Laptop buying guide 3 (Cpu, Screen, & Memory)

Laptop specs vary widely depending on what you need to get out of your portable computer. Manufacturers make trade offs slower processors allow for smaller batteries, for instance so it's important to know what you'll have to sacrifice to get the notebook of your dreams. Many vendors offer configuration choices when you buy your notebook. We've broken out the most important specs so that you understand your choices.

Processor
Sometimes referred to as the CPU,or central processing unit, the processor is the brains of the laptop. It's the most important chip in a laptop, and it has power management features that extend battery life. Laptop use a variety of processor types depending on their focus. All vendors of laptops usualy provides a series of laptop with various processor like Intel, AMD, MAC, and others.

Memory
Every laptopcomes with a certain amount of physical memory, usually referred to as main memory or RAM (random-access memory). laptops store currently running applications and data in this area. To find out how much memory you'll need, take into account your operating system and the applications that you plan to use. A general rule of thumb: You'll want at least 1GB (though 2GB is preferable) for Windows Vista or Mac OS X and 512MB for all other Windows and Mac operating systems.If you're planning to hang on to your notebook for a long time, look for a laptop with easy-to-access memory slots, as memory is typically one of the first specs you'll want to upgrade.

Display size
Laptops ship with thin, liquid-crystal displays (LCDs), unlike traditional desktop CRT (cathode-ray tube) monitors. Laptop LCDs range in size from 10.6 inches (diagonal) to 20 inches, display size is a key factor in the laptop's overall weight. For comfortable viewing at the preferred Windows resolution of 1,024x768, most people like 14.1-inch or larger LCDs.
Laptop LCDs once varied widely in brightness, color, and sharpness, but today, you'll find much better quality across the board. Unfortunately, when it comes to LCDs, the specs reveal little about actual picture quality, so if you're picky about screens, compare some at your local dealer. The latest in Laptop display technology incorporates LED backlights; currently found on only a few models, backlit LED displays can be brighter, thinner, less power hungry and more expensive than traditional LCDs.