Photo: NVidia

Shrinking processors, coupled with tiny flash memory, have meant that laptops have been able to pack greater power into their space-limited casing. One component that hasn’t enjoyed the same technological advancements is the laptop graphics card. This looks to change soon with recent innovations by both Gigabyte and Nvidia.

External graphics

Photo: Asus

If we go back all the way to 2008, one of the first high profile external GPUs was the Asus developed XG Station, a device that introduced Dolby sound to laptops as well as enhancing 3D graphics performance.

Not quite what it seems

However, the XG Station had to be output to a desktop monitor. In addition, the input to the XG Station was a PCI Express x16 graphics card, which most small laptops don’t have on board. To this effect, one would essentially have a laptop paired down to behave like a desktop, with the possible need to purchase additional components. The XG Station, due to prohibitive pricing and the aforementioned drawbacks, soon faded into obscurity.

Alternatives emerge

Photo: Gigabyte

Alas, external GPU talk has reemerged. Just a few weeks ago Gigabyte unveiled it’s Gigabyte M1405 laptop that comes with a docking station that has an external GPU, and Nvidia have hinted at similar product strategies. Nvidia’s notebook CPUs manager, Rene Haas, told X-bit Labs he felt external GPUs were a ‘big opportunity’ for his organisation. The problem with these devices, however, is their prohibitive pricing.

Details on both devices remain scant. Whether the challenges inherent to this product range will be overcome remains to be seen, but Gigabyte and Nvidia would both do well to avoid the glitches that doomed the XG Station.

Photo: Unknown

Computer shopping comes down to what you will use the computer for, whether you are buying one for a family, or you’re a student looking for something lightweight that you can carry around in your backpack. Finding the best computer for you is a tricky balancing act of weighing aesthetics with capabilities and portability with functionality. This article will save you time, and might even save you money.

The Hipster

If you mostly use your computer for web browsing and media, then aesthetics and convenience should be your only concerns. You either want the latest computing trend or a timeless mainstay. For the former, the word netbook should pique your interest. For the latter, “Buy Mac” should be your mantra.

Netbooks are small computers that have just enough processing power to perform the day-to-day tasks you need them to. The Asus Eee PC 1005 is a candidate for the best computer in this category for both its visual appeal and impressive set of features.

As for Apple, all of their laptops could comfortably waltz into computing beauty pageants. The relentless focus on design has meant the Macbook Pro editions have always been seen as cutting edge. They even introduced a little product called the iPad that could very well revolutionize how we think about computing. Computer shopping is made easy when everything a manufacturer makes is both attractive and powerful as long as you don’t mind paying a premium.

The Worker

This is for the person who needs their computer to work. Long periods of use, coupled with multitasking and the odd resource-intensive application define your computing experience. Whether you go desktop or laptop depends entirely on preference, since the price difference has become mostly negligible. Computer buying then boils down to the most balanced offering. To this effect, the best computer would be any core release from the major makers. Dell’s Studio range of laptops fits this bill in that they are tailored for media but handle everyday home and office use with ease.

The “Power User”

Photoshop, Autocad, Maya, Pro Tools, Avid. If you know what these applications are, you’re likely a “power user”. Very careful computer shopping is critical for you: a netbook would self-destruct if you so much as brought an installation disc for these apps near it, and ‘regular computers’ would chug horribly, rendering them barely usable. What you need is a beast like the HP Pavillion Elite: massive hard drive space, cutting edge Nvidia graphics cards, and top-of-the-line Intel processors. It also helps that these computers can run any video game you can think of fresh out the box without the need for upgrades. The best computer for a “power user” is, without doubt, a powerful desktop.

Leaving You to Your Devices

Different people need different things out of computers. This list covers the full spectrum of computer users, and while some of you may fall between the categories, a good rule of thumb is to always get that little bit more than you think you’ll need. This way the computer does what it needs to, so you can focus on what you want to. Essentially, the best computer you can buy is the one that listens to its master.

