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How
to Shop for a Gaming Laptop
OK, so even though
the best laptops have their share of multimedia capabilities, they won't
match a well-designed desktop system in terms of gaming muscle. We've
established that. Here, then, is what to look for if you're a gamer in
the market for a laptop, hoping to play a few games while you're sitting
in a boring history class or a dull PowerPoint presentation.
The
Guts
As with desktop gaming, a faster processor will result in smoother frame
rates. The processor's voltage requirements, however, will directly affect
the notebook's battery life--and its price. Technologies do exist to prolong
battery life, one of the most popular being Intel's SpeedStep technology.
Featured on mobile Pentium III processors, SpeedStep alters the processor's
clock speed to match the operating system's current processing requirements:
if a 650MHz chip, for example, isn't being heavily used, it will step down
to 500MHz, ready to step back up when extra oomph is needed.
Be sure to get a
minimum of 64MB of RAM; 96MB or 128MB are better choices if you can afford
them.
Go for a big hard
drive. Games are huge, and with games that offer this option, you'll want
to be able to do a full install so the CD-ROM isn't required to play.
Nearly all laptops have floppy drives. Though floppy drives may sound
outdated, they're a handy way to swap small files (that is, saved games)
between your laptop and your desktop. A CD-ROM drive is mandatory, and
a DVD-ROM is nice for watching movies while away from home. Most multimedia
laptops are equipped with DVD-ROM drives and DVD players.
Make sure your laptop
is equipped with a powerful 3D accelerator such as the ATI Rage Mobility
128, Rage Mobility M4 or Nvidia Geforce2 Go. Down the line, expect to
see a mobile version of ATI's Radeon.
Ports
and PCMCIA Slots
Notebooks typically have the same types of external ports that desktop
PCs do: serial, parallel, and USB. They often have a VGA-out port, so
you can connect an external monitor if you're not on the go. You'll usually
find a single PS/2 port, to which you can connect either a mouse or a
keyboard. Other ports you may come across are game ports, FireWire ports
and IR transmitter/receivers. Notebooks will also have PCMCIA ports for
things such as modems, Ethernet cards, and all sorts of other upgrades.
Most laptops have
two PCMCIA ports; make sure the laptop you buy does, and that they're
PCMCIA Type II ports (to ensure compatibility to current PCMCIA products).
Serial ports aren't terribly important anymore, and most recent printers
have USB connections, so parallel ports aren't a priority either. USB
ports are handy, though. So the more a laptop has, the better. Some have
only one, but others offer two or more.
Input
Devices
You're pretty much stuck with a tiny keyboard and a touch pad. Few current
laptops have trackballs or other pointing devices, but most touch pads
are actually pretty handy once you get used to them. Before you buy, make
sure the keyboard is to your liking---some have a snappier feel while
others may be mushy feeling. Also, play with different touch pads as some
may be more sensitive than others.
The
Display
Laptop display technology
is constantly evolving. For gaming, you'll want to get the clearest display
possible, and nothing beats the clarity of a TFT (thin film transistors)
display, which is a type of active matrix display (though the terms are
commonly used interchangeably). Even within this category, there are different
screen sizes, from 12.1 inch to 15 inch, and natural resolutions from
800x600 to 1600x1200. The higher the natural resolution, the more you
can see on your screen at the same time--although they'll look smaller
unless you have a huge screen--which is especially good for strategy games.
Other
Concerns
There are other factors you'll want to take into consideration. Most laptops
have a built-in 56K modem--make sure the one you buy does. If you plan
on lugging your laptop around quite a bit, try to shoot for one that weighs
3kg or less, which is a challenge when you're also looking for a multimedia
machine. Of course, make sure it's equipped with an audio processor and
built-in speakers, but don't expect a live or Memorex experience: the
lightweight speakers common in laptops are adequate at best, although
one of our contenders will offer you a surprise in this department.
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