Computer Buying  Advice

Online CPA

Free Email
(What is Free Email?)

InfoHQ Message Board

About Us

Data Privacy Policy

Hot Sellers from Amazon.com!
-- Top Selling Software
-- Top Selling Games
-- Notebook Computers
-- Desktop Computers

Copyright© Notice

Features Not Found in $1,000 Notebooks

While you can buy a good workhorse notebook for $1,000, you will not have some of the features found in more expensive notebooks. We will discuss features found in more expensive notebooks to make sure you can live without these features before you spend your $1,000.

A $1,000 notebook will not have:

A Good 3D Gaming Video Processor. Let's face it, notebook video systems are not up to par when compared to desktop systems. This is because notebooks use integrated video chips instead of stand alone video cards like those found in desktops.

As all the video cards functions have to be condensed to fit on one or two chips, 3D video card functions are usually sacrificed.
You don't really have much choice between video systems when shopping for $1,000 notebooks. If you do have a choice, get a notebook that has video RAM, instead of a notebook that uses shared system RAM for video memory.

The Toshiba Satellite 1135-S155, A15-S127 notebook's video is supplied by Intel's 852GM chipset. This chipset's video system uses shared system RAM and is 50% slower than a GeForce 2 when performing 3D functions.

If your goal is to own a good 3D gaming notebook, then be prepared to pay $1,700 or more. Also remember that no matter how much you spend for your gaming notebook, you will never have a system as fast as an equivalent desktop system, and you will not be able to upgrade your gaming notebook when its performance starts lagging.

The best notebook graphics processors are the GeForce FX Go and the ATI Radeon Mobility 9000, but you will only find these new 3D capable graphics processors on higher priced notebooks.

Modular Drive Bays

Higher priced notebooks usually have at least one modular drive bay which lets you swap out CD drives for floppy drives, or you can use an extra battery in place of a drive.

Less Weight - The less the notebook weighs, the more it will cost. Buy a notebook that weighs less than 7 lbs. if possible.

Extended Warranties - Most notebooks typically have a 1 year parts and labor warranty. To extend the warranty to 3 years will cost you $150 or more.
If you are going to carry your notebook around with you then an extended warranty may be worth it. The more you move your notebook, the more likely it is to break.

Wireless Internet - Usually found in higher priced notebooks. In the $1,000 class of notebooks you will have to pay to add it.

DVD-RW Drives - This is the coming trend in desktops and is replacing the CD-RW drive. Currently these drives are only found in more pricey notebooks.

 Next - Review of Toshiba Satellite Notebooks >>

<< Back to $1,000 Notebook Features