Notebook computer refer to the smaller portable computers, generally with a 12″ or smaller monitor. The larger portable computers are referred to as laptop computers and our laptop buying guide goes over whats necessary when getting a laptop computer. The distinction is not actually as clear as I’ve made it here, but it’s the general guideline I use.

A common mistake when getting a computer is to get one that is too powerful. Without knowing enough about what you really need, the temptation to get more “just in case” is too easy to give into. Take the time to analyze the primary uses of the notebook computer and get one that is designed to do those well. When it comes down to it, most computers can handle any task, but it’s the main tasks that it should be best suited for.

Made to Move

All these smaller model have some things in common. They are:

• designed to be moved around
• made tough
• well connected

All of them are designed small so that they can be ported around with minimal effort. Portability means sacrificing some things like DVD drives sometimes. The video output and expansion ports are fewer. The keyboards can be smaller than the standard size. They are also made tough, because movement means dropping and bumping.

Another feature is that, they are designed to be well connected, which also goes with the portability. LAN ports always feature, wireless LAN always features, wider connections like 3.5G and Wimax are also quite possible for constant connectivity.

The main categories for notebook computers are different to those for laptop computers because the intended uses are different. Here are the three as I see them.

• Super-Portable and basic
• Just Portable
• Portable with muscle

Let’s have a look at them now.

Super-Portable and Basic

These feature screens up to 8″. The small screen size means that multi-tasking is almost impossible. Basic, single purpose tasks can be carried out, one at a time. The processing power is minimal. These system often include Linux operating systems which don’t use as much power as Windows. Solid state storage is the storage media of choice.

The target audience for some of these is students and children, because of low prices and robustness.

Personally I would steer away from this size for a heavily used computer. With computer prices making them a commodity, I would tend to get a slightly bigger model as the super-portable models don’t provide enough extra over the features a good pocket PC or other portable phone can provide.

These basic models will have the following (quite often open source):

• Linux operating system (non-Windows at the least)
• Web browser (Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc)
• Office programs (OpenOffice.org or other open source alternative)
• Email programs
• Chat programs (Skype, MSN, Google chat, Yahoo! Messenger, etc)
• 2D games (Pacman, tetris, puzzle games, pop the bubbles, etc)
• Music players
• Video players

Just Portable

The just portable models offer all the same programs as the basic portable models. They might also feature some Windows on a slightly higher performing system. More memory is possible. The screen size is around 9″ or 10″ or so.

In this range the monitor size comes to a size where using it for a longer period of time is not quite so painful. The extra power gives the ability to run Windows, and means that all those favorite programs can now be installed. It should be noted that Linux versions take less strain on the system and can squeeze more performance out of the machine. The intention is much the same as the slower models, but the extra processing power, and sometimes more memory give a boost to performance.

Possible programs beyond the ones on the super-portable models:

• Basic image editing (Gimp or other)
• HIgher definition movies

Portable with Muscle

These models, up to 12″ in size resemble laptops more then they resemble the compact look of the smaller models. The screens are a decent size for everyday work. Processors start to come from the faster range, rather than the real power-saving range, for example faster Intel Core processors rather than Intel ATOM. Multitasking becomes easier with more memory as well. A DVD drive may be built-in. There are more USB ports and a VGA port for adding a monitor to the laptop.

These are probably the best as computers that will be used all the time. Smaller models might do, but an external monitor and keyboard would be necessary anytime it is to be used at a desk for a long period of time.

Conclusion

The options are there, now comes the time to make a choice. Bear in mind that extras can always be added to the very basic models. External DVD drives are easy to get for models without one and almost any other external device can be connected with USB. So just how portable do you need? See for yourself. Keep this notebook buying guide on hand and get the most fun possible from your new notebook computer.

Laptop computers refer to larger portable computers, these generally have 12″ monitors or bigger. Smaller portable computers are referred to as notebook computers and are covered in our notebook buying guide. The distinction between the two is not always clear, but this is how I see it.

One of the mistakes people often make is to get a laptop computer that is too much. Too many features, too many extras. Take the time to analyze the primary uses and get a laptop computer that is ideally suited to those. Any computer can do just about any task, but the primary activities will take the vast majority of your time, and so your computer should be designed for those in particular.

Broadly there are three categories corresponding to the kinds of programs that will be used:

• Basic programs
• Moderate intensity programs
• High intensity programs

I’ll cover them below in more detail.

Basic Programs

This involves the programs that almost anyone uses day-to-day. These programs are light and require little from the system. Any new computer would offer enough capabilities to run these programs easily.

Some of the programs include:

• hello
• Web browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc)
• Office programs (Word, Excel, OpenOffice.org)
• Email programs
• Chat programs (Skype, MSN, Google chat, Yahoo! Messenger, etc)
• 2D games (Pacman, tetris, puzzle games, pop the bubbles, etc)
• Music players
• Video players

These are a lot of the programs that would come bundled with your operating system, which for a PC, would usually be Windows, or possibly a version of Linux. With lower performance systems, it might be necessary to shut down some of these programs while running others, but with 1GB or more of RAM, things should keep running smooth.

These computers will usually have 1GB of memory, 50GB or more of hard drive space, an Intel Core or Core2 processor (low speed versions) and 13″, 14″ or 15″ monitors.

Moderate Intensity Programs

Moderate intensity programs need a little bit more from the system.  These programs start to tax the system, and if more than one of them is run at once, then the system will need more processing power and more memory. Otherwise the programs will need to be used one at a time.

Some of these programs include:

• Image editing programs (Adobe Illustrator, CoreDRAW, Photoshop)
• 3D software (AutoCAD, 3D Studio)
• Video players (with high-definition movies)

Quite often just more memory can make a lot of difference to the general performance of these programs. But with heavy use, more processing power is necessary.

These computers will generally have up to 2GB of memory, faster processors, widescreen monitors of 12″ to 15″ is size, extra USB ports, firewire ports and security features like fingerprint recognition.

High Intensity Programs

This mostly involves 3D games, where renderring of complex 3D scenes is happening all the time and very quickly. These require a lot of processing power, as well as a good graphics processor. This level of programs is usually better suited to the desktops covered in our desktop buying guide, but there are laptops that can perform quite well.

Some of the games include:

• Quake
• Unreal
• Half-life
• and others

These laptop will have cool designs to reflect their intended gaming market. 2GB or 4GB of memory would be standard. The monitors can read up to 19″ in size. The computer processor will be fast mobile version of the latest kinds, including Quad-core. Graphics features include dedicated graphics processing units with dedicated memory.

Conclusion

Know your intentions. Getting a laptop of the right size will leave money for programs you need to buy and any extras you need. Don’t buy more because of a “maybe”, keep consulting this laptop buying guide and only get more powerful if the programs you’ll run require it.

Firstly, will you need to move it around? No. Then you probably want a desktop computer for your home. This is the kind of computer with the case and separate monitor, keyboard and mouse. For more details, see our guide on how to pick a desktop computer.

Remember that the best desktop for the money will get you a lot more than a laptop or notebook for the same money.

So, portable it is.

Portable computers are roughly divided into laptops and notebooks, with a new category of sub-notebooks, often called netbooks arising.

Laptops are what I would call the bigger kind. Larger screens, heavier, more powerful features and the most suitable for a portable that spends most of its time on the table, not being portable. See our guide on how to pick a laptop computer for all the nitty gritty.

Notebooks are smaller, and more suited for moving around. Notebook computers are typically thinner, less powerful, more expensive, lighter and equally powerful models will cost more. Monitors are usually only up to 14″ max. More information in our guide on how to pick a notebook computer.

A newer category of smaller notebooks has arrived. Typically smaller than 10″ monitors, small storage space, sometimes solid state storage, very light, cheap and with all the connectivity features like wireless and LAN, and more recently 3.5G and Wimax. I quite like these little guys.

