Experts love the form factor and styling of ultraportable laptops, but caution that you should be aware of the trade-offs. In addition to the points raised elsewhere in this report, here are few additional things to consider:

  • Don't skimp on memory. You can have more processing speed than you need, but you can't have too much RAM. High-end notebooks come standard with 2 GB of RAM, which can help applications run more quickly and smoothly. It will also allow you to work in more applications at once without system drag. Reviewers say a minimum of 1 GB of RAM is essential for running Windows Vista; 2 GB or more is better. Ultraportable laptops have little internal expandability, so maximizing your RAM at the time of purchase is the best course. Unless the laptop has an open RAM slot, you will need to replace your existing RAM to upgrade in the future.
  • Consider the display coating. Reflective screen coatings are popular, since they make graphics and movies look more saturated. However, these screen coatings can be problematic in an office, where lighting and movement can create glare. If you plan mainly on office work, consider choosing a notebook without a glossy coating or pay more for a backlit LED display.
  • Consider the storage amount and type. Many makers now offer ultraportable laptops with either traditional hard drives or solid-state drives. Solid-state drives are lighter and more reliable, but can add hundreds to the cost of an ultraportable laptop. If you select a traditional hard-disk drive, picking a faster rotation speed (measured in rpm) usually translates into faster performance. In selecting a size, consider if your laptop is going to be your primary computer. If it is, you won't want to shortchange yourself in terms of capacity. If not, you can save a bit by opting for a smaller drive.
  • Take note of service, support and warranty. Warranties range from one to three years. All manufacturers offer warranty upgrades, and prices can vary by model. Tech support is generally free during the warranty period, but not thereafter. Because all laptops are proprietary and have few user-replaceable parts, experts generally recommend getting the longest warranty your budget allows. Some manufacturers such as Dell and HP are adding extras (e.g. theft insurance) as an enticement.
  • Decide if you need an internal optical drive. Some ultraportable laptops have no space for an optical drive such as a CD/DVD player or burner. External optical can be used, but may not be convenient. Ultraportable laptops without an internal optical drive lack on-the-go entertainment capabilities, such as playing music CDs or watching DVD movies.
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