Cheap Laptops - Minimum Requirements

The minimum requirements for cheap laptops

Seriously, if you're shopping for cheap laptops what features do you really need to be happy for the next three or four years? Let me (who spends 10 hours a day in front of the computer) show you what minimum requirements you should be looking for, and you'll see that the cheap laptops will be your choice ...

for your home/office:

• speed: 1GHz - you won't notice the difference between 1GHz and 2GHz, no affect on internet connection speed either
• main memory: 128MB - its' plenty, can be upgraded later for cheap
• video memory: 16MB - it's plenty for home/office imaging or graphics
• hard drive: 20 GB - can be upgraded later
• screen size: 14.1" - most common size now
• disk drive: 24x CD-RW or 8X/8X8X24X DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive would be even better
• regular modem: built-in 56K
• high speed internet: built-in 10/100 Ethernet card (NIC) - a must for fast DSL or Cable modem connection
• battery: 3.0 hr - longer life battery isn't worth it for its price
• audio: integrated Stereo Sound (a sound card)
• 1 USB Port - to connect your digital camera, speakers or USB port replicator
• operating system: Windows 2000 or XP Home Edition
• 1 year Limited Warranty - 1 year is enough for potential problems to be found

for a cheap gaming laptop upgrade your minimum to:

• speed: at least 1.9GHz
• main memory: 256MB
• video memory: 32MB
• hard drive: 30MB
• screen size: 15"
• disk drive: 48x/12x/48x CD-RW and/or 16x48x DVD/CD
• at least 3 built-in USB ports

Other things to watch for

It would be nice to have a wireless NIC card built-in - this would give you two additional empty NIC slots - one of them can be used to connect to your hard wire internet, and the other to a regular 56K modem connection or to a wireless network.

Also, check to see if your laptop has a USB port(s) built-in. Most will but check yours anyway. This port could be used for many purposes: plug in a digital camera, plug in a new hot miniature flash drive, plug in a port replicator (a port replicator is used to plug in multiple media devices such as internet connection, mouse, keyboard, digital camera, speakers, joystick, external drives etc.).

And again, the internet connection speed doesn't depend on your laptop speed (Hz). Your downloads won't get any faster until you upgrade to a fast Internet connection like DSL or Cable (in other words, get more bandwidth). To see if DSL or Cable Internet is available in your area click here. DSL will cost you about $35 a month and Cable Internet about $45 a month. Take an average $40 monthly payment times 24 months and you'll get $960. And that's is precisely how much you could save by buying a low-end model instead of a high-end model.

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