Shopper's Guide: How to buy the right desktop.

In these days of constantly increasing portability with devices such as laptops and tablets satisfying the average consumers' computing needs, it is surprising to see desktop PCs still hold their ground in the computer space.Today's desktop PCs offer a wealth of options: You can go for a PC with a fixed retail configuration, or you can customize your system by stepping through a sometimes dizzying array of choices from a configure-to-order vendor. The resulting array of components is no longer wrapped up in a beige box, but in a colorful shell of highly variable shape and size, differentiated by indecipherable naming conventions.

Presented with so many possibilities, you need to narrow the field by considering what you want to use your new desktop for. If you are a professional photographer/ graphics designer, you may need more ram to handle your tasks and the high resolution displays with a suitable graphics card. If you have an extensive collection of movies, songs and TV shows and want to make your PC the center of multimedia of your home, a compact PC tailored toward media sharing and playback may be your best bet. 

Whatever your needs, you can find a desktop configuration to fit the bill.

Desktops fall into three major categories, each with its own range of price and performance: compact PCs, all-in-one PCs, and classic tower PCs. Each style of machine has different strengths and weaknesses, and choosing the one that's best for you depends largely on how you plan to use it.

Compact PCs

As the smallest members of the desktop computer family, compact PCs often omit features to deliver computing power in a space-saving package. The combination of energy-efficient components, quiet operation, and small size makes compact PCs ideal for people who want a non-intrusive machine. A typical compact PC costs between Rs.20000 to Rs.40000, though the price goes up as you add upgrade options.

Compact PCs tend to be equipped with notebook or netbook components, such as Intel Atom processors. This limits their usefulness for tasks that demand lots of processing power, but it makes for quiet, energy-efficient operation. Not all compact PCs are created equal, however, so pay attention to specifications when shopping. Some compact PCs are configured for as low a bottom-line price as possible; others are packed to the gills to deliver optimal performance in a compact system.

Most compact PCs rely on integrated graphics. In some instances (depending on the CPU and the integrated graphics chipset), anything more complicated than a Flash-based browser game will be unplayable, but you will be able to eke out competent media streaming with Intel and AMD integrated graphics.

When assessing smaller PCs, keep an eye on the ports. The smaller the footprint, the fewer features you can reasonably expect, and that includes fewer connectivity options. Though you'll get a VGA port and (on average) six USB 2.0 ports, many compact PCs also offer HDMI--an asset for home-theater setups. The typical hard drive size is 320GB, though 250GB is common, too, and we've seen compact system carrying up to 1TB (for an approx Rs.5000 upgrade premium). Blu-ray drives are becoming increasingly popular in this category, though the majority of the category eschews optical drives altogether. 

All-in-One Desktops

All-in-One PCs are self-contained: components are mounted behind a display, with screen sizes ranging between 18- and 27-inches. Since there are no cords to manage or peripherals to juggle, setting up your new all-in-one PC can be as simple as pulling the machine out of the box and plugging it in.

With their compact size and integrated displays, you can generally set up all-in-one PCs wherever you have a spare power outlet. Some all-in-ones come with touchscreens. With support for multitouch gestures worked into Microsoft's Windows 7, all-in-ones offer a clever way for users to interact with their media, while still getting a full-fledged PC.

All-in-one components vary from brand to brand, but you can expect to pay more for an all-in-one than for a similarly equipped desktop PC; again, some models target buyers on a tight budget, while others load up on performance-oriented system components (at a higher price, of course).

Many all-in-one PCs come with a wireless keyboard and mouse, Bluetooth support, and Wi-Fi connectivity. This reduces cord clutter to a minimum--an important consideration in spaces where an attractive décor or efficient use of space is at a premium.

Classic Tower PCs:

Budget PCs

A budget tower desktop carries standard desktop components, but it can cost as little as Rs.20000 if you select older hardware or inexpensive, low-end processors. Typically, these PCs are minitower systems, with fewer drive bays than a full tower has. 

Inexpensive tower desktops usually incorporate low-powered, integrated graphics rather than discrete graphics cards. As a result, your entertainment options may be limited. High-definition media playback suffers on models equipped with older Intel-based integrated graphics; and if you're interested in gaming, you'll be hard pressed to tackle anything more demanding than Flash-based offerings.

