Cisco IT Essentials                                                                               Mrs. Wilson

Project: How to Choose a Laptop Computer

 

Please answer the following questions after copying and pasting this document to MS Word.  Use dark blue text color, in bold.

 

Your final results will be e-mailed to me at twilson@mwcsk12.org.  You have 3 class periods to complete this.

 

  1. What is Cache in relation to Ram?

What difference does it make?

 

  1. How do you measure hard drive size?

How much does it usually cost, on average, upgrade by 20 G

 

3. Clock Speed: How is it measured? 

            Why is it important?

 

4. Dimms: How measured? 

            Why is it important?

 

5. Processors:

What’s the difference between a Pentium and a Celeron? 

What version of Pentium should you look for as the most current models?

What about Athlon processors?  Are they as good as Pentiums?  What major computer manufacturer doesn’t use them?

 

6. Wireless Network Cards: What’s the difference?

Wireless B

            Wireless G

           

7. Screen size: Do you pay extra for difference screens (such as in desktops)? 

Are there different types of screens?

 

8. Firewire, USB ports and their speeds. 

How does this impact the user who plans on using digital photography and movies?

What are built-in card readers?  Can you get them in laptops?  Can you get them as a stand-a-lone? Cost?

How many USB ports are desirable for a laptop?

 

9. Battery life

Should you consider buying an extra battery?  How much do they cost?  How long do batteries last?   How many months do batteries last? Research several batteries while answering this.

 

10. Software

Should you have Microsoft Office or MS Works?  What do systems usually come loaded with?  How much does it cost to upgrade to Office?

 

11. How important is weight, thickness?

 

12. What multimedia capabilities are desirable? (cd, rom, dvd, recordable stereo capabilities)

 

13. What’s “blue-tooth” technology?

 

14. Discuss the importance of overall design

            Back-lighted keyboards?

            Can you watch TV on your laptop?  How? Or why not?

15. Price

            Discuss your opinions on this in great length

 

16. Reviews: on-line and in magazines

How important are these?

            Give me 5 great review sources

            Evaluate each one listed above for usefulness and validity

 

17. List 5 popular lap top manufacturers and their home web sites

 

Bonus:  What important evaluative criteria did I “forget”

 

Your final task:

Choose a computer for an entering college student, with an undeclared major or a major in Liberal Arts.  You will select 3 computers in 3 different price ranges.

Your budget is $800 for the first example

$1000 for the next and

$1300 for your 3rd choice. 

Please include shipping and a case in your pricing.  Paste a pic, URL, and statistical data for each choice.  Explain why this one is the best choice in your opinion.  Must use more than 5 sentences to validate your choice.

Computer Brands to Consider: