Compaq CQ57-411TU 15.6" Notebook

Computer jargon can be overwhelmingly – but don’t worry, we’ll put it into plain English! Just ask us in-store, or browse the drop-down menu on the left.

Notebooks

Laptop or desktop – which is right for you?

As we become more mobile, laptops have become the biggest selling form of computer. But many people still prefer a desktop to suit their particular needs. It basically comes down to a trade-off between weight and power, and what’s most important to you. Will you move around a lot with your computer? Do you prefer a large screen and keyboard?

Should you buy a computer for your future needs?

The short answer is, no. Technology is updated at such a fast rate that whatever you’re looking at now, is likely to be re-released and improved upon in a few months time. So we recommend you buy for ‘now’ in terms of your power and storage needs, because it will be better value in the long-term.

What’s the difference between a Netbook and a Notebook?

Netbooks are small and lightweight machines, ideal for ‘grab and go’ use, like checking emails or surfing the web. Notebooks have a larger screen (15.6 inch is most popular), and are more suited to work or study purposes. Notebook prices vary according to processing power, memory, storage and screen graphics.

Don’t forget – memory’s very important when choosing a computer

The rule of thumb about memory is ‘the more the better’. A computer that doesn’t have enough RAM memory will run like a car with a bad cylinder. So how much memory do you actually need? Too little and you’ll have performance problems, but too much you’ll be wasting money.

It’s good to look at the recommended memory requirements of the different elements that make up your computer. Firstly, what’s the software you’re likely to be using (e.g Microsoft Office 2010 recommended memory is 512 MB, Internet Explorer 8 recommends 256MB). Your operating system also has its minimum and recommended memory requirements. Thirdly, the more hardware you use (e.g printers, cameras, game controllers and other input devices), the more driver software you’ll have loaded into memory. Check the specs of each device and add up their memory requirements.

Your memory requirements depend very much on what type of user you are:
Casual users (web browsing, email, listening to music) need 0.5 to 1.0 GB
Frequent users (above plus word processing, photo viewing, simple games, video viewing) need 1 to 2 GB
Power users (above plus photo editing, video editing, real-time multiplayer online games, multitasking) need 2 to 4 GB
Professional Users (high-performance gaming, large documents, high-definition video editing) need 4 to 8 GB