Budget PCs generally offer at least 320GB of storage space and at least 2GB of RAM, but support few upgrades beyond adding RAM or a larger hard drive. They rarely leave much room for expansion inside their cases, either. Still, if you need a machine for simple word processing, email, and occasional DVDs or online videos, these machines should suit you just fine.

Mainstream PCs

Higher up in the desktop chain, you'll find machines aimed at mainstream users. These PCs start in the vicinity of $1000, and carry at least 500GB hard drives and about 4GB of RAM. Powered by dual-core and lower-end quad-core processors, they deliver better performance than budget desktops do, without breaking the bank.

Photo-editing applications stand to benefit from working with multicore processors, and entertainment enthusiasts will appreciate the improved gaming performance and stutter-free HD media playback that a discrete graphics card helps deliver. Many of the machines in this category include a Blu-ray drive, either standard or as an extra-cost option. And if your video-editing needs are modest, you'll probably be able to find a machine in the mainstream price bracket that has enough power to handle your creative projects.

Performance PCs

Occupying the high end of the spectrum are performance desktops. Such PCs generally start at a little over Rs. 100000,
Most performance PCs are full tower systems, equipped with a slew of drive bays and expansion slots. Designed to tackle challenging tasks, they come equipped with the latest and greatest Intel and AMD dual- and quad-core processors, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and at least one discrete graphics card. Some performance desktops include multiple graphics cards to deliver improved graphics performance.

Performance desktops are suitable for users who need a lot of processing power to get their work done--professionals who do extensive high-resolution photography or video editing, and gamers who are willing to pay for top-of-the-line visual effects.

Traditional PC manufacturers like HP and Dell sell performance machines, but so do smaller boutique PC makers that specialize in highly configurable custom machines, tailored to your needs and budget.

Verdict: There's a lot to choose in the desktop spectrum and the configurations have extensive customization options. At the end of the day, its for the users to decide what configurations they really need and which one suits them the best. Also, its worth noting that these days desktop PCs are generally associated with high resource computing and multimedia purposes. So if your daily computing needs do not require that amount of power and you feel that the desktop PC might consume a lot of your space, you might want to look for a suitable laptop (or a tablet if you are more into lightweight computing and are looking for more portability).

Also see: How to buy the right laptop.

Leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments.

Thanks!

Shopper's Guide: Wireless headphones vs Wired headphones

When we think of accessories for our devices in general, a nice pair of headphones is usually one of the important ones. In this modern era where more and more items are ditching their cables and embracing the power of wireless technology, we are now having to decide between ‘wired’ or ‘wireless’ for many of our technical products. This is certainly the case for headphones, and we are now seeing a vast amount of new designs hit the stores every year, with new innovative features and design concepts. Certainly, there are pros and cons of each.
Let's have a look at the characteristics of the two:

Wired headphones:

Wired headphones are still the prominent design of most headphones found at the moment, and are likely to still be around for the next few years at least.

More consistent sound quality: While a wireless connect can provide very good quality sound, it can also be intermittent and you may find at times that the quality drops in and out. When you have wired headphones you do not have to worry about this, as generally they will provide a very consistent level of sound.

If your wired headphones are good quality (and good quality does not have to mean expensive), then you will notice just how good the sound quality is and just how consistent this quality is too.

Cheaper: Generally the price of wired headphones are cheaper than similar wireless models. Although wireless technology cannot be referred to as ‘new’ any more, it is still not a prominent force in the headphone market as of yet, so the price of wired models is still less.

No power issues: Wired headphones do not require any batteries to run them, unless you have a 3rd party device that runs off the headphones such as a microphone that sometimes may require a battery to run it. This will mean you do not have to worry about the power draining on your headphones.

Cable: The only real 'issue' when it comes to wired headphones is the cable. While many manufacturers try to make them as inconspicuous as possible, they can never lose them completely and there will always be times when the cable just gets in the way and restricts your movement in some way or another. 

Wireless headphones:

Wireless headphone models are still in the minority when it comes to the current headphone market, but we will start seeing more and more as the technology gets better.

Mobility and freedom of movement – The main benefit of all wireless products is that you do not have lengthy and bulky cables hanging off them. This will give you complete freedom of movement and you never have to worry about the cable getting caught up anywhere and getting into a tangle.

Weight reduction – You will be surprised how much some headphone cables can weigh, and this weight becomes exaggerated the longer you wear the headphones. Going the wireless route, you will not have to worry about the additional weight hanging off the headphones, and your neck will certainly appreciate this if you listen to them for longer periods.

Sound quality – While some wireless headphones do offer exceptional sound, they are all prone to being a little inconsistent, and some models more than others. The wireless audio that is run through Bluetooth is compressed, which does cut out any static. But it can also experience a packet-loss which in turn results in a loss of audio quality. The wireless technology will improve in the near future for sure, but for now you will not find the consistency that you get with wired headphones.

Price – At the moment, wireless technology used in headphones (namely Bluetooth) is more expensive than their wired compatriots. Eventually prices will come down, but for now you will see a significant difference in price for good quality wireless headphones versus wired ones.

Power life – Bluetooth needs to be run by batteries, so this of course limits the amount of time you can use them before the batteries need changing. Draining batteries also mean a loss of quality too, so this is another thing to consider.

Verdict: 

Whether wired or wireless, both types of headphones have their pros and cons. Its really for the users to decide if their priority is better and consistent audio quality or better mobility and also to see which one suits them better when they actually try it on.

Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Thanks!

Shopper's Guide: The difference between display technologies on electronic devices

Whether it's a smartphone, tablet, laptop, monitor or even a television, the most important aspect of any of these devices is the display. The display unknowingly affects the performance of our devices. Rather, it can be said that the performance of our devices depends on the type of display that it is coupled with.

While buying an electronic device, you may see a lot of variety in the types of displays it difference devices have to offer and it may get confusing.

I shall try to explain the most common type of displays found in the market in this post:

TFT LCD:

TFT stands for thin film transistor technology. TFT LCDs are one the most common display units mainly across mobile devices. TFT LCDs offer better image quality and higher resolutions compared to earlier generation LCD displays but their limitation lies in narrow viewing angles and poor visibility in direct light or sunlight.

Large TFT displays consume more power and hence are not battery friendly. But as these are cheaper to manufacture these are found on budget phones, feature phones and lower end smartphones.

IPS LCD:

IPS stands for In-Place Switching. If you compare TFT vs IPS, then IPS LCDs are superior to normal TFT LCD displays with wider viewing angles and lower power consumption which leads to a much improved battery life. IPS-LCDs are costlier than normal TFT LCD and hence are found only on higher end smartphones. A higher resolution (640 x 960 pixels) version of IPS LCD is used in Apple iPhone 4 and onward called Retina Display because of its brilliant picture quality.

OLED:

OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode and is a newer technology for type of displays of mobiles and monitors. In OLED technology a layer of organic material (carbon based) is sandwiched between two conducting sheets (an anode and a cathode), which in turn are sandwiched between a glass top plate (seal) and a glass bottom plate (substrate). When electric pulse is applied the two conducting sheets, electro-luminescent light is produced directly from the organic material sandwiched between. Brightness and color can vary depending on the electric pulse.

OLEDs are much better compared to LCDs because of their exceptional color reproduction, blazing fast response times, wider viewing angles, higher brightness and extremely light weight designs. Another advantage of OLEDs is lesser power consumption. When these displays have to produce darker or pitch black shades, the subpixels within the display are completely switched off thereby producing a great contrast ratio and thereby consuming less power. These displays have been growing in popularity right from smartphones to giant TVs.

AMOLED:

AMOLED stands for Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode. AMOLED displays are a type of OLED displays for mobiles and are rapidly gaining popularity in top end smartphone segment. AMOLED screens have all the attributes of an OLED display like brilliant color reproduction, light weight, better battery life, higher brightness and sharpness and light weight designs.

AMOLED displays are now getting into main stream and most of the latest higher end smartphones are now coming with AMOLED displays.

There is no substantial difference between OLEDs and AMOLEDs. The only difference is that the Active- Matrix is just an alternate method of self illuminating the pixels to the one found in OLED displays. But this different arrangement costs more to produce and hence is generally available on higher end devices.

Super AMOLED Display:

Super AMOLED display technology is an advanced version of AMOLED display. Developed by Samsung, it is said to be the thinnest display technology in the market. Super AMOLED display is much more responsive than an AMOLED display. Samsung top-of-the-line Galaxy smartphones come engineered with Super AMOLED display technology.

It is Samsung's patented technology and is not available on other devices.

Retina Display:

Retina Display is a term used by Apple for its high resolution (640x960 pixels) IPS LCD display technology used in iPhone 4 and onward and is also found in the newer generation MacBooks and iMacs and the newly announced Apple Watch. The company calls it the Retina display because its pixels cannot be individually identified by a human eye, thereby making the display super sharp, text more crisp and pictures more clear.

