Important features

Important features(一):

Laptops generally come with a single- or dual-core processor. Cheaper laptops come with a

single-core processor such as the Intel Celeron or AMD Sempron, which are fine for basic Web

browsing and e-mail. For those with greater needs, dual-core processors such as the Intel Core 2

Duo and AMD Turion 64 X2 are recommended.Laptops come with a 60- to 250-gigabyte hard

drive and 512 megabytes or more of random-access memory (RAM). We recommend at least

1GB.Laptops use a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. In Consumer Reports tests, a normal

battery provided two to nearly five hours of continuous use when running office applications.

(Laptops go into sleep mode when used intermittently, extending the time between charges.)

You can lengthen battery life if you dim the display, turn off wireless devices when not needed,

and use only basic applications. Playing a DVD movie uses more battery power than other

functions, but most laptops should be able to play one through to the end. Many laptops can

accept an "extended" battery, adding size and weight but giving as much as twice the battery

life.A laptop's keyboard can be quite different from that of a desktop computer. The keys

themselves might be full-sized (generally only lightweight models pare them down), but they

might not feel as solid. Some laptops have extra buttons to expedite your access to e-mail or a

Web browser, or to control DVD playback. You can attach a USB keyboard, which you might find

easier to use.