Notebooks, laptops, tablets, mini notebooks, netbooks, SSD, PVR, HDMI - finding the right laptop that suits your needs can be incredibly daunting which is why Toshiba has created this easy to understand laptop guide to help cut through the jargon and find the computer that works for you.
The first question you need to ask yourself when looking to buy a laptop (also known as a notebook) is "what do I need a laptop for?"
There are many inexpensive laptops out there as well as a host of more expensive notebooks that contain top of the line graphics cards, HDMI ports that let you connect straight to your LCD TV and large hard-drives allowing you to store all your precious memories along with your work files.
The basics...
The number one rule when looking to buy a laptop is to choose a model that allows you to fulfill your everyday computing needs.
Every Toshiba notebook is ready to surf the internet, play MP3 files and view and edit photos and videos. Whether your priority is multimedia entertainment, productivity or connectivity, Toshiba's Satellite range will have the right laptop for you.
Screen size
Notebook computers come in varying screen sizes starting from 10-inch with mini netbooks all the way up to 18-inch screens. Choosing a screen size will depend on what you want to use your laptop for - writing, e-mailing, web surfing, watching movies, video editing or gaming.
The majority of our new laptops come in widescreen (16:9) rather than the old 4:3 standard size. The larger screens allow you to watch movies in the same widescreen dimensions as a cinema and give you a much larger area to work on.
View the high-performance Satellite P850.
Do you travel a lot?
Laptops vary in weight and many of the newer models are incredibly thin and light. However you still need to find a computer that compliments your needs and gives you the right balance between mobility and performance.
Keep in mind that you'll be carrying the laptop around frequently when travelling so ensure you choose a computer that doesn't weigh you down too much.
A popular choice for those on the move is an ultrabook™. ultrabooks are an ideal option for checking emails and favourite websites anywhere you choose.
View the light and convenient Satellite Z830.
Environment
As one of the largest and most innovative manufacturers, Toshiba believes that environmental considerations need to be built into every Toshiba product and process, from design and development through to manufacturing, usage and recycling. Toshiba's efforts have been recognised with the Portégé R600 being named as the overall greenest notebook in Greenpeace's Green Electronic Survey 2008.
Each Toshiba laptop comes with an eco utility button that constantly monitors your laptop's power consumption and impact on the environment. It gives you the choice to use your laptop in power saving mode and maintains a history of how much power you have saved over the past day, week, month and year.
Every laptop has it's own Doctor
Each Toshiba laptop has an in-built health monitor allowing you to easily check your laptop's well-being so you can take remedial action before things come to a sudden stop.
Replacing your desktop computer?
Many of today's Toshiba laptops offer desktop-power coupled with mobility around the home. They are light weight enough to transport from room to room while giving you the tremendous power of modern desktop computers.
View the 17.3" desktop replacement Satellite P870.
Your laptop as an entertainment hub
If your laptop will mainly be used for entertainment, you'll want to be able to watch and download high definition movies and listen to high quality sound. Your Toshiba laptop can be plugged straight into an LCD TV creating a fully-functioning built-in media centre. You will be able to use your laptop as a PVR (personal video recorder) if you decide on one of the Toshiba laptops with built-in TV tuners.
All of our laptops come with numerous digital video outputs including HDMI, which is a very important feature if you intend to connect your laptop to a high-definition LCD TV. It will allow a full transmission up to 1080p on your LCD TV as well as giving you great sound straight from your home entertainment speakers.
All of Toshiba's laptops have memory card slots built-in allowing images and information to be sent straight from your camera or other devices and plugged directly into your laptop.
View the Satellite P870 with high definition plus display that's perfect for watching TV and movies.
Any place, any time
The majority of Toshiba's laptops and come with built in wireless connectivity that allows the user to connect to the Internet wherever they are. There are now a number of free wireless hotspots throughout cities and towns including cafés, shopping centres and some restaurants.
A growing number of Toshiba laptops have 3G wireless broadband built-in allowing users to connect to the Internet or work any time, any place. All of Toshiba's 3G laptops also come with the ConfigFree feature, enabling laptop owners to move between networks seamlessly - the Toshiba notebook will automatically manage the wireless connectivity, as well as providing users with a one-time location setting, be it in the office, home or coffee shop. Our notebooks also come with Bluetooth wireless for easy and secure linking with numerous devices from mobile phones to wireless headphones.
View the light-weight, high performance Satellite L850.
Performance, performance, performance
Today's processors come in a variety of performance levels all designed to benefit the user. The newest laptops give you the ability to watch movies in perfect high-definition anywhere you want or allow you to plug straight into your LCD TV to watch movies on the big screen or play your favourite games with amazing graphics without slow-down.
However, fast processors are not just about entertainment they also allow you to crunch spreadsheets in record time, use accounting programs and create powerful presentations.
View the Satellite P850 for high definition performance on the go and the slim-line Satellite U840.
Accessories
Once you have found the laptop that suits your needs, you will want to consider what laptop bag to carry it in - it will need to be rugged enough to ensure the safety of your laptop while also being stylish.
You may also want to invest in an external hard-drive to be used as a back-up device for all of the information stored on your laptop.
View Toshiba's range of accessories and portable storage
Need help to find the perfect notebook? Start your search here or view the product buying guide.
