Buying a WiFi Laptop

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So you've read the preceding section of the article, and feel all excited about Wi-Fi. (Okay, you don't have to have read the previous section, you can be excited all on your own!) You're ready to go out and surf while you sip latte, or read your email at the airport (or better yet, poolside).
There's only one itsy, bitsy tiny problem. You don't have a laptop that works with Wi-Fi.

Getting to Know Your Future Wi-Fi Laptop

Laptops work in pretty much the same way as full-sized desktop computers—they just come in a smaller package. Most everything is compressed into the small familiar form factor that you can carry around with you (unlike desktop computers, which typically feature separate display devices and system units).
So when you are learning about your future Mr. (or Ms.) Laptop Computer, you should know that (just like a desktop computer) your laptop will have:

A system unit (which includes the Central Processing Unit, or CPU)
A display device (laptop display devices are generally LCD, or Liquid Crystal Display, screens)
Peripheral devices, probably including a pointing device such as a trackball that takes the place of a mouse, and likely including speakers for sound

The laptop form factor typically includes the system unit, the display, and peripheral devices including a keyboard and pointing devices all in the single small, lightweight package. Essentially, these elements in the laptop are no different from the elements in a desktop computer; it is the small package size, also called the form factor, that makes a laptop computer what it is.
Because they are comparatively miniaturized, and require some special engineering features (such as the ability to run on low power), laptops are more expensive than comparable desktops.
The system unit is the part of the computer that makes it a computer. Just like its big brother, the desktop computer, the system unit in your laptop has a number of important components, including:

A microprocessor, also called the central processing unit (CPU), which controls the entire computer.
Short-term storage, called random access memory (RAM), which is used to temporarily store instructions and information that can be used by the microprocessor.
Long-term storage, which is the hard disk used to permanently store important computer programs and data.
Peripheral devices used to get information in and out of the computer; for example, CD drives, diskette drives, network cards, and Wi-Fi cards.

BATTERY LIFE AND LAPTOPS

Unlike desktop computers, mobile laptops are battery-powered. Laptop computers provide a recharging mechanism for the computer battery when the computer is plugged in.
How long a mobile computer can run on its battery is very important to users because this determines how long the computer can be used without plugging it into an electric socket. The ability to work without network wires, thanks to Wi-Fi, is kind of undermined if you have to plug into a standard electrical outlet just to get power.
Many factors go into laptop battery life, including the kind of battery used, the power drawn by the CPU, and the power needs of the computer's peripherals. This is an area to investigate carefully before you buy your laptop, based on your needs. So review battery life specifications carefully before you buy.
Some CPUs, such as the Pentium M (sold under the Centrino brand name) from Intel Corporation and the Crusoe from Transmeta Corporation are specially designed to be used in laptops because they have low power draws. (Of course, the CPU isn't the only laptop component that draws power.) You can check to make sure that the laptop you are considering uses one of the microprocessors specially designed for laptops.
Also, rechargeable batteries do wear out, and are expensive to replace. A tip that helps to extend the life of your rechargeable battery is to make sure to fully charge and fully discharge the battery (by using the laptop) when you first get the laptop.

If you already own a laptop, you can use the software built into the operating system to find out about the microprocessor, RAM, and other components that are part of your computer.

Trade-Offs

A friend of mine quipped a number of years ago that "the computer you really want always costs $5,000." Over time, the cost has come down, and you can certainly buy a high-end laptop for less than $2,000 today. But the point of the joke is still true. Unless money is absolutely no issue for you, you will have to make same trade-offs such as:

Faster CPU or more RAM

Lighter weight or less expensive
Paying more for a brand name or less for an off-brand product
Bigger and better display or less cost

You shouldn't ever judge a CPU just on the basis of its speed. Many facets of the architecture of a CPU besides its raw speed can affect its performance. For example, a Pentium M (Centrino) running at about 1.5 GHz performs on par with a Pentium 4 running in the mid-2GHz range.

For the most part, these choices will depend on your wallet. But a mobile laptop is a specialized computer, and some of the trade-offs really depend on how you will use the system. For me, it is extremely important to have a lightweight, small machine, but I also wanted a reasonable size keyboard. I chose an IBM model accordingly, and it has worked well on the road for me, and as a Wi-Fi machine—but there were trade-offs involved. For one thing, my IBM machine doesn't have a CD-ROM drive on board. If I want to read a CD, I have to connect an external drive via a USB port. (But I can leave it behind on road trips if I don't think I'm going to need it.)

I purchased my IBM laptop a number of years ago, so the trade-off I made regarding my CD-ROM drive is by way of example. Almost any laptop purchased today will have a built-in DVD/CD drive.

The general bottom line is: do an assessment of what really matters to you, and purchase accordingly (see the sidebar "What Really Matters" for more tips on this topic).

WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT

As I've noted, you'll have to make the final decision on what's really important to you in a Wi-Fi laptop. To get another viewpoint on how to make this decision, I asked a friend of mine who is an expert consultant and has advised thousands of computer purchasers for her words of wisdom. Here's what the expert says:

Buy a well-known name brand, such as Apple, Dell, or IBM.
Don't be too cheap. You can expect a good piece of equipment to last a long time, so buy one that is rugged and with enough power.
That said, you don't need the latest cutting-edge CPU.
You should buy one with a CPU designed for mobile computing.
If your mobile is too heavy to take with you, you'll end up leaving it at home. Pay special attention to weight.
Buy a system with at least 512MB of RAM (by the way, 256 MB is the minimum you can get on a Mac portable).
Get at least a 40GB hard drive.
Ergonomics are important. Buy a model with a screen you like to look at, and a keyboard and other input devices that are comfortable for you to use.
Forget about cute. This is a computer, not a fashion accessory. Don't buy a computer because you like its color or shape.

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