Nowadays many people crave for the power of desktop PC in the their laptop, rather than settling for under performing netbooks or similarly low end notebooks. With the advancement in the field of mobile computing the consumers demand a lot. Instead of going for normal portable machines they prefer fully functional laptops and netbooks that can really perform like the desktops or even better than that. The Aspire 8930 from the computer manufacturer Acer is one such device that offers mind blowing performance on the move.

It packs the latest in hardware technology and is optimised to give unprecedented performance, flexibility, reliability and ease of use. An Intel T9400 Core 2 Duo processor running at 2.5GHz and an nVidia 9700M GT 512MB graphics card along with 4GB DDR3 RAM ensures smooth functioning and outstanding graphics. The Aspire 8930 can be used to play all the resource hungry games like Enemy Territory: Quake Wars and Unreal Tournament 3 at a resolution of 1680 by 1050 pixels. Some of the new games like Left 4 Dead and Crysis do not perform well at the laptop’s native resolution. You can lower down the resolution to avoid glitches at certain points where graphics are too intense. The Acer Aspire 8930G boasts a large 18.4 inch widescreen display that offers clear view with good brightness levels, contrast ratio and vivid colours. However due to high gloss finish you will be unable to use the device outdoors.

The Acer Aspire laptop also features 3 USB 2.0 ports, 2 x eSATA ports, VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort video output in addition to line-in and microphone audio inputs. On the top of its large screen a web cam is also embedded.

Akoya P8610 desktop replacement notebook has been rolled out recently by super PC vendor Medion. It is a computing machine that is targeted towards those who want to enjoy advanced multimedia without compromising on functionality and style. It therefore falls under the category of heavy laptops and is not for those who can’t bear a little extra load on their shoulders.

The Akoya P8610 notebook is extremely powerful thanks to a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 processor at its core. Besides this, it has also got a Nvidia GeForce 9600M GS graphics chipset, which generates stunning graphics on its 18.4in display with a 1680 x 945 pixel resolution and 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. As far as the acoustics are concerned, the Akoya P8610 has built in Dolby Home Theater technology and can be connected to a full 5.1 surround sound system. This awesome combination of splendid graphics and mind blowing sound makes the laptop a perfect device to enjoy high definition media and true to life 3D games.

The hardware gear also consists of an integrated Blu-ray drive and an exceptional keyboard. Unlike a Toshiba laptop or any other ordinary model, the Akoya P8610 notebook has got a fully functional keyboard and has a separate numeric pad just like the desktop keyboards. Additional goodies include a USB notebook mouse, a protective bag, an ExpressCard DVB-T TV Tuner and a remote control.

Tags for this article: laptop, notebook, akoya

For the first time laptop shipments have exceeded desktop shipments. Both the business markets and the day to day consumers are beginning to prefer laptops over desktops.

Most people find it very convenient to have a laptop with Wi-Fi Internet connection. This lets them to work anywhere, anytime they want. Students too, love to entertain themselves by logging on their portable machines while relaxing in the bed. They don’t like to step out and sit in front of hefty computing machines to do their work. This becomes especially true when heavy-duty laptop models, like the Sony Vaio VGN-AW11Z/B, offer just as much performance as their desktop PC counterparts. With the advancements in technology, the next generation laptops offer incredible functionality, hi end configuration and support high definition digital entertainment and gaming. The convenience and ability to move around is driving the Laptop’s popularity.

David Daoud, analyst at IDC (a global market intelligence organization) said, “What you have is massive numbers of students going back to school and they tend to shift the market one way or another, and they shifted enormously toward laptops as they went back to school. There’s a lot more innovation happening, a lot more research and development money spent on mobility than on desktops. A lot of people use the laptop for DVD viewing in bed rather than watching in the living room with their parents. . . . It has an entertainment usage, whereas the desktop forces you to go to the desk and sit down in an uncomfortable position.”

The laptops today are making up more than 70 percent of the consumer market and 60 percent of the business market and this figure is expected to rise further in the near future.