A good school laptop can be purchased for SR2,000 to SR3,000. Don’t spend more. Kids are hard on their computers and repair outside of warranty is expensive. Changing a machine frequently is better than buying a high-priced machine and hoping it will last. Don’t buy a laptop with a Celeron processor. The PC will be weak and perform slowly. Forget about netbooks unless the family has a powerful desktop computer at home. Kids take their laptops everywhere, so don’t go above 14-inches in screen size. As for memory (RAM) get at least 4GB and a 500GB hard drive is preferred to 320GB. In terms of operating system, look for Windows 7 Home Premium. Those are the basics. After that, investigate the warranty terms. Don’t pay for additional years on a warranty, but if an accidental damage warranty is on offer, consider it. And finally, when buying a laptop, don’t skimp on protective accessories, including a case, screen protector and keyboard cover.

If you possibly can, don’t buy a new laptop now. GITEX shopper kicks off in Dubai on the 16th of October. Under the terms of most laptop vendors’ regional distribution agreements, the prices offered to resellers on laptops sold at GITEX Shopper must be offered on laptops provided to resellers across the GCC. Sometimes it takes a few weeks for the GITEX specials to reach the Saudi market, but there should be some interesting deals on laptops sold in the Kingdom starting in the latter part of October.

If you are looking for a netbook as a secondary computer, many companies have recently enhanced their product lines. HP has refreshed its portfolio of what they call “mini notebook PCs,” or netbooks. The redesigned HP Mini 210 offers all-day computing, optional high-definition (HD) video playback and a broad range of color options in a slim package. The Mini 210 includes built-in WLAN, webcam, microphone and a nearly full-sized, island-style keyboard. The HP Mini 5103, is HP’s latest touch-enabled mini notebook. It has a 95 percent of full size QWERTY keyboard plus a touchpad, providing an optimal experience for email, instant messaging and other text-driven applications. It incorporates the new dual-core Intel Atom N550 processor and features an all-metal case in a new espresso color. The Mini 5103 also includes an optional handle for easy transport.

HP is not the only manufacturer to upgrade its best netbooks to the dual-core Intel Atom N550 processor. Other vendors such as Acer, ASUS, Fujitsu, Lenovo, LG, Samsung, MSI, and Toshiba will be introducing new netbooks based on this chip. The Atom N550 processor enables better support for applications such as games, as well as Adobe Flash technology, while still maintaining long battery life. 

3D fans will be interested to see that later this year HP will be launching the HP ENVY 17 3D — the first 17-inch notebook PC to support 1080p 3-D and Blu-ray. The HP ENVY 17 3D offers Beats Audio and an HP Triple Bass Reflex subwoofer, which coupled with the 3D deliver a great entertainment experience — almost as good as going to a movie theater. With up to two terabytes of storage capacity, quad-core Intel Core i7 processors and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 discrete graphics, the HP ENVY 17 3D has the power and flexibility to handle the most demanding graphics tasks simultaneously. The HP ENVY 17 3D also offers an immersive visual experience with ATI Eyefinity Technology for multiple external display support.

Those interested in power of a different sort, will be delighted with Getac’s new B300 rugged notebook. Getac will be incorporating Intel’s Core i7 2.0 GHz processor into the B300. Their top of the line machine configuration comes with a QuadraClear display providing a best-in-class rating of 1400 NITs for easy viewing in extreme lighting conditions such as direct sunlight and reflective conditions in sand. An HDMI port joins the standard VGA port. The B300 can also be configured with a dual battery option that provides up to 22 hours of battery life on a single charge. The B300 is backed by a 5-year-warranty that even covers accidental acts and environmental exposure.

Finally today, we end with a glimpse of laptop specifications to come. In the USA, Toshiba has just introduced a range of premium 4G WiMAX-ready laptops. WiMAX is currently rolled out in 54 cities in America. WiMAX technology enables consumers to access fast mobile connectivity whether at home or on the go. Toshiba’s four new WiMAX-ready laptops became available this week.