Not every office requires a desktop PC. Space constraints, or the need to provide your own computer when traveling, are making the Notebook PC the PC of choice for many finance and accounting professionals.
Picking a Notebook PC, though, can be somewhat daunting. A look at the Sunday circular ads, or the Notebook PC shelf at your local retailer, will probably uncover models ranging in price from about $500 to more that $2,000. That’s quite a price spread!
So, what’s the difference between a $2,000-plus Notebook PC and a $500 model? The simple answer is features, which you may or may not be interested in.
Weight is one factor that drives price. The lighter the Notebook PC, the more it usually costs. Ultra-light notebooks, weighing barely over two pounds, are usually in this expensive category. Some of the very newest models are also unbelievably thin. These look nice, but unless you really need this ultra-thin approach, you will pay a lot for it, and in many cases, get fewer USB ports and perhaps no built-in optical drive.
Multimedia capability is another factor which drives the price up. More expensive Notebook PCs which don’t fall into the ultra-light category often have a large screen (up to 17 inches or even more), and great DVD playback capabilities. This is a nice capability to have if you frequently travel, but you could buy a portable DVD player for less than $200 instead of wrestling with a Notebook PC on a drop-down airline tray.
So what do you look for? Here are six more things to check out before you buy:
1.
Screen size: If most of your Notebook PC use will be at home, a larger screen (15.4 inches to 17 inches) is better. A larger screen will display more area while you work. If you will be traveling frequently, you may find it easier to use a Notebook PC with a smaller screen (14 inches or less).
2.
RAM: Upgrading RAM is usually not a big deal with most Notebook PCs, but it’s always better to have more memory than less.
3.
Hard disk: As with RAM, more is better. Notebook PC hard drives are more difficult to upgrade than those in a desktop model, so buy the largest drive your budget allows.
4.
Optical drive: Having a CD or DVD drive in you Notebook PC is a must if it will be the primary computer in your home office. You may consider a model that has the drive in a docking base if you’re a frequent traveler and want a lighter load.
5.
Solid State Drive (SSD): Some new Notebook PCs are available with a “hard disk drive” that is actually flash memory, like that in a USB thumbdrive, rather than containing a rotating disk platter. SSDs are often faster than rotating memory, but provide a lot smaller capacity (64GB is a large SSD).
6.
CPU: Different models may use a CPU (central processing unit—the Notebook PCs “brain”) from either Intel or AMD. Either vendor’s CPU offer similar performance.
The Bottom Line: Pick your features carefully. In many cases, a less expensive Notebook PC will serve your professional needs very nicely. Of course, those extra multi-media features can come in handy during those airport delays.
Rick Telberg is the most widely-followed commentator in the finance and accounting profession. He has helped launch and develop several industry-leading businesses, including the magazines Accounting Today, Accounting Technology and Practical Accountant magazines, and the websites WebCPA, SmartPros, and CPA2Biz. He serves as Editor At Large for the AICPA Insider family of e-newsletters and blogs at CPA Trendlines
Any views or comments expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and not necessarily those of any other organization. No person quoted or cited has any known connection to or interest in Hewlett Packard, and their appearance here should not be construed as an endorsement.
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