Laptops Arena

When they first appeared on the market, laptops were these cool and expensive gadgets. Some of us thought we could never afford one because they were expensive so we believed they were computers only for business people. Today, laptops are a necessity and not a luxury item. In our modern society, where work seems to be the most important aspect, we are tempted to take our work everywhere with us. Even on vacation! This is why laptops were invented, so we could have portable agendas that we can fill with data and that could help us get our work done wherever we are.
<-300x250 Medium Rectangle - center->
This is why college students also need laptops. Because it’s easier to write essays. Because professors find it easier to correct printed projects rather than hand written ones. Because they need to do internet research for class. Because they have to chat with their friends back home if they are living on campus. With so many laptop models available on the market today, I can see why it is such a difficult choice to buy a laptop. If you are not a bog technology fan that you probably have no clue why there are so many types of processors and video cards. Well, in our opinion, the best laptop for college students needs to have 2 main characteristics. It has to be light so it can be easily transported and it needs a good battery life so it can be taken to class to keep notes.

One of the wisest choices is the netbook. Netbooks are small as they have displays that vary between 8.9 to a maximum 12 inches. They have weak components and as they name suggests, they were made for internet purposes like writing e-mails and doing online research.  They are also used for editing documents and running some other basic tasks and applications. They are excellent because they are light weight and you can carry around in your bag or backpack all day without getting a sore back. Some really good models like the Sony VAIO have batteries that can last even up to 6 hours which means you can definitely rely on them for almost a full day of classes.



As for the specs of a good laptop for students, you should buy a unit with at least 1 GB of RAM. RAM is what allows you to run applications. The more RAM your laptop has, the more applications you can run simultaneously.  You should have about 120 or 160 GB of hard disk capacity because your files and pictures, movies and music are going to start piling up in your laptop and it’s quite annoying to keep making DVDs all the time when you need to store your files safely and then make some extra room on your HDD. The graphics card does not have to be fancy. You can go with an integrated video card unless you are a heavy gamer. If that is your case, you will need a graphics card with at least 256 MB of video memory (512 MB would be nice).



That being said, let’s see what laptop models we can fit into this best laptop for college students category. The Dell Studio 15 is good choice for students (or their parents) that have about $800 to spend. This is not a big price to pay considering there are $2000 laptops are out there. It has a 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor which gives you laptop good speed to run your applications. Alas, we don’t recommend a 15 inch laptop that does not have an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU.  4 GB of RAM is more than enough for you to choose a 64 bit operating system. Although people have gotten used to Windows Vista, we recommend the new Windows 7 which can really squeeze the juice out of your RAM. You can have up to 320 GB of free disk space which is more than enough storage capacity for whatever files you have to store on your laptop. Above the display you have a 2.0 mega pixel webcam which will provide very clear images in different light conditions. If you use the Skype video chat application, you can get real time movement and you can chat with your friends or family if you are living on campus and they haven’t seen you in a while (in fact, you could tell your parents you need this laptop so they can see you when they really miss you). The ATI Radeon HD 4570 graphics card comes with 256 MB of video memory. Besides, you have a DVD combo drive and a 15.6 inch display.



If the Dell Studio 15 did not convince you, maybe the HP Pavilion dv2 is a better choice. It is powered by an AMD processor (the AMD Athlon Neo to be more exact). The RAM and HDD have the capacity as the Dell Studio 15 but as far as the graphics card goes, you have 512 MB of video memory instead of 256 MB like the Studio 15 has. We recommend this laptop because it’s smaller since it has a 12 inch display. It is as cheap as $700 and I really think the specs are worth the money you pay. You can even take it to class as it occupies the space of a bigger book in your backpack. But it does not matter if you plan on keeping it in your dorm or using it in class or at the coffee shop. This laptop is definitely one very wise choice for college students.



Other models that I recommend you look into for college purposes are the Lenovo IdeaPad Y530 (with a price that varies between $550 and $750 dollars), the Toshiba Satellite Pro U400 S1001X (which can be found at about $840), the Dell Inspiron 1318 laptop or if you are looking for a laptop which you can also use to play games, the Dell XPS M1530 can be bought for $1000 with an 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 processor and some 4 GB or RAM.

