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Pentium 4 3.2GHz or Pentium 4-M 2.6GHz
Some notebook makers offer systems with very fast desktop processors, but the most common premium notebooks use the pricey Pentium 4-M 2.6GHz. If you want to use the notebook on the road, go with the mobile processor, but those who want a fast notebook that'll mostly be used while plugged in can look for this high-performance option. |
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Radeon Mobility 9600
A new generation of DirectX 9 mobile graphics--ATI's Mobility 9600 and Nvidia's GeForce FX Go--is available in some notebooks, and there are even a few vendors selling systems with upgradeable graphics. The model numbers are roughly comparable to the desktop lineup, which mostly means that 9600 is better than 9000 and 5600 is better than 5200. |
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512MB DDR memory
Lots of memory is always a good thing, and there's no doubt that 512MB is what you need for a system such as this. |
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WiFi wireless
If you happen to have a WiFi wireless network connected to a broadband service at home, or you visit places where you might stumble upon a free wireless connection, then having WiFi in a notebook is an easy way to get high-speed Internet access. Windows XP tells you when there's a network in range.
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Standard features: Windows XP Home Edition, 60GB or bigger 5400rpm hard drive, DVD/CD-RW combo drive, and Ethernet networking.
Optional: An optical mouse and a good carrying case.
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