Laptop Buyers Guide
Accessories and Other Considerations
Mice
Expect to Pay £5-£50
If you really can not cope with a touchpad then a separate mouse (wireless is best) could be the answer. Very inexpensive and lots of models available including some very handy 'mini' mice which are ideal for carrying around with your laptop.
Memory sticks
Expect to Pay £10-£100
Memory Sticks are an easy way to transfer small amounts data from your laptop to a desktop. They should not be treated as a means of permanent storage. They are now available in very large sizes (4GB + is very common) and are very useful. Highly recommended.
Carrying case
Expect to Pay £15-£100
Not all laptops come with a carry case as standard. Many different types are available from most reputable laptop retailers in all shapes and sizes. Find one that nicely fits your laptop and feels comfortable to carry (don't forget space for your AC adaptor!). The 'rucksack' type cases are very popular along with the more traditional 'satchel' type. These can range from £15 for a basic type to over £100 for luxury leather.
Wireless LAN card (WiFi)
Expect to Pay £20-£40
You will need one of these if your laptop does not have built-in mobile technology. It should fit into the internal Mini PCI slot (if you have one) or the external PCMCIA/Cardbus slot. You can also get some very nifty USB versions which work very well. Please consult your dealer to determine which type is most suitable for you.
Anti-virus software and Firewall
Expect to Pay Free - £30
Vital if you are going to make any connection to the internet and you value your data and security. Many laptops are sold with trial versions of products from major suppliers like McAfee or Symantec pre-installed. Fantastic free alternatives are AVG or Antivir for virus protection or Zone Alarm for firewall.
External keyboard and monitor
If you find yourself using one of the smaller laptops as a desktop replacement you may find purchasing a larger desktop keyboard will help. Wireless options are also available. Plugging the laptop into a larger monitor can also help, and its worth remembering that in an emergency many modern TV's can be used to give a larger monitor area (providing your laptop has TV out).
Floppy disk drive
Expect to Pay £~20
Still around, still working, and floppy disk drives are still the cheapest storage solution for data around. Investing in an external floppy disk drive means you can safely back-up very small amounts of data from your laptop and still make use those old floppies you have hanging around. A few laptops still have floppy drives built in but if it hasn't a cheap external USB floppy drive will work perfectly.
Printers/Scanners
Expect to Pay £40 - £1000
Mobile or not at some time you're going to want to print something. The choices to make are between inkjet (cheaper but lower quality), laser (more expensive but better quality, especially for images) and all-in-ones (which include extra features like scanning and copying). This is a whole topic in its own right which lies outside the scope of this guide but there are many fantastic guides and reviews on the net.
DBITsUK Essential Guides
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