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The Specs Explained

Before shopping for a laptop, consider how you'll be using it. If your primary goal is to get some word processing or spreadsheet work done while staying on top of e-mail, a $1000 Core Duo model with a 14.1-inch screen and a 40GB hard drive will be plenty fast and will save you hundreds of dollars. Sexy lightweight notebooks and models with top-notch processing power and big screens cost much more.

Remember that most vendors let you custom-build and -price your own laptop by picking from a mind-boggling array of features, which gives you a lot of control over the final product. You may be able to afford a faster notebook by accepting a smaller, less-expensive hard drive or DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, instead of a Double Layer DVD+/-RW SuperMulti drive.

Unlike those on desktop PCs, only some of the components (such as memory and the hard drive) are upgradable; others (such as the graphics board) are permanent once they're installed at the factory. That's slowly changing, as some manufacturers begin to incorporate upgradable graphics. But take your time and pick only what you need. Below is a rough breakout of some configuration options.

(A side note: The "One Laptop Per Child" campaign introduced an interesting development, namely, affordable portables that can handle basic tasks yet don't cost a fortune. The $400 Asus Eee, for example, is a prime choice for students; the beefier--and slightly more expensive--HP 2133 is great for either the classroom or the boardroom. Both models are part of an emerging new category called "netbooks.")

Important consideration: Installed memory. The more installed memory your laptop has, the more applications you can run at once, and the better your machine will perform. Ease of access aside, upgrading memory in a notebook is a bit trickier than with a desktop, so buy as much memory preinstalled as you can afford. Laptops with 1GB of RAM are optimal. If you're running Windows Vista on a laptop, consider upgrading to 2GB of RAM.

Important consideration: Processor. The CPU determines how quickly a notebook runs applications and performs on-screen tasks. Core Duo and Core 2 Duo processors are good choices for speedy processing. (Check the latest prices for recommended notebooks.)

Important consideration: Screen size. The specified size of a laptop's LCD screen represents a diagonal measurement. The larger the screen, the higher the maximum resolution and the more information you can view at once. At this point, most notebooks are wide-screen models; if you want a laptop with a standard-aspect screen you'll have to search a bit, but they are still available. (Compare laptops with recommended screen sizes.)

Somewhat important: Hard drive. The larger the hard drive, the more data you can keep on your laptop. Most people don't need more than 80GB. If you plan to work with databases, spreadsheets, or digital photo or video files, opt for a large drive. Also make sure to find out the hard drive's speed; below 7200 rpm, the hard drive could bog down on some tasks.

Somewhat important: Expansion bays. The more expansion bays, the more options you have for switching in new optical drives or other storage drives; but switching drives takes time. Though high-end ultraportables typically have no extra bays, you can purchase external drives for them.

Somewhat important: Optical drives. Most manufacturers offer laptops with rewritable DVD drives, which give you the most flexibility. Alternatively, you could purchase a notebook with a DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, to save money.