Since the other days we wrote about laptop processors and how they work, it’s time to talk about laptop screens. If the processor was the brain of a laptop, the screen is the face, the most expressive part of a notebook.
<-300x250 Medium Rectangle - center->
The images shown on a display of a laptop are generated by the video card. Data and signal are transmitted from the video card to the screen using the LCD cable. As you may have noticed, in all our articles about laptops, we have spoken about the size of the display in inches. The inches of a screen are determined by measuring the distance between two opposite corners of the display. Displays come in many sizes and they have different resolutions. There is a backlight lamp which is the main source that provides light to the LCD.

One thing it is important for you to know is how to remove an LCD laptop screen. You never know when your display might crash after the warranty period has expired and you may not have the money to pay a technician to take care of the problem. The truth is, replacing the LCD yourself is not rocket science. All you need are a couple of tools and some patience (and no shaking hands). Most of the laptop screens from different models come apart in a similar manner. Look for hidden screws under rubber cups somewhere near the hinges. First of all, you have to remove any source of power on that laptop. Take out the battery and make sure the laptop is unplugged because we don’t want you to suffer any home accidents. You need an adequate screw driver depending on the shape of the screws. When you remove the screws surrounding the display (note that there also may be two screws on the top part of the display as well – at least my Toshiba has 4 screws in total) carefully lift the plastic bezel and you will notice the LCD is installed there. After you have removed the plastic bezel, the LCD will remain uncovered. Next you have to try and tilt the LCD forward but be careful not to force it. If it looks like it won’t move, there might be some screws in the internal bracket. Make sure you remove those as well.



At the back of the LCD screen you have to disconnect the data cable (it is also called a video cable) and the power cable (a.k.a. inverter). Look closely here as there may be some tape securing the video cable. Try to use your finger nails rather than pulling out the video cable just to make sure you don’t damage it. Next you have to carefully pull that power cable out of the inverter. The inverter is what provides the display with power. If you are having problem in sliding the inverter cable you have to make sure there are no screws attaching the two together.  That is it; you have now removed the LCD completely out of your laptop.



If you ordered a new LCD for replacing the old one, make sure you compare the two and that they match because sellers can makes mistakes as well and they may have shipped you an LCD with a different size. To put the new LCD in the old LCD’s place you have to perform the same procedure as above, only backwards this time. If you are having trouble with putting the data cable back in its place, you can always improvise and add tape where it is needed. Then you have to put back the plastic bezel and after you make sure it is in its exact place, you can put the screws back and you can now enjoy your new LCD screen. Like you always do with a new product, make sure you test the new screen. Put the battery back in or simply connect the laptop to a power outlet and turn it on. It may take a bit longer to see any signs of functioning but you should be able to see some images in the end if everything went according to plan.



Choosing the best laptop screen can also be very puzzling for people that don’t have an IT background are not familiar with all the shapes, sizes and characteristics of laptop parts. As far as resolution goes, thing are pretty simple: the bigger the display is, the better resolution it will have.  There is one trick here though. If you buy a cheap screen the resolution will be lower compared to other models that are the same size. Like I said, with laptops, you get what you pay for. High resolution is important because it determines the number of details you can fit onto the screen. In case you are wondering why people would like to have widescreen LCDs on their laptop, know that they probably use the laptop to watch a lot of movies or play games. If you use this laptop for office work, you can easily settle for a 4:3 aspect ratio on your LCD.



The matrix display is something found on more expensive laptops. They are better because they make the image brighter and the colors are better detailed and sharper. We can assure you that this type of display is worth the price because it produces clearer images in different light conditions. The funny thing with LCD is that they can have a problem which is not actually a problem. It’s more like an annoying factor. That is the dead pixel. Defective pixels can function in two different ways.  The dead pixel is continually lit or unlit and the stuck pixel has the same color constantly. They do not damage the functionality of the screen but they can be annoying sometimes. If you carefully check the warranty and the return policy, there may be something written there about how to return a laptop when you have a certain number of dead pixels. As a personal recommendation: go with a screen that has at least 1280 x 960 resolution.

