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Laptop PortsWhich laptop inputs and outputs should I get?Thankfully, all new laptops come with USB 2 - just make sure yours does. Another consideration is the number of USB ports the laptop has. The more the better of course, but a new laptop should have at least 2 USB ports. You can always get an inexpensive external hub later. Firewire / IEE1394 Firewire is an alternative to USB 2. It used to be signifgantly faster than USB, but with the advent of USB 2, they're close to the same speed, and since USB is the more widely used standard, there's no need to have firewire. The biggest exception is camcorders. If you plan on hooking up a camcorder to your laptop, you should be sure to get firewire. More and more camcorders are coming with USB connections, but firewire is still the standard. Don't let the lack of a firewire port stop you from buying a particular laptop. If you've found the perfect laptop but it doesn't come with firewire, you can always add it using one of the PCMIA slots on the side of the laptop. Also, an external hard drive will actually run slightly faster over firewire than USB 2. It can be harder and more expensive to find a firewire external hard drive, but if you are concerned about speed is something you may want to look into. PCMCIA slots The expansion slots on the side of your laptop are PCMCIA slots. Most laptops come with either one or two. These slots are becoming increasingly unnecessary as wireless and other capabilities are being built into laptops, along with the growing use of USB for expansion. You may end up using the slots if a new wireless standard becomes popular. In that case, you could just plug in a new card in the side of the laptop. TV out A TV out port is great if you want to hook up the laptop to a TV for presentations, some games, and movie watching. A laptop with a DVD drive and a TV out port can be very useful if you travel often. Audio Audio on laptops is notoriously bad. If you want to play music from the included speakers, most models will disappoint, though if you do extra research, you can generally find a few models with better sounding speakers. What may be surprising is that running an audio cable from the laptop to a speaker system usually results in only fair sound as well. In most cases, for most users, this sound is good enough, but it's worth mentioning that there are some alternatives that aren't actually built into a laptop. Some manufactures offer these for sale at the same time you buy your system. A few notable options which offer better quality from the standard jacks and even digital outputs are available from Creative. The PCMCIA Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS fits into a slot on the right side of your laptop. It sticks out just a little for some connectors, but it is a great choice if you need better quality sound wherever you go. The USB Sound Blaster line of devices is typically less expensive than the PCMCIA model, but is a separate unit you have to carry around with your laptop to use. Alternatively, these work great if you left one attached to a stereo and then connected your laptop (or any laptop) to it when you were nearby. Recommendations Consider the different ports you actually need for how you will use your laptop, and make sure to get them on you laptop. Get at least 1 PCMCIA card slot, so that once there is a newer and faster wireless standard, you can upgrade easily if you choose to. Most laptops come with at least 2 USB ports and that is usually enough. Remember that you can always add a USB hub to connect more accessories if you need to. For desktop replacement laptops, there is always the option of a docking station to add even more ports. With the advent of USB ports and hubs, however, the need for docking stations has decreased dramatically, and instead have become more of a convenient way to avoid having to plug in many devices each time you return to your desk. Unless you find a specific reason to purchase one, however, you probably will not need a docking station. |
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