eBay Laptops and Netbooks
When it comes to choosing a laptop or netbook, eBay's inventory is extensive. This holiday season, you can pick from a range of brands such as HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, Acer, and many others, excellent if the tech enthusiast in your family is partial to one or two brands in particular.
Is There a Difference Between a Netbook and a Laptop?
What is the difference in a netbook and a PC Laptop? Technically the difference is size and weight. When the portable computer first came on the market, ''laptops'' were larger, had more features, and weighed more than ''netbooks.'' However, thanks to advances in technology, components are now smaller and lighter than ever. Still, a netbook generally tends to keep a screen size of around 11 inches and under.
Operating Systems
One of the first things to look at before you pick what personal computer you want is the operating system. It's what allows the hardware to communicate and operate with the software. Often a computer's OS will fall in more than one of the following types: GUI (Graphical User Interface), Multi-user, Multiprocessing, multitasking, and multithreading.
Graphics Card
Does your college student plan to play games? Watch movies? The installed graphics card is essential for the visual effects people will enjoy while playing video games and watching movies. Since you do not know what the future holds, consider getting a graphics card that is upgradeable.
Memory
How much is enough? When it comes to netbook memory, the rule of thumb is to have more RAM than the minimum requirement of the applications and the OS the computer uses. In fact, it's ideal to have at least the highest recommended requirement. For example, if the minimum RAM required is 8GB and the maximum is 16GB, you will want at least 16GB and if feasible more than 16GB of memory.
Battery Life
If this machine will be for work on the go, you need to ensure the battery will last long enough to finish a project. Battery life varies from system to system. For those that plan to stay plugged in most of the time, it's not that big of a deal, but for those who want to go cordless, it's a vital feature.
For informational purposes only. eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by any brands.