Today's notebook computers probably can fit most of your computing needs. Unless you need specific components and the absolute fastest processor, it's almost a no-brainer: Get a notebook.
They're ripe for the picking. Prices on some notebooks have dropped under $1,000. But spending a little more than $1,000 will get you a fine machine that would trounce that 2-year-old desktop you want to junk.
Notebooks come in three flavors.
First, desktop replacements, such as the IBM G series or Sager NP8890, are aimed at freeing up desk space in your home or office.
If you need to be mobile only rarely, they're perfect, especially since battery life is still a major consideration when using notebooks. Desktop replacements are relatively heavy, usually 8 pounds and up. Schlep it back and forth to work for a week and you'll understand just how heavy 8 pounds can feel (or a whopping 12 pounds in the Sager's case).
Next is the semiportable category, such as the Toshiba A15, Apple's 15- or 17-inch PowerBooks or the Dell Inspirion line.
The bulk of affordable notebooks live here, and they are usually a commuter's best friend. Screen sizes hover in the 14-inch to 17-inch range, weight is usually under 7 pounds and configurations can handle most tasks with ease. With prices at about $1,000 for the well-equipped Toshiba, one can still afford a wireless access point and work (or pretend to work) on the patio now that nice weather is here.
Ultraportables make up the third category. Count IBM's X series, the Lindows Mobile PC or Apple's 12-inch PowerBook as members of this family. Weight and size are key to keeping these things mobile, so you'll usually find just a 12-inch screen.
Weighing in at a svelte 3 pounds or so, they won't break your back but could well break the bank. Being slim isn't cheap: Expect to pay $2,000 or more for a well-equipped machine.
The notable exception is the Lindows Mobile PC, which is an exceptional value at $799. Equally notable is that it uses the Linux operating system, not Windows.
That's great if you want to escape the grip of Bill Gates without spending money on Apple's scale. It shouldn't put a crimp in e-mail, Web-surfing or any other computer basics, although you might find some flavors of software aren't available.
Saving weight means shedding something relatively heavy, like a floppy drive or even an internal CD-ROM. If you need either of these on the road, you'll have to tote them along, which might make up the weight of a semiportable. It's certainly something to consider.
My usual recommendations include getting as much random access memory and hard drive space as you can afford, even if it's at the expense of processor speed. And if you can't have both, choose RAM because you can always add an external hard drive with a FireWire or USB connection later.
Chances are you'll want Wi-Fi wireless capabilities, and many machines come with this as a low-cost internal option rather than taking up a card slot.
Intel's Centrino processor is built for wireless connectivity. While it's mostly marketing fluff, it does mean that your computer will do wireless well. And Apple ships only notebooks that are wireless-ready.
- Jules Allen writes the weekly Site Seeing column in Personal Tech.
