Equipment, Supplies and Services for Your Business 7

What should I look for in a notebook computer?

Like all desktop computers, the features and prices of notebook computers change every few months, so the smartest thing to do is to check the sources listed above for reviews and comparisons of the latest laptop computers. Among the essentials, however are:

• Price. Compare several models that are available in retail stores, online discount stores, and magazines. Check manufacturers' sites, such as Dell computers, for models which are sold only over the Internet or by mail order.
  
• Weight: under 6 pounds with the AC adaptor is desirable, but some of the more powerful models with larger displays are 7 or 8 pounds. Lighter models are available but some have smaller keyboards and may be difficult to type on.
  
• Processor speed: Look for a processor speed of at least 1.5 to 2.5 Ghz or faster.
• Display: is the display comfortable to look at and easy to read? Display screens that are 14 to 16 inches or bigger are easier to view than smaller screens, but can be difficult to open on airplanes if you travel frequently and expect to work on the plane. Check the sharpness of the display as well. Look at a screen from various angles and make sure that you can see it clearly.
  
• Memory: Get at least 256 megs of memory. As with desktops, 512 megs of memory would be preferable if you can afford the extra price.
  
• Hard disk size and speed: Fourty gigabytes is the minimum you should consider if you plan to use many programs. If you plan to store artwork or multimedia files on your notebook computer, than look for a bigger hard drive.
  
• Built-in Wireless. Built in wireless lets you connect easily to the Internet at some hotels, coffee shops, and offices if you have a wireless capabilities set up. It's not essential, but it's a very handy feature to have.
  
• Modem speed, cost, and convenience. Is the modem included in the purchase price? If the modem is priced separately, how much extra will it cost? Can you use the modem while the computer is attached to a network? Note, even if your computer has a wireless connection and a network connection, if you use the notebook when you travel there will be times when you need the modem to connect to the Internet. Not all hotels have cabled Internet or wireless Internet connections.
  
• USB ports. USB ports let you add a variety of peripherals to the notebook. They can be used to plug in printers, a separate keyboard and mouse, an external hard drive (so you can back up your computer easily), a digital camera, and other devices. Look for at least three or four USB ports on the notebook. Like memory, more is better.
  
• Drives: can you use a floppy drive, CD-ROM (or DVD), or ZIP drive with the notebook? Can you use them at one time? Can you use the drives while you are operating on battery? Is the floppy drive built into the notebook or will you have to carry it with you separately when you travel?
  
• Keyboard: comfortable and convenient to type on. Test the keyboard, if at all possible. Some have tiny keys or don't have a place to rest your wrists while typing.
  
• Battery: How long will the battery last without recharging? Three hours or more without recharging is best, unless you plan to carry a spare battery. Find out what the cost of replacement batteries is, too.

What kind of printer should I get to go with the computer?

Before you decide what type of printer to get, you will need to know what kinds of documents you plan to print out. If you have to print out any multiple part forms, you will need an impact printer. An impact printer is one that has a mechanism that produces an image by hitting an inked ribbon, which then hits the page. Impact printers you can buy today are usually dot matrix printers. They are the printers that use conventional-looking computer paper (the kind with the holes along the edges).

Laser printers and inkjet printers (which are the printers you see most often in magazines and in stores) are not impact printers and therefore won't produce an impression on the second or third sheets of multipart forms.
In addition to whether or not you have to print multipart forms, you need to consider:

• The speed of the printer. Find out how long the printer takes to accept and print a single page of text, how long it takes to accept and print a single page of graphics, and how long it takes to print out multiple copies of a single page. Be skeptical about the time stated in the manufacturer's specifications for the printer. Their "typical" page may have much less text or graphics on it than what you would normally print.
  
• The quality of the image the printer produces. The quality of the image depends partly on something called resolution, or dots per inch (dpi), and partly on the way the characters (fonts) are generated. Laser printers usually print faster than inkjet printers. The printouts are usually more suitable for camera-ready copy and for delivering black and white work to clients. Color inkjet printers are more versatile, however. At some point you may find you need both a color inkjet and a laser printer.
  
• The cost and availability of ink cartridges. Find out the cost of the cartridge and the number of pages you can expect to print with each cartridge. An ink cartridge that costs $17.98 but only prints 300 pages will cost you about $.06 per page for ink. A cartridge for a different type of printer that costs $100 but prints out 3,000 pages would be about half that amount per page.
  
• The availability of service, if the printer costs more than a few hundred dollars. Where can you get the printer serviced and how long will it take if it breaks down? Printers tend to break down much more frequently than any other device. Unfortunately, though, if you printer costs less than $200 or so and it malfunctions after the warranty period, you'll probably find it less expensive to buy a new printer than it will be to repair the old printer.
  
• How many sheets of paper can be stacked in the printer at once? Less important, perhaps, than all the other considerations, but it is annoying to send a document to the printer and then find a message on your screen saying the printer is out of paper.
  
• The printer's ability to handle heavy paper and/or envelopes. Printers vary in their ability to print on thick paper and envelopes. Envelopes are of particular importance to test. Some printers, even though they claim to be able to handle envelopes, just don't do a good job of it. Either the method of feeding the envelopes is slow and laborious, or the printer twists the envelope so printing is skewed, or it just kind of munches the corners or leaves black ink smudges on the envelopes. If at all possible, test the printer you want to buy with the type of envelopes you want to use.
       

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