Welcome to this month’s instalment of news, reviews, tips and tricks from The Computer Assistant. Tis the season to be merry, however, while wandering through the aisles of any high street computer shop you’ll see many unamused faces staring glassy eyed at the array of so called “laptops” available on the shelves. As usual, this is where shop assistants converge, responding to punters moaning, “I only came in for a laptop but there are so many types to choose from!” So this month we’ll try to navigate the quagmire that is mobile computing devices. Combined with last month’s article this should help many on their merry way.
Laptops – Blurred lines define the differences between these creatures and nothing is more casuistic than the term “laptop” itself. These forty-odd year old monsters were often too heavy, large and hot for most laps and without the help of a removal van or being chucked out of a window, were never comfortably portable. They often replaced whirring desktop PCs and remained on a well-endowed table in the corner of the room. Laptops of today will satisfy your every whim apart from remaining on your lap for a long time! From basic browsing to high resolution video editing, the range and options available are equipped to do most things for most users and if you invest wisely they will last quite a while.
Notebooks – Basically this term is interchangeable for laptops and is often used by our American cousins to refer to the same thing.
Netbooks – Simply a small laptop. Just as the first mobile phones were hardly mobile, laptop manufacturers realised laptops weren’t well suited for laps. Netbooks are generally a compromise to achieve better mobility but are less powerful and ultimately much less useful than laptops.
Tablets – Dare we describe them as laptops without keyboards? Once thought to be the death of laptops, these ingenious touch screen devices are light weight and versatile. Although limited by size and form they offer the ultimate in portability. Prices mean anyone can now own one but it seems they have a long way to go to replace laptops.
Hybrids – Aka 2-in-1s and convertibles, they’re the perfect convergence of available technology. With many guises, these devices can swivel, split and back-flip. Combined with touch-screens and an ever increasing range of capabilities, sizes and weights they sit firmly between full laptops and dedicated tablets. A very good example of this is the Surface Pro.
Ultrabooks – These top specification devices are lightweight, Intel trademarked, laptops and hybrids. Now produced by many major laptop manufacturers, they are characterised by their quality, power and slim features.
Surface – Microsoft is always up for a new trick and despite being late to the party, won’t be out-done by Google, Apple or Intel. The Surface range of laptops, tablets and hybrid devices provide for both basic users and the very top end of the market.
Apple – MacBooks and iPads are, for many devoted apostles, genres in their own right. Their iconic designs are light years ahead and despite not always being the best pound for pound they remain desirable, aspirational and trusted.
Chromebooks – These laptops and hybrids are Googles attempt to elevate all our computing needs to the clouds. By eliminating a few hardware components Chromebooks are both lightweight and slim, but are internet dependant for storage and software applications.
Hopefully this will help you make up your mind before you take the plunge!
Tip of the month: Update your antivirus, keep your information safe and backed up.
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