The Digital Toolbox…

Over the past five years, laptop computers have become more powerful, screens have become bigger, and prices have fallen. Each year more and more people choose to replace their old desktop computer with a new laptop. The major advantages of a laptop are size and portability — big selling points for people living in a trailer or RV. If you are in the market for a laptop, there are a few things you should consider before making your purchase:

1. Screen size —A few years ago a fifteen-inch screen was large for a laptop; now it is not uncommon to find seventeen-inch screens on laptops. Many manufacturers offer models in a variety of screen sizes, ranging from twelve to seventeen inches. Laptops with larger screens cost more, but will give you more screen “real estate”. With a larger screen, you can have more windows open on the desktop, you can make the windows larger, and you can view more information at one time.

2. Touchpad or mouse? — Just about all laptops come with a trackpad (alternately called a trackpad), a rectangular area below the keyboard that takes the place of a mouse. To move the on-screen cursor you move your index finger around the pad. (A few laptops come with a pointing stick in a addition to the touchpad, which is a small stick located in the center of the keyboard that is used like a joystick.) Many people do not feel comfortable controlling their computer with a touchpad, and if you are one of them, you will want to buy a mouse to use with your laptop. A mouse can connect to the laptop via a USB port (see #4 below) or wirelessly (see #3 below).

3. Wireless connectivity — When buying a laptop, make sure it comes with an internal WiFi card — you want to be able to connect to the Internet when you are near a hotspot (a location where there is wireless internet signal being broadcast). Many laptops also come with Bluetooth, which is a short-range wireless technology meant to replace the cables connecting computers and peripheral devices, such as printers, digital cameras and cell phones. To work, both the computer and the peripheral device must have Bluetooth installed.

4. USB ports — To use cables to connect your laptop to external devices, such printers, digital cameras, external hard drives, and a mouse, you will need USB ports. Some laptops have only two such ports, while others have three or four. If you plan to connect your laptop to several devices at a time, you will need to have enough ports on the laptop, or you will have to buy a hub, which is small device with four or more USB ports that plugs into one of the internal USB ports, thus expanding the number of available ports.

5. IEEE or Firewire port — Some external devices, such as camcorders, older iPods, and some hard drives, connect to a computer with an IEEE connection. If you have any of these devices, be sure that the laptop you buy has a compatible port.

6. Finally, try before you buy — Some of the best prices for computers and computer peripherals can be found online, but I recommend “window shopping” before you buy. Visit a computer or electronic stores and tryout the computers you are considering. Stores like Circuit City, Best Buy and CompUSA carry a large inventory of windows based laptop computers, and if you are interested in a Macintosh, you can visit an Apple store. Check out the size and quality of the screen, and test the feel of the keyboard and touchpad. Once you know which computer you feel comfortable with, you can do your research and find the best price.