How to Compare the Acer Mini Laptop With the Dell Mini Laptop
Performing a direct comparison of computers will help you choose the best mini laptop for your needs. Acer and Dell both produce miniature laptops, known as netbooks, that have some similar features, but there are also major differences. Bear in mind that each company has more than one style of netbook, so you may need to compare several types within each brand as well as compare the brands against each other. Computer reviewers may offer expert opinions, but you are the only one who can decide which netbook is best for your needs.
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Instructions
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Visit Acer.com, select your country, click on "Products," then "Netbooks." Click on each netbook model, select "Technical specifications," then print the resulting pages.
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Visit Dell.com, select the "Home" store, then click on "Mini-Netbooks" under the "Laptops & netbooks" heading on the top menu. Select "Continue" under the first model, select "Tech specs" and print the resulting page. Repeat the process for each netbook model.
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Consider your intended use of the mini-laptop. If you will need the computer to be fast and multi-task, you will need a good processor. Netbooks generally have weaker processors than laptops, but for the fastest speed you can find the one with the highest "GHz" number under the "Processor" heading on the technical specifications. Discard the printouts for any netbook that is too slow.
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Select a netbook with at least 1G memory if you plan to use the computer for anything other than word processing and the occasional email. This memory also helps your computer run faster when multiple processes are running. If you will be gaming or streaming videos, select higher (2G) memory. Discard the printouts for any netbook that doesn't meet your memory needs.
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Determine how much battery life you find necessary. If the primary purpose of your netbook is to be portable in areas where you may not have power access, you may need to sacrifice some processing speed or other features for a longer use per battery charge.
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Consider any additional features, such as whether you need a built-in webcam or memory card slot, then narrow down your stack to one model from each brand. If you have already eliminated one brand entirely, narrow your selection to your top two choices from the remaining brand.
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Go to a computer retailer and ask to see each of the two models on your list. Test out the keyboards to see which is most comfortable, as the small keyboards on mini-laptops are difficult for some people to use. Try out a few programs, if possible, to see how each computer reacts.
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Choose the computer that is most comfortable for you from those that fit your specifications.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are looking for the best value for your money, consider warranties as well as features in your laptop decision. Note that you may pay more up front for better quality components, but that money can be made up in repairs that you don't have to make.
References
- Photo Credit laptop image by Manika from Fotolia.com