Verdict: As I mentioned at the beginning, a display can affect the performance of the device and also affect the overall user experience and that's why choosing the right type of display is very important. If you like watching a lot of movies and playing games, especially on your smartphone or tablet, an AMOLED display will suit you better. If you want wider and more consistent viewing angels, IPS is the way to go!

Hope this guide helps those who are looking for a new electronic device and are confused between choosing the right display for them.

Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

 Thanks!

USB Type-C: Explained

Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and communications protocols used in a bus for connection, communication, and power supply between computers and other electronic devices.

USB was designed to standardize the connection of computer peripherals (including keyboards, pointing devices, digital cameras, printers, portable media players, disk drives and network adapters) to personal computers, both to communicate and to supply electric power. It has become commonplace on other devices, such as smartphones and video game consoles. USB has effectively replaced a variety of earlier interfaces, such as serial and parallel ports, as well as separate power chargers for portable devices.

In general, there are three basic kinds or sizes related to the USB connectors and types of established connection: the older "standard" size, in its USB 1.1/2.0 and USB 3.0 variants (for example, on USB flash drives), the "mini" size (primarily for the B connector end, such as on many cameras), and the "micro" size, in its USB 1.1/2.0 and USB 3.0 variants (for example, on most modern cellphones).

Unlike other data cables (Ethernet, HDMI etc.), each end of a USB cable uses a different kind of connector; an A-type or a B-type. This kind of design was chosen to prevent electrical overloads and damaged equipment, as only the A-type socket provides power. There are cables with A-type connectors on both ends, but they should be used carefully. Therefore, in general, each of the different "sizes" requires four different connectors; USB cables have the A-type and B-type plugs, and the corresponding receptacles are on the computer or electronic device. In common practice, the A-type connector is usually the full size, and the B-type side can vary as needed.

Initially developed in 1994, the USB and its derivatives have come a long way since.

Among the variety of the versions of USBs mentioned above, I'll be talking about the Type C connectors.

USB Type-C is a new, tiny physical connector. The connector itself can support various exciting new USB standard like USB 3.1 and USB power delivery (USB PD).

USB Type-C connector

USB Type-C port on MacBook 2015

The standard USB connector you’re most familiar with is USB Type-A. Even as we've moved from USB 1 to USB 2 and on to modern USB 3 devices, that connector has stayed the same. It’s as massive as ever, and it only plugs in one way — so you have to make sure it’s oriented correctly when you plug it in.

The collection of differently shaped connectors for different-size devices is coming to a close. USB Type-C is a new connector standard that’s very small. It’s about a third the size of an old USB Type-A plug. This is a single connector standard that every device should be able to use. You’ll just need a single cable, whether you’re connecting an external hard drive to your laptop or charging your smartphone from a USB charger. That one tiny connector can be small and fit into a mobile device, or be the powerful port you use to connect all the peripherals to your laptop. The cable itself has USB Type-C connectors at both ends — it’s all one connector.

Yes, this is many awesome things at once. Not only is it reversible, it’s a single USB connector shape all devices should adopt. No more messes of different USB cables with different connector shapes for all the various devices you want, and no more massive ports taking up an unnecessary amount of room on ever-thinner devices.USB Type-C ports can support a variety of different protocols using “alternate modes,” which allows you to have adapters that can output HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort, or other types of connections from that single USB port.

Verdict: As this technology is fairly new, it'll probably take a few years for all the manufacturers implement USB Type C ports and adapters across all their various devices and the transition is going to be very controversial. But the promise of reducing the number of ports on a device and having the same connection protocol across devices of various form-factor will make it worth the pain. The very idea of accelerating data transfers and making the connections is praiseworthy and it'll be exciting to see the possibilities open due to this new standard of connectivity.

What do you think about this developing technology? Leave your thoughts as comments below.

Thanks!

Shopper's Guide: How to buy the right laptop

While buying a laptop, the top criteria for many is either to buy the "best" laptop or the "cheapest" one available. There is a misconception among the consumers that cheap laptops are not good and that good laptops are not cheap. Well, here's the thing:

"All laptops are good and none of them is as cheap as you'd want it to be!"

So, while buying a laptop, the users must decide before-hand what they want to use it for and then accordingly buy the one that suits them perfectly. Or else, an overpowered laptop could lead to maintenance issues if its power is not used well and the under-powered machine just won't satisfy your needs.

