsoft has created several different editions of its Microsoft Windows operating system. Just stick with XP professional. You�ll also want to find a person comfortable enough with computers to uninstall all of the junk that will be on your new computer asking you to sign up for this and that. Doing so (even if it costs you a dinner for that person) will help you focus on the productivity software you need, not the programs you don�t. Specifically you�ll need Microsoft Office Standard Edition, which includes Word (for drafting letters), Excel (for creating budgets), and PowerPoint (for impressing your clients). Don�t skimp on the Basic version of Office because it will not include PowerPoint. Also included with Standard is Outlook, which is a complete date book and email program in one. If you would like to set up Outlook for use with your email, contact your Internet Service Provider (if you have your own email address) or the Schrader home office (if you have an @schraderauction.com address). Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are also available for Apple Computer�s line of laptops. (Recommendation: Mac OS 10.4 and Microsoft Office:Mac)
Keyboard / pointer: Full-size keyboard with track pad
When it comes down to your input on the computer, just remember that you need to figure out what works best for you in terms of the keyboard and mouse-device on a laptop. If you have large hands, you�ll appreciate a full-size keyboard (where the keys are the same size on the laptop as they would be on a desktop computer). In addition, some laptops use a little finger-sized joystick between the G and H keys on the keyboard to allow you to move the mouse around on the screen. An alternative would be a rectangular pad where you can slide a finger across the surface in order to control the mouse. The track pad is less sensitive to finger shakes and tired hands, but both can be avoided by buying an optical mouse (USB) for a few extra bucks.
Docking station / port replicator recommendation: don�t bother
Salespeople might try and sell you a docking station so that you can connect your laptop at home to an external monitor and be spared the expense of two computers. If that argument makes sense to you, get one; but if you follow the advice here and simply get a mouse for your laptop, a 15-inch screen will likely be better than the external monitor you�d be hooking it up to at home. Two USB ports and a VGA output on your laptop is a very standard configuration. See that your new laptop has them and likely more.
Carrying case recommendation: buy one only if the laptop won�t fit in what you already carry
Another item that you�ll likely be pitched is on a carrying case for your new laptop. The recommendation is that if you can fit the laptop, power cord, and mouse into your existing briefcase or satchel, do that. That little bit of padding in their carrying case is not going to matter much in terms of wear and tear.
Extended warranty: personal preference
Rule of thumb for extended warranty: if the purchase represents more than 3% of your annual income, buy an extended warranty. But really it is up to personal preference. Your new laptop will be obsolete within 6-months (perhaps 6-weeks) of the purchase, so some would be inclined to save the extra money now to invest in a future replacement laptop. One exception, if you are buying an Apple laptop, include AppleCare in the purchase regardless.
