Select a laptop
small can be beautiful
When shopping for a new computer, you may be better served by a laptop than a traditional desktop. Recently, laptops with capabilities similar to those of desktop computers can be purchased for a comparable price. Laptops are convenient due to their small size and ability to run on a battery. Except for the power cable to recharge it, a laptop has no external cables, so it won’t contribute to a cable mess.
When shopping for laptops, consider how often you’ll be traveling with them. If you plan to travel infrequently, get a model with a larger screen and a lower price. If you are a digital nomad, you should mainly worry about the size, weight and battery life of the laptop. For maximum portability, get a laptop that weighs less than 3.5 pounds, has a 12″ or smaller screen, and has a minimum battery life of 4 hours.
Unlike desktop computers, laptops can be difficult and expensive to upgrade. When shopping for a laptop, keep in mind that internal features like the CD-ROM or hard drive can be difficult to replace. Laptops can be upgraded externally with USB, FireWire, and the PC Card slot. Because each of these methods is external, however, your laptop will become less portable if you need to carry external devices.
Take a tablet…
A Tablet PC is a personalized portable computer that allows you to write on the screen to keep notes and work with programs. Tablet PCs are typically smaller than laptops and feature a specialized processor that is extremely efficient on battery power. Some Tablet PCs do not have a built-in keyboard, but can be connected to an external keyboard. These are ideal for people who use Tablet PC mode most of the time and need to use the keyboard occasionally.
If you have little need for a laptop, a “desktop replacement” may be for you. A desktop replacement looks like a laptop, but is much larger and priced competitively with desktop computers. Whatever type of laptop fits your lifestyle, long gone are the days when laptops were expensive and less capable than traditional desktops.