1. Brand Name or Boutique

There are many computer manufacturers around, and two major types of manufacturers, brand name and boutique. The main difference between them is the brand names you’ll tend to get better support. However with the boutique you get more choices in hardware and prices that are closer to building your own PC.

2. Processor

There are so many processors out there it’s hard to choose which one to get. Then there is the choice of AMD vs. Intel.

• Celeron M: Intel's cheapest processor out there. It's basically only good for word processing. Email and basic Web browsing. Also its single core
• Core Duo: The older version of the Core 2 Duo. This one has slower speeds but is a lot cheaper. Good all around dual-core processor.
• Core 2 Duo: The current king of the mobile processors. If you want the best go with the dual-core Core 2 Duo.
• Core Solo: This is basically a Core Duo with only 1 core powered; therefore it's a single core. This one is the champ of power consumption, so if you need a lot of battery life, search hard for this hard to find processor. However it's not all that powerful.
• Mobile Sempron: This is AMD's version of the Celeron M, but it's better in the way of power consumption and you get more for your money.
• Mobile Athlon 64 X2: This is basically a desktop processor fit into a laptop. So that means more processing power, but less battery life.
• Pentium Dual-Core: This is Intel's cheapest dual-core processor. While this is also a desktop processor, it doesn't have much power saving features to begin with (even considering it as a desktop CPU).
• Pentium M: The single core version of the Pentium Dual-Core, but it has even worse power consumption and processing power.
• Turion: The best single core processor out there for laptops; it even beats some dual-cores.
• Turion X2: The dual-core version of the Turion. This is AMD's best mobile processor.

3. Operating system

There are 2 major Windows operating systems out there, Windows XP, Windows Vista. Although you cannot buy a laptop with Windows XP installed the manufacturers do provide you with downgrade rights to it.

4. Motherboard

You have many things to look at in motherboards, which include the CPU socket, connectors, and RAM slots.

First CPU socket, depending on if you chose AMD or Intel, will make the biggest decision on you motherboard. If you decided to choose AMD, you'll most likely get socket S1, which is their current most popular AMD mobile socket. However if you choose Intel, you'll probably go with socket P, which is their current socket.
Connections: There are 2 main types of data transfer cords, PATA and SATA. PATA is going out of style because of its lower data transfer rates. SATA is much faster.

Expansion Slots: The main thing to remember is what type of slot you have to upgrade your laptop with.

There are 3 types of card slots for laptops; PCMCIA, ExpressCard, and CardBus. The differences are that PCMCIA is no longer used, but ExpressCard is the newest version of them, with CardBus being the middle one.

RAM Slots: The more RAM slots the better. When you have more RAM slots you can fit more RAM in your computer, and that will speed your computers performance.

5. RAM

RAM is your memory in your computer, while being the easiest to upgrade, (in most people's opinion, if not then the hard drive or optical drive) it does slow your computer if you do not have enough, and the more the better, always. The best way to choose on how much RAM you need is:

What operating system and version are you running?
For Windows XP 512 Mb should be fine for most people, assuming you aren't doing any gaming. If you are doing a server or gaming though probably want to upgrade to 1Gb or more.

For Windows Vista Home Basic 512 Mb RAM is fine, but 1Gb is recommend. For Home Premium, ideal is 2Gb, it'll run on 1Gb, but again your running on minimal specs. For Vista Ultimate at least 2Gb.

What applications will you are going to be running?

If you're running multimedia software, you are going to want 2Gb of RAM at least for Vista and 1Gb for XP, if not more. Now if you're gaming you want about the same, or more depending on the game.
 

6. Video Card

If you are going to be gaming at all, It is recommend that you get a video card. There are two major manufactures out there, ATI and Nvidia. Other things to consider when buying a graphics card include; memory, Radeon vs. Nvidia, DirectX 10, upgrading, and SLI vs. Crossfire.
 

7. Hard Drive

There are 4 main parts to a hard drive; interface, speed, capacity, RAID, and cache.

Interfaces: You have a couple different types of interface in computers. You have 2 main ones: SATA, and IDE (also known as PATA). SATA is the newer and faster interface than IDE. There are 2 types of SATA, SATA I and SATA II. The only difference is that SATA II is two times faster. IDE is an older form, and for old computers, those works just fine, but try to get SATA first.

Speed: The average laptop hard drive spins at 5,400 RPM. But the high end hard drives spin at the desktop's average 7,200 RPM. But unless you plan on doing a lot of gaming, a 5,400 RPM hard drive will do you just fine.

Capacity: The most you can squeeze into a laptop in terms of hard drive space is 250Gb, which is overkill for most laptop users. Most people should be fine with 60-80Gb of storage.

RAID: RAID stands for Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks, which means you use multiple drives for back up or 2 acting as 1. Most laptops won't allow you to use RAID because of the fact they are designed to only hold 1 hard drive, but the high-end models you can have RAID in. You also can combine RAIDs to make a new RAID.

Cache: Cache is a small amount of RAM on the hard drive, which helps by not having to read the same data over and over again. The more cache the better.

8. Optical Drives.

Optical Drives are always useful. The main question is should you get a DVD burner or not? They make great use for backing up data, and making recovery disks and are pretty cheap. You also have to look at whether you will get SATA or IDE (also known as PATA). SATA is faster and newer, and is going to replace IDE.

9. Power supply and battery.

The average user will be fine with a 6 or 8 cell battery, but for those who want the most battery life out of them should head for 12 cell battery. However most 12 cell batteries extend beyond the notebook, but only about an inch.
 

10. Monitor Size.

The display has about 4 different standard sizes, 12.1 inch, 14.1 inch, 15.4 and 17 inch. The display also has 2 different types of screens, convertible and regular. Then there is also the choice of widescreen vs. regular.

Convertible notebooks: these are useful for taking notes right on the screen but causes the price to increase, if you got money to spend and don't mind on being limited to a 12.1 and 14.1 inch screen then go ahead.

Widescreen vs. Regular: Widescreen offers some advantages over normal view. You get more screen size for your money, usually. Also you can view things side by side easier. Widescreen is usually available on all sizes.

Size: You have chosen whether you wanted a convertible notebook or not, and widescreen vs. regular. Now to choose your screen size. The smaller the screen, the more battery life, however less screen to view things.

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