In case you don't know, a card is
a component which fits inside a computer and can be upgraded by exchanging with
another card. The graphics card itself determines the quality of the video you
see on your screen. It is most important for people who are intense "gamers", or
for those planning to do video editing on their notebooks.
Graphics cards have evolved into mini-computers inside the laptop. It has its
own processor and its own RAM. Just as AMD and Intel are the leaders of the main
processor development, ATI and NVIDIA are the leaders of graphics card
development. Prices have reached $500 or more for their latest production and
their is intense argument as to which is the better or faster graphics card.
Here's a question? Would you buy a satellite and subscribe to High-Definition
television if the only TV you have in your home was a 17in TV? You'd probably
buy a big-screen TV first. Exactly. Why would anyone pay $500 for the best
graphics card, only to use it in a laptop? Currently, the largest laptop screen
is 17 inches. And if you're a "serious" gamer, why would you use a laptop to
play games instead of a desktop with a nice big-screen monitor. Ergo for serious
video editors.
Luckily, as in the
case with the main processor, even the low-end graphics cards are powerful
enough for general users. You'll still be able to use the internet, view videos,
and make excellent PowerPoint presentations. Even video games will work just
fine, although they would be "smoother" with a powerful card. There is no need
to get a powerful laptop graphics card. Save the money and spend a little more
on a RAM upgrade.
But unlike RAM, it is
difficult to upgrade the video card on most current laptops. If you're a
professional video editor, get a good card from the beginning, and get the
biggest screen.
Screen
Basically, there are three things to consider when assessing the
laptop's screen;
The
Size - You basically have three options and depending on
your choice the screen size is generally pre-determined. First, there is the
ultra-portable notebooks, 4 pounds or less, that have screens 12 inches or
less and can get uncomfortable when used for a long time. Second, there is
the desktop replacement which weight 8 to 12 pounds. These have large
screens, up to 17-inches. Finally, there is the most common midsize. Screens
are usually 14 or 15 inches, and some are widescreens.
The Resolution
- This refers to the number of pixels in the monitor, or how many little
"dots" make up the image. The screen is made up of hundreds of thousands of
dots that when each is a different color, they collectively make an image.
The minimum number you need is 1024x768 (also known as XGA) and anything
higher is icing on the cake. If you want more detail, go
here.
The Quality
- Here is one component where quality is not uniform. While generally
all laptops have processors from either AMD or Intel, and graphics cards
from either NVIDIA or ATI, laptop monitors can be substandard. The problem
is something called dead pixels, where some of the little dots described
above are permanently turned either off or on. They don't change. They are
rare and largely go unnoticed by the user. Almost all manufacturers have had
problems with dead pixels. The good news is LCD technology has improved so
much that dead pixels are seen much less often.
