Datasheet
A large (but not huge) hard drive, perhaps about 80GB in capacity
Basic I/O facilities including two or three USB ports, an ExpressCard slot,
a built-in Ethernet port, and a built-in modem
Built-in WiFi transceiver for wireless communication
A 1.5"-thick box that weighs about 5.9 lbs
In less than two years since this book’s first edition, the typical price for this
basic machine has dropped about $100, the screen has grown over an inch, the
hard disk drive has doubled, the standard memory has quadrupled, and WiFi
has gone from optional to standard.
Fully equipped road warrior
This is a model for travelers who need to do real work while they are away from
their real desk, and it also has the facilities you need to create and display pre-
sentations on its own big screen or connect to a projector if you need to live
really large. Expect to pay at least $1,500 and as much as $2,000 for something
like this:
An Intel Core 2 Duo processor or equivalent CPU with a pair of processors
running at 2.0 to 2.6GHz
A separate, high-end graphics card within the case with its own block of
memory, adding more colors, higher resolution, and speed
A separate audio sound card that delivers full sound production and cap-
ture facilities, well beyond the basic capabilities of built-in audio chips on
the motherboard
A high-resolution glossy widescreen LCD of about 15.4 inches, or for about
$100 more, a 17-inch screen
3GB to 4GB of shared RAM, or dedicated memory for the exclusive use of
the CPU
A DVD read/write device that also works with CDs. The next great thing is a
Blu-ray drive, which can also handle DVDs and CDs; prices are beginning to
decline for the advanced drive but you can expect to pay a premium to go
blue for a while.
A larger, faster hard drive, perhaps about 200GB to 300GB in capacity, spin-
ning at 7200 RPM
A full complement of I/O facilities including as many as six USB ports, a
FireWire port, S-video output, an infrared port, a PC Card slot, a built-in
Ethernet port, and a built-in modem
A built-in webcam mounted in the upper frame of the LCD, plus a micro-
phone and speakers
12 Part 1: The Laptop Computer
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