Sadly, the process of buying a laptop has become much more complicated than, say, buying a smartphone or a tablet, because the variety is limitless. Today's laptops encompass everything from featherweight ultrabooks that barely tip the scales at less than 2 pounds, to lap-crushing behemoths of 10 pounds or more.

But the regular laptop doesn't look the same, with dozens of convertible designs that rethink the standard clamshell to take advantage of touch interfaces. Some laptops double as tablets, with hinges that bend and fold, while other touch PCs are actually slate tablets that come with accessory keyboards for laptop-style use. There's simply too much variety in the laptop space for one size or style to fit every person's needs.  

In this article, I'll try to help users choose the right laptop. To buy the right computer for you, use the following criteria:

1- Operating System:

This is not an easy question to answer, especially if you’re not familiar with both Macs and 

PCs. But this quick overview of each platform’s strengths and weaknesses should help. 

(Chrome OS is not listed as it is very unfamiliar to consumers in India)

Windows 8.1

Windows notebooks are generally more affordable than Macs and offer a much wider range of design choices from more than a dozen major vendors. Unlike Apple, Microsoft and its partners allow users to buy notebooks with touch screens, as well as convertible designs that let you easily transform from notebook to tablet mode.

If you’re used to the Windows interface, but haven’t tried Windows 8.1, you may be in for a jarring surprise. The new OS has replaced the Start menu with a tile-based start screen and a raft of new full-screen, touch-friendly apps. However, Windows 8.1 still has a desktop mode for running all your existing apps and you can boot directly to it. It’s also not hard, with a few utilities and settings tweaks, to add a Start Menu and make the Ui look a lot like Windows 7

Some Windows notebooks provide business-friendly features, such as biometric and smartcard verification and Intel vPro systems management.

Also, Microsoft has promised a free upgrade to Windows 10 for all WIndows 7 and 8 PCs, if that further helps.

Apple OS X Yosemite

Apple’s MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros offer an easy-to-use operating system in OS X Yosemite. In fact, some may find OS X easier to navigate than the newer and bolder Windows 8.1. MacBooks offer iOS-like features such as Launch Pad for your apps, superior multitouch gestures, and the ability to take calls from your iPhone.

MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros also tend to outclass most Windows machines when it comes to industrial design and the touchpad. While Windows PCs offer more software choices, Apple makes it easier to find and install programs with the Mac App Store.

2- Choosing the right screen size:

Before you decide anything else, you need to figure out just how portable you need your laptop to be. Laptops are usually categorized by their display sizes,:

• 11 to 12 inches: The thinnest and lightest systems around have 11 to 12 inch screens and typically weigh 2.5 to 3.5 pounds. However, at this size, the screen and keyboard will be a bit too cramped for some users.
• 13 to 14-inches:  Provides the best balance of portability and usability. Laptops with 13 or 14-inch screens usually weigh between 3.5 and 4.5 pounds and fit easily on your lap while still providing generously-sized keyboards and screens. Shoot for a system with a total weight under 4 pounds if possible. If you’re willing to pay a premium, you can also find extremely lightweight systems with these screen sizes, including the 2.6-pound Dell XPS 13 and 2.9-pound, 14-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
• 15 inches:  The most popular size, 15-inch laptops are usually quite bulky and heavy at 5 to 6.5 pounds, but also cost the least. If you’re not planning to carry your notebook around often or use it on your lap, a 15-inch system could be a good deal for you. Some 15-inch models have DVD drives, but you’ll save weight if you skip it. They are mainly used for entertainment purposes and web browsing.
• 17 to 18 inches:If your laptop stays on your desk all day every day, a 17 or 18-inch system could provide you with the kind of processing power you need to play high-end games or do workstation-level productivity. Because of their girth, laptops this size can pack in high-voltage quad-core CPUs, power-hungry graphics chips and multiple storage drives. Just don’t think about carrying these 7+ pound systems anywhere.