So there you go. Anything else? Feel free to browse

Inside the airtight case is a dirt free environment, which is essential for the close tolerances that are found in the hard drive itself. The basic design consists of a number of discs, called platters, which are stacked above each other, with a bit of a gap between, and spin on the spindle. There can be up to five platters, but there is usually only one. Each platter has a surface that can be read from or written to, but a little arm that extends over the surface. The head at the end of the little arm performs the task of reading and writing. It’s almost like a record player, except the head never touches the surface.

All drives have this basic design, but push current technology and utilize new technologies to get the most from the drives. One thing to note right from the start is that drives from two different manufacturers that carry the same specifications will almost always have similar performance.

Drives very in size from the standard 1 inch high models found in desktops down to smaller 12.5mm and 9.5mm models found in laptops and even smaller sizes found in smaller devices.

The number of platters depends on the use of the drive. Usually there is only one platter, which reduces the number of moving parts, namely the arms and heads, resulting in less chance of drive failure. Multiple platters allow for larger storage capacity. Laptop drives can have up to two platters. Desktop drives have usually have 3.5 inch platters, enterprise hard drives look like 3.5 inch drives, but have 2.5 inch platters inside. Mobile drives have 2.5 and 1.8 inch platters, while some micro-drives use 1 or 0.8 inch platters.

Spindle speed, which is how fast the platters spin in the drive, makes a huge difference to the performance of the drive. Think about it, the faster it can spin, the faster the information that is being looked for will pass beneath the read/write heads, it’s just quicker. Server and wordstation drives often spin at 10,000 or 15,000 RPM, while dekstops typically spin at 7200 RPM, although the WD Raptor is a notable exception that spins at 10,000 RPM. However the price of a Raptor is very high and you pay more for its 150 GB model than for a 500 GB drive.

Notebook drives are traditionally 4,200 RPM, but are slowly being replaced by 5,400 RPM models. Smaller mobile drives operate at 4,200 RPM, while the micro-drives operate even slower.

Cache makes a huge difference by storing frequently accessed data in a fast storage area so that there is no physical read from the disc. Currently you can get up to 16 MB of cache on a hard drive, but there is no great performance benefit over 8 MB of cache which tends to be the best choice.

Although drive may vary a little in their speed, the biggest benefit will come from high RPM drives like the WD Raptor family. For most other drives, divide the price by the size of the drive in GB and compare drives that way to get the best value per GB.

Although there are a huge number of laptops to choose from, always remember to get what you need and don’t get wrapped up in the latest technology unless you really need, which most likely, you won’t.

Laptops aren’t as customizable as desktops, which means you choice of internal parts is limited to those the manufacturer chooses. Sticking with well-known brands will help ensure the parts inside are decent.

As they are difficult to change, a brand will be split into models by the processor speed and extras. All through the range there are often options for increasing the amount of memory or certain other parts. Pick your processor first, then monitor size. They will match the video card and monitor, so you don’t need to think about this much.

Intel processors seem to be the best overall when it comes to laptops, unlike desktops where the competition is close, Intel is my choice here. Here’s how much you can expect to pay for them.

• $600 and up – Celeron M laptop
• $800 and up – Pentium M laptop
• $1000 and up – Core Duo / Core Solo laptop
• $1200 and up – Core 2 Duo laptop

The monitor should be a size you like, it basically determines the size of your computer. 15 inch is about the smallest for a desktop replacement as anything smaller will be a strain. Otherwise look at our notebook computer guide.

I recommend 2GB of memory for running Windows Vista, at least 1GB for running Windows XP. I used to recommend less, but after some discussion in the comments of this post (thanks Steffan) and my choices when getting my wife her laptop recently, I’ve raised these requirements. Memory has come down in price dramatically since this article was first published so getting more is a very cost-effective investment.

A hard drive should be able to store all your data. If you’re not sure how much space you need just consider the following. Day-to-day storage will not take up much space and a hard drive of 40GB should be fine. A full CD will take 0.7GB, a full DVD movie takes from 6GB to 8GB usually. If you do store DVDs on your computer, then you could consider getting a much bigger drive. I would stick to a drive around 80GB which is flexible. Backup unneeded data to DVDs with a DVD burner.