To find the best processor for your laptop, there are some things you should know first. There are some differences between the computer CPU and the laptop CPU.
<-300x250 Medium Rectangle - center->
Processors work together with the operating system in order to control the computer. If we have to compare with a human body part, it’s safe to say the CPU is the brain. Processor produce a lot of heat and this is why every computer needs a fan in order to keep it cool and draw heat outside of the unit. The cooling system is not very complicated but since a laptop is smaller than a desktop computer, laptop processors have a few different characteristics. The laptop CPU will run at a lower voltage and a lower clock speed. This means that the heat output is reduced as well as the power consumption but the laptop will run a bit slower than usual. There are a lot of laptop models that run at high voltage when they are plugged in and when they run on battery, the settings automatically are lower.

Laptop processors are connected to the motherboard without sockets and pins which normally occupy a lot of space inside the unit of a regular PC. This process is completed with the help of a Micro-FCBGA (which is short for Flip Chip Ball Grid Array) which basically uses a ball as a replacement for the pins. Even if this layout helps save some space, in some cases the CPU cannot be upgraded or replace because it is directly connected to the motherboard.  There are some laptops that use desktop CPUs. Those are set to operate at lower clock speeds. This can help improve the performance of the laptop but the unit will be much hotter than usual and the battery life will suffer significant reduction.



If you wish to replace the laptop CPU, there are some measures you have to take first. We recommend you don’t mess around with the interior components of your laptop if the unit is still in the warranty period. The first thing you must do is update the BIOS in order for it to support new processors. Be very careful because replacing a chip that is newer than the BIOS, there is a risk of your laptop not booting at all. After you have taken care of this, remove the cover plates. This varies from one laptop model to another. You must be careful with applying too much force or else you might break some plastic parts.



After you have detached the keyboard, removed the display assembly, removed the shell, the graphics card and the heat sink, it is now time to replace the CPU. In order to do that, you have to turn the screw that locks the socket counterclockwise until it will stop. After that, lift the processor straight up and there you go: you have removed the old CPU. Next, you can simply drop down the new processor but be careful: you must not push it. If it needs pushing, then it has not been properly aligned. Turn the screw in the opposite direction (clockwise) to lock it. The next step is very important. You must not forget to apply thermal paste. You must get rid of the old thermal compound. To do this, you need to wipe the heat sink using 99% isopropyl alcohol and a proper rag (lint-free is recommended). If the CPU you bought is not new, than you have to clean it as well. After everything has dried out, you must apply a thin layer of thermal paste on the top of the processor. Make you the layer is as thin as paper and have something in handy to spread it out evenly. You have to clean up the excess paste and the next step will be to replace the heat sink. Afterwards, you have to put all the parts back together and boot up your laptop. Make sure the first thing you do is check the BIOS to make sure the laptop sees the processor properly.



Finding the best processor for your laptop depends on various factors, like how old your notebook is, what is the size of the notebook (mini laptop have Intel Atom processors for a very good reason – they are weak and don’t produce a lot of heat which could be critical for such a small laptop), how much RAM you have and even how much money you are willing to spend.

The best we can do for you is to tell you which are the most powerful processors on the market right now. The Intel Core i7 processor is new kid on the block. It is a Quad Core processor that has an integrated memory controller (DDR3). Next we have the famous Intel Core 2 Duo processor which is found on most of the laptops that are available on the market right now. As you must have figured out from its name, this processor has 2 cores which mean double the brains for your laptop. The Intel Core 2 Extreme processor is the fastest variant of the Intel Core 2 Duo. They have two main differences that separate them from the Core 2 Duo. The first is the multiplicator which is is not fixed and this means that overclocking is easier. The second is the higher TDP. We could give you more details but let’s keep things simple shall we?



Core 2 Duo processor are the most common CPU’s on the market right now but that does not mean they are the best. The thing about the Intel i7 Quad Core processor is that they are currently used for high power gaming laptop like the Toshiba Qosmio or Alienware. To tell the truth, the CPU’s power doesn’t matter very much if a laptop is your second computer. When you already have a main desktop PC that is the unit which you should try to upgrade and fill it with the best components around. Laptops are mainly for portability and work purposes as far as I see things.