3- Check the keyboard and trackpad:

If you are migrating from a desktop computer with a separate keyboard and mouse, you may find it difficult to get accustomed to the keyboard layout found in a typical laptop and the trackpad. You'll find that the keyboard layout differs as per the screen size of the laptop. For example, laptops typically ranging from 10.1 inch to 13 inch have a keyboard with no dedicated numeric keys whereas a laptop with 15 inch screen size or more will have a full fledged keyboard layout similar to that found on a desktop keyboard. While choosing the trackpad, see for the one that has the smoothest feel to it, i.e. with least surface friction and widest surface area. Also, try to choose one which has separate physical keys for left and right clicks for better experience. Try out the keyboard and trackpad before you buy a laptop so that you don't regret your choice later. 
Difference between the keyboard layouts:

4- Know the requirement for your specs:

Notebook specs such as CPU, hard drive, RAM, and graphics chip can confuse even notebook aficionados, so don’t feel bad if spec sheets look like alphabet soup to you. What you need really depends on what you plan to do with your laptop. More intensive tasks such as 3D gaming and HD video-editing require more expensive components.

Here are the main components to keep an eye on.

• CPU: The least expensive laptops on the market have AMD E Series or Intel Pentium CPUs, which will struggle to handle serious productivity or media tasks but can handle web surfing. Intel Atom processors are also low-performance, but offer long battery life.
  Expensive tablet / laptop hybrids often use Intel’s Core M CPU, which is faster than Atom but not as quick as the company’s Core Series (Core i3, i5 and i7). If you buy a Core i3, Core i5 or Core i7, try to get the latest generation which is Intel 5th Generation (aka Broadwell) as of early 2015.
  If performance matters, don’t settle for less than an Intel Core M for thin systems or a Core i3 CPU /AMD A Series for mainstream laptops. If you’re spending over Rs.30000, demand at least an Intel Core i5 CPU, which is capable of increasing its clock speed dynamically when you need more performance. Power users and gamers should settle for no less than Core i7 system, preferably a quad-core chip. Check out more about Core i3, i5, i7 processors here.

• RAM: When it comes to memory, or RAM, even the cheapest notebooks have 4GB these days so don’t settle for less. If you can get a system with 6 or 8GB, you’ll be better prepared for high-end applications and lots of multitasking. Gamers and power users should look for 16GB of RAM.

• Hard Drive: For most users, a fast drive is more important than a large one. If you have a choice, go for a 7,200-rpm hard drive over a 5,400-rpm unit. Even if you have several movies and games on your hard drive, a 320GB should provide more than enough space, but 500GB or 750GB drives usually don’t cost much more.

• Flash Cache: Any Ultrabook and some other notebooks come with  8, 16 or 32GB flash caches you can use to increase performance. While not as fast as an SSD, a Flash cache will help boost load and boot times while allowing you to store all your data on a large hard drive.

• Solid State Drives (SSDs): These drives cost quite a bit more than traditional hard drives and come with less capacity (usually 128 to 256GB), but they dramatically improve performance. You’ll enjoy faster boot times, faster resume times, and faster application open times. Plus, because SSDs don’t have moving parts such as mechanical drives, failure is much less of an issue.

• Display: The more pixels you have, the more content you can fit on-screen, and the sharper it will look. Most budget and mainstream notebooks come with 1366 x 768-pixel resolutions. However, if you have the option, choose a laptop with a higher pixel count 1600 x 900 or 1920 x 1080 —always go for the highest res you can get. You’ll see more of your favorite web pages, multitask better, and have a better movie-watching experience. Full HD panels (1920 x 1080) cost about $150 more than your typical display, but are worth the splurge, especially on larger screens.
  Some pricier notebooks even come with screens that are  2560 x 1600, 3200 x 1800 or even 3840 x 2160. Though most movies aren't available at such high resolutions yet, the picture will be sharper.

• Touch Screen: Windows 8 is simply more fun and immersive with a touch screen, but if your laptop is not a hybrid with a bendable or rotatable screen, you can probably live without it. Though you can get a touch screen system for under Rs.35000 these days, the difference in price between similarly configured systems with and without touch is Rs.6000 to Rs.8500.

• Graphics Chip: For the most part, an integrated graphics chip (one that shares system memory) will be fine for basic tasks, including surfing the web, watching video, and even playing some mainstream games. But a discrete graphics processor from AMD or Nvidia (which has dedicated video memory) will provide better performance when it comes to the most-demanding games. Plus, a good GPU can accelerate video playback on sites such as Hulu, as well as speed up video editing.
  As with CPUs there are both high and low-end graphics chips. Nvidia maintains a list of its graphics chips from low to high end  as does AMD. In general, workstations and gaming notebooks will have the best GPUs,  including dual graphics on the most expensive systems.