I recommend a DVD burner because of only slightly more cost, but tons of convenience. Make sure it is built-in.

A laptop needs lots of built-in extras and there are some essential ones.

• USB ports, 2 or 4 at the back are essential, some at the sides or front make for easy connecting.
•  The DVD burner mentioned above.
• Network port
• Modem port
• Wireless
• Bluetooth (might be an option)

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Choosing a laptop computer has become better, but in many ways harder as their popularity has increased. With a wide range of laptop computers on the market, they are extremely customizable to fit your every need.

There are a few reasons you would get a laptop computer as opposed to a desktop computer, and you have to be clear on what you intend to use the laptop computer for in order to get the right one.

Many people want a laptop computer for it’s portability, as that is only the first very logical reason. If you want a super portable computer you might be better off with a notebook computer, which would offer smaller size for those who really need something ultra-portable.

If you are still intent on getting a laptop you will need to spend upwards of $600. This is at the very lowest possible end of the scale and around $1000 would be much more resonable for a good laptop computer.

Let’s consider what you are going to use your laptop computer for.

Programs like Microsoft Office don’t require a huge amount of power to run and will run fine on nearly any laptop computer. You might want a larger monitor if you want to use the laptop computer at home as a desktop replacement. Extras like a DVD writer can be a great investment for a computer that serves as the primary computer at home or at the office. A good graphics card will be necessary if you will use the laptop computer for games of high-quality image editing. Wireless capabilities will be necessary for a computer on the move.

Size does matter, but it only really refers to the size of the monitor. You can get very high performance laptop computers that have 17 inch screens, but these will set you back over $2000. More reasonable is a monitor that is around 15 inches, maybe a little smaller or bigger.

The processor makes more of a difference if you intend to do use programs like video editing software or new games on your laptop computer. For more general tasks, most of what’s available should be fine for your needs. Newer models from both Intel and AMD will improve the performance quite a lot with their dual-core processors. This new bread of computer cpus boost performance without a huge increase in the power consumption of the processor.

Wireless networking should be standard, as it is so common. A few USB ports are essential. A network port for wired networking, which is still very commmon. Firewire is optional, but a good extra. A PC card slot is the only way to add extra cards to a laptop computer, so make sure it has one or even better, two of these. Note that sometimes one is already in use when you get the computer so it might not even be available if you need to upgrade.

Not sure a notebook computer is what you need? Check out our portable computers guide or how to pick a computer guide for help.

What do you intend to use the notebook computer for?

The very concept of the notebook computer implies that it is intended to be transported easily and allow use anywhere. Chances are that you intend to use it for work. This is about all that most notebook computers can handle. Small sizes don’t allow for the fastest, and often hottest components that need “breathing” space. The notebook computer will spend lots of time away from an office, so long battery life is important. It will probably be used to connect to wireless networks so you can use the internet, so wireless connectivity is needed. The programs used on a notebook computer will probably consist of basic office software like the Microsoft Office suite or similar, and a few other programs. Small monitors and limited graphics ability will rule out serious gaming, so there is little need to get state of the art graphics cards that will likely just drive the price up for no particular reason.

Firstly you need to consider the size. There are a wide variety of sizes with notebook computers. After picking a size, or at least a size range you will narrow down the models you need to look at. The size is mostly proportional to the screen size, as it is the largest thing on the computer. Choices available go all the way past 15 inches, but notebook computers are usually smaller. A good option for small computers is a wider screen, WXGA and other wide screen formats give that little extra room on the small screens. These offer dimesions of 16:9 as opposed the standard 4:3, giving you around 34% extra width.