It is very well known that wireless Internet is one of the technologies designed to make our life easier. But what do we know about wireless Internet connection? We absolutely know that it's about having internet access in an certain area, without being obliged of staying in a fixed place. If we dont't want to have cables all around us at home, or at office, then wireless is our solution.
<-300x250 Medium Rectangle - center->
Wireless Internet access is usually created to serve people with laptops, but not only. We call it easier having a laptop, but usually wireless areas are created for both desktop or laptop computers. Having internet on an desktop means having a receiver that we call it wireless adapter. His strength should depend on how far you are from the wireless hot spot. If you are lucky enough to be located very close to a WiFi hotspot, like a pub or a coffee shop, and your receiver's strength fits the distance, you may be able to use their network and have internet on your desktop.

But what about laptop wireless Internet access? Is it different? Well ... not quite. Laptop wireless internet access has practically the same connection.  A wireless connection has necessarily to contain an PC server, wireless router broadband and his adapters (USB-LAN wireless).

A router is a   device whose software and hardware are designed for transmitting information. A server is a computer created to provide services for clients.Wireless equipment works, usually in two ways: AP (access point) and client. With their original antennas, they go between 90m (indoor) and 500 m (outdoor). AP can connect one or more clients.

For a larger distance between the equipment, you will be needing some special antennas. These are of two types: unidirectional (with high gain, up to 24dB) and omnidirectional (with gain rather small, 12-14dB). Unidirectional antennas, as their name says, is oriented in one direction.

What about the hot spot? Well, the hot spot is a public application of WAP (wireless access point) where you can have laptop wireless  internet access.

This concept has become well known in large  cities, because of the need of people of staying permanently connected.

Laptop wireless Internet access is getting available almost everywhere because of wireless technologies' expansion. This concept became so important that you cam find wireless Internet access in places like parks, public markets, etc. Every public space that offers laptop wireless internet access is known as Hotspot.

The way the information is transmitted is by radio waves. By using radio waves, the information  and the images can be send all over the world being practically the same technology used in mobile phones.

We live in a world where you can't afford to be slow, where speed, where being fast became a survival necessity. We need so many electronics, we need so much information that often we don't have space for all the wires that connects us with everything we need. Here...the concept of wireless is a blessing for all of us who need the comfort of being able not to depend on wires for having Internet access.

The business laptop range is extremely important in any manufacturer's portfolio. This is a proven fact by the market sales from the last couple of years. Toshiba know everything it need to about laptops and computing. It's probably one of the most respected laptop manufacturers, just below Apple and Dell. By looking and judging its portfolio, Toshiba is better than Sony Vaios laptops. The Tecra line offered by Toshiba brings three distinctive models, all of them offering exactly what business consumers might like. These three models don't just differ in design, but also in functionality and performances.
<-300x250 Medium Rectangle - center->
The first Tecra model reviewed, the Tecra M10, is the entry level business laptop, offering an average design with good productivity, average display, security features, all offered in an ultraportable design and for only $1.199 starting price. The next reviewed model, R10, brings excellent performances, and an epic set of high performances all packed in a small and light body for a starting price of $1.249. Therefore, what could possibly bring the Tecra A10? Tecra A10 is the business laptop that can easily replace your desktop, offering great durability and built in security features for an asking price of $1.249.

The A10 is a great desktop replacement, not only offering great performances but it also brings portability in a durable design. In terms of design the A10 looks pretty much like the M10, leaving the R10 to be the beauty in the Tecra family. So, A10 looks conventional, very businesslike, offering a titanium silver cover LCD that provides a nice feeling and keeps away the fingerprints and minor scratches.

You will find this titanium silver case inside the Tecra A10 surrounding the keyboard, and that's about it. In the rest you get a matte black plastic. With a height varying from front to rear 1.46 inches to 1.54 inches, wide of 14.2 inches, deep of 10.4 inches, Tecra A10 weights about 6.2 lbs depending on the configuration chosen. Overall, Tecra A10 looks nice and conservative and provides an excellent built quality.

On the front side you get the microphone input port, and headphone output port and also seven LEDs that provide status for different features. On the right side you get the bridge media adapter (compatible with Multi Media Card, xD memory card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Secure Digital, and SDHC) located just above the Super Multi DVD (+ / - R double layer) that supports about 11 formats (such as DVD - RAM, DVD + R double layer, DVD + R single layer, DVD + RW, DVD - RW, DVD - R double layer, DVD - R single layer, CD - RW, DVD - ROM, CD - ROM, and CD - R).