• DVD/Blu-ray Drives. Fewer and fewer laptops these days come with optical drives. That’s because you can download most software and download or stream video from the web. Unless you burn discs or want to watch Blu-ray movies, you don’t need one of these drives and can save as much as half a pound of weight by avoiding them. At this point, DVD drives are a safety blanket.

5- Hybrid vs traditional notebook:

Since the launch of Windows 8, we’ve seen a number of hybrid “2-in-1″ laptop designs that double as tablets. These include the Lenovo Yoga Pro 3, which has a screen that bends back 360 degrees to turn into a slate and systems with removable keyboards like the ASUS Transformer Book Chi, both of which are even thinner than a MacBook Air.

If you like the idea of occasionally using your laptop in slate mode, a convertible like the Yoga is a versatile choice. But if you want the flexibility of using your device as standalone tablet, a detachable design is best.

6- Battery life:

Even if you only plan to move your laptop from the desk to the couch and the bed or from your cubicle to the conference room, battery life matters. Nobody wants to be chained to a power outlet, even if there’s a socket within reach. If you’re buying a 15-inch notebook, look for at least 4 hours of endurance. Those who plan to be fairly mobile should shop for notebooks that offer more than 6 hours of battery life, with 7-plus hours being ideal.

If given the choice, pay extra for an extended battery; you won’t regret it. Keep in mind that some notebooks (such as the MacBook Air) feature sealed batteries that you can’t easily upgrade yourself.

To determine a notebook’s expected battery life, don’t take the manufacturer’s word for it. Your actual battery life will vary depending on your screen brightness and what tasks you perform (video eats more juice than web surfing).

7- The budget:

These days, you can buy a usable laptop for under Rs.30000, but if you can budget more, you’ll get a system with better build quality, stronger performance and a better display. Here’s what you can get for each price range.

• Rs.10000 - Rs.20000: The least expensive notebooks are low-end Windows systems with minimal storage and slower processors such as the HP Stream 11 (Intel Celeron, 32GB flash drive). Either one can make a great secondary or child’s computer, particularly if you buy a lightweight 11 or 12-inch system. Such laptops also provide better battery life.
• Rs.20000 - Rs.40000: For well under Rs.40000, you can get a notebook with an Intel Core i5 or AMD A8 CPU, 4 to 8GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive, all respectable specs. However, at this price, most notebooks have cheap plastic chassis, low-res screens and weak battery life.

• Rs.40000 - Rs.55000: As you get above Rs.40000 you’ll start to see more premium designs, such as metal finishes. Manufacturers also start to add in other features as you climb the price ladder, including better audio and backlit keyboards. You may also be able to get a screen with a resolution that’s 1600 x 900 or 1920 x 1080 and a flash cache.

• Above Rs.55000: At this price range, expect notebooks that are more portable, more powerful or both. Expect higher resolution screens , faster processors , and possibly discrete graphics. The lightest , longest-lasting ultraportables like the MacBook Air 13-inch and Dell XPS 13 tend to cost over Rs.65000. High-end gaming systems and mobile workstations usually cost upwards of Rs.100000 or even as much as Rs.150000

8- The Brand:

Support is only part of what makes a notebook brand worth your money. You also have to consider how the manufacturer stacks up to the competition in terms of design, value and selection, review performance, and other criteria. 

Leading brands in the laptop territory are Apple, Lenovo and Asus, followed by HP, Acer and Dell.

Verdict: Buying the laptop which is perfect for your use is a very difficult process as a laptop is generally used for at least 3-4 years, unlike smartphones or tablets and as most of our daily work relies on our computers, it becomes all the more important. Hope this guide helps you.

Also see: How to buy the right desktop

What do you look for in a laptop? Leave your comments below!
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REVIEW: New 12-inch Apple MacBook with Retina Display

At its March 9th '15 event, Apple announced its new generation of MacBooks, starting with the new 12 inch Retina Display MacBook. There had been several leaks before the release which drove the excitement towards the launch of this device.

Its been nearly a month now since the laptop has been on for sale.

Here's what its all really about:

The new MacBook is just ridiculously thin and light. It's 13.1mm thick and weighs just two pounds, but since it's distributed over the full 12 inches of the laptop, it feels even lighter (especially when it's open). I'm very sad to see the SD card slot go, but I won't be sad to have a laptop that lasts this long and weighs this little.