Also on the right side of the Tecra A10 you can find three 2.0 USB high speed ports, and the Ethernet RJ 45 port. On the left side beside the cooling vent, you get the serial port, the volume scroll control, one eSATA / USB combo port with sleep and charge, the docking connector, and one PCMCIA type II card slot. Because the displays cover doesn't works as a hinge, you can find on the back side of the Tecra A10 the RGB monitor output port, the modem port, and the AC charger slot.

Once opened the laptop, you are going to see the contrast between the titanium silver case and the matte black plastic found on the keyboard and surrounding the display. If you were looking for a full keyboard, then you are looking at the wrong business laptop line. Toshiba doesn't offer for neither of its business laptop, a full keyboard. Even so the keyboard is identical to the one found on the M10, providing good sized keys with no flex when pressed. Also, the keys provide a good feedback and they inspire durability.

Under the good built keyboard you get the exact layout in the Tecra M10, four buttons that center the touch pad, while the lower two buttons also center the fingerprint reader. The control buttons, Toshiba assist button (for Toshiba assist control panel), and windows mobility center button, and the other buttons included around the keyboard work nicely, but the silver coating makes them a little too slippery. The same feedback you get from the touch pad also, but its coating is a little more matte than this buttons.

The overall quality offered by the Tecra A10 is solid. Toshiba included in Tecra A10 a brilliant 15.4 inches diagonal widescreen TFT LCD display with WSXGA+ resolution (1680 x 1050 pixels). This display is brilliant, offering great viewing angles, vibrant colors, and sufficient brightness under direct sunlight. Above the display, Toshiba included an integrated Webcam. The connectivity is ensured by the Intel 82567 LM 10 / 100 / 1000 Ethernet (Gigabit Network Connection with AMT 4.0), integrated Wi-Fi compliant wireless (Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100 AGN 1 x 2 with 802.11 a/g/n), integrated Bluetooth version 2.1 with enhanced data rate, three USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA / USB combo port with sleep and charge. Toshiba offers two basic configuration laptop models.

These two configuration have some identical specs, such as NVIDIA Quadro NVS 150M (256 MB Discrete graphic chipset), fingerprint reader, Bluetooth version 2.1, Mobile Intel PM 45 Express Chipset and security features. However, the first configuration available, A10 S3511 brings an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P8600 (2.4 GHz, 3 MB L2, and 1066 MHz FSB), 2 GB PC2 6400 DDR2 SDRAM (2048 MB x 1), and a hard drive of 160 GB with 7200 rotations per minute.

This configuration is shipped with Windows Vista Business Service Pack 1 (either the 32 bit version, or the 64 bit version) for only $1.249. The second available configuration, A10 S3501 brings an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9400 (with 2.53 GHz, 6 MB L2, and 1066 MHz FSB), 4 GB PC2 6400 DDR2 SDRAM (2048 MB x 2), and a hard disk drive of 200 GB 7200 rotations per minute serial ATA hard disk drive with a 9.5 mm height. The Tecra A10 S3501 is shipped with Windows Vista Business operating system, with Service Pack 1 (either 32 bit version, or 64 bit version) for an asking price of $1.499.

Toshiba also added some extra safety in its Tecra models offering a shock absorbing design (HDD shock absorber), hard disk drive protection, spill resistant keyboard, Toshiba PC diagnostic Tool, multiple level passwords, fingerprint reader, Infineon TPM Software Professional Package, and many other more. Other software included in the Tecra A10 models, Toshiba Config Free, Toshiba DVD Player, Toshiba Speech System, Sun Java Runtime Environment as a third party application, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Google Desktop, Google Picasa and Google Toolbar. Also included, but as trial versions are the Microsoft Office Professional 2007 and the Norton Internet Security 2008.

Toshiba ships the Tecra A10 with a 5100 mAh Lithium Ion battery pack (six cell battery), which should provide about 3 hours and 10 minutes (bad battery life). Overall, Tecra 10 is a good desktop replacement. The Tecra A10 is not by far as mobile like the rest of the Tecra line, especially because of the bad battery autonomy. Even so, for using it indoors, Toshiba Tecra 10 provides excellent features and performances in an excellent business design, with a great quality build.