To make it that thin, Apple had to make some adjustments, starting with the keyboard. It takes a little getting used to, since it doesn't really feel like any standard MacBook keyboard. Apple has developed a new "butterfly mechanism" for the keyboard which promises better stability and uniformity over the pressure distribution on a key press, thus leading to faster typing, lesser errors, and an overall improved typing experience. The new MacBook’s keys feel the same no matter where your fingers strike them. The keyboard is backlit, but each key gets its own LED light, so they’ll all have the same brightness level. As the keys are flatter, it may seem stiffer to type for some. It's as close to typing on a glass tablet screen as you'll get with physical keys, and you have to rely on autocorrect just as much when you're going really fast. But as is the case with anything and everything, it will take time to get used to it.

The MacBook’s trackpad has some cool advancements too. The trackpad on existing Apple laptops hinges at the top, so a physical click at the top of the trackpad feels different than a click at the bottom. But on the new MacBook, there’s no hinge, so no matter where you click, it feels the same.

OK, this change sounds pretty minor, but the hinge-less design enables the trackpad to have a new Force Touch gesture. You can tap or click something to select it as normal, but when you push down harder on the fully pressure-sensitive trackpad, you initiate a Force Touch, which is a shortcut to new capabilities.

For example, you can Force Touch a Mail attachment to Quick Look at it instead of clicking to select it, and then tapping the space bar. You can Force Touch an address to see it on a map. You can Force Touch a date and time to create a new calendar event. And you can Force Touch a word to look it up on Wikipedia. Apple claims this to be super handy—and faster than right-clicking and digging through contextual menus. It’ll save MacBook owners a lot of time.

Force Touch technology, which made its debut with the Apple Watch, is very conveniently finding its way onto a various range of devices and shows a promise to evolve with even more capabilities in the future.

The MacBook finds itself in a controversial bubble when it comes to physical connection capabilities.

There is just one single port which is becoming the new standard of connectivity. But the single port you’ll use for everything else is called USB-C, and it holds some impressive technology. What we know so far is that it replaces MagSafe for charging, USB for connecting peripherals, and HDMI, VGA, and DisplayPort for connecting external screens.

Obviously, you’ll need an adapter—you can’t shove a big honkin’ HDMI cable into the tiny USB-C port. Apple is selling a USB adapter for $19 so you can plug in exactly one USB device. Two Multiport adapters are also on offer for $79 each. The USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter has a pass-through USB-C port for your charging cable, plus standard USB 3.1 and VGA. The USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter has USB-C passthrough for charging, plus HDMI and standard USB 3.1. A DisplayPort adapter is coming later.

Besides the USB-C port, the only other port available is the headphone jack (thankfully).

People, somehow, are just not getting over the fact that someday all laptops are going to have one single port and may not even have a headphone jack. It may take a while for potential buyers of this MacBook to accept the fact and might even be a deal-breaker for some. 

Specifications wise, inside the new MacBook notebook is Intel's new energy-efficient Core M "Broadwell" processors, housed in a logic board that is 67 per cent smaller than Apple's previous record. The base model runs at 1.1GHz and can Turbo Boost to 2.4GHz.

The Core M runs so cool that computers that take advantage of the chip can be fanless. And being fanless means that the computer in which they feature can be thinner and smaller than ever. That M in Core M stands for mobile, though, and these are processors destined for tablets and hybrid laptops, so don't expect anything like the power of the Core i5.

But is speed an issue for a product like this? 
Perhaps not - and it certainly doesn't feel sluggish in use. Gaming won't be a highlight, but for most day-to-day tasks the new MacBook will be fine.

Apple made a point of highlighting that the battery is one of the new MacBook's standout features. Apple describes it as "all day" battery life, but what that really means is an official rating of 9 hours of web surfing or 10 hours of watching video.

Mind you, Apple has become known for making surprisingly modest claims about its devices' batteries: we're currently finding that the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, for instance, consistently outlasts its 'official' battery life by a matter of hours.

Apple has allowed customers to set their own set of specifications for their MacBooks before-hand as upgrades after purchase are not available.

Both the 1.1GHz 256GB model and the 1.2GHz 512GB model can be upgraded with a 1.3GHz processor, which will obviously result in a higher price.

Verdict:

In terms of design, portability and display quality the new Retina MacBook ticks all the right boxes, but issues could arise from its speed, its single data/charging port, and its reduced-travel keyboard action. For the intended audience, we suspect that the MacBook will be perfect, but there remain compromises that power users in particular should be aware of.

Check out more about the new MacBook and leave your thoughts in comments below.

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