The next consideration for a notebook computer is, “What computer processor does it have?” Computer processors in notebook computers are often toned down versions of desktop models. By clocking them slower, that is make the processor run below its intended speed, they can greatly reduce how much power is used, which aids in lengthening the batteries life. For the the applications you will likely use, the speed of the processor will almost invariably be enough, power saving makes a much more practical difference. There are a range of different processors, but I would stick with Intel or AMD, they are well-known and also the most popular. Intel takes the majority of the market though.

After these major bits, the rest are all just extras, they can be negotiated for if the computer is being built for you, or often added to pre-assembled models.

Extras that are essential are USB ports, firewire ports, wireless networking capabilities, network port and modem port. USB is the standard for connecting peripherals to your notebook computer and is 100% essential. Firewire is a little less common that USB and is necessary, but not essential, it’s mostly needed for video transfer. Wireless networking is pretty essential for any notebook computer. A year or two ago I would not have said so, but with heavy reliance on the internet and an abundance of wireless hotspots to connect to, there are very few users who would not need this. Network ports are necessary for traditional network connections. These would usually be necessary in an office environment, where fixed networks are still common. Modem port is necessary if you connect to the internet via dial-up connection from your notebook computer.

A DVD drive for your notebook computer might have to be external kind (added on as an extra, not part of the main body of the computer), espacially if the computer is a very small model. DVD writers are fairly inexpensive and would be good if you don’t have a seperate home computer with one installed. The main use of a DVD is to watch movies, store data or transfer data. If you have a desktop computer, you can connect your notebook computer to it and transfer information to it, which makes a DVD writer less necessary.

Mouse pads need to be user-friendly, they need to be placed so your hands don’t contact it when you type and responsive to you movements when they are used. The keyboard needs to be laid out well, even if it is smaller than normal. The monitor needs to be able to performs in conditions where there is a fair amount of light, as lighting changes when the computer is used on the move.

Big brands might be preferrable if you are not sure exactly what you need, or don’t have someone to advise you. Choose from the likes of Dell, Sony, Gateway, Systemax, eMachines, HP, Toshiba, Thinkpad, Acer and Fujitsu.

First, lets note some differences.

Although the terms laptop and notebook are often used interchangeably I will use them to separate portable computers into two major groups.

Customizable Systemax laptop with 15 inch wide screen display

Laptop computers are designed to almost replace the desktop computer, but with something that can be moved around from place to place. At the top end they offer features that rival the most expensive desktop computers, along with larger screens and more powerful graphics cards. They also have the extras built-in like DVD burners. Potentially much more powerful, but less portable. Go to the Laptop Computer Guide.

Notebook computers are smaller, and definitely more portable. They are much lighter and easier to move around. They are not as powerful as desktop computers and that kind of power becomes very expensive. The screens are smaller and are not suitable for playing games. Quite a few of the extras, like floppy drives and DVD drives are external and need to be plugged in separately, and quite often have to be bought separately. Much more portable and less powerful, but certainly enough for most applications. Go to the Notebook Computer Guide.

The main aim when choosing a good cheap desktop computer is to get the best-valued not-quite-cutting-edge parts. Although low price is the major concern here, I prefer keeping current with parts. Where necessary I will point out lower priced alternatives as well as the pros and cons of those decisions. Check out the specific parts sections for further details on individual parts.

This Systemax computer can be customized from its base price of $400, you only need to add what you need.

Often the most expensive part in a computer labelled as the best desktop computer is the computer processor. The fastest, most cutting edge processors can be more than $1000, but for a quarter of the price you can get one that is only 20% slower and put money into other parts of the computer. Currently I would recommend an Intel Core 2 Duo, or AMD Athlon 64 X2. Intel Core 2 Duo go for $150 – $550, while AMD Athlon 64 X2 go for $100 – $250. According to benchmarks, the Intel processors are the better choice and offer more performance per dollar in most applications. Even though you can get cheaper deals with AMD, currently Intel is the better choice. In speed per dollar, don’t go any higher than the E6600 2.4GHz model for the best cheap desktop, as the prices jump after that. The AMD range are spread evenly, so the choice for a good cheap desktop is yours, best value is still found around the middle of the range though.

The motherboard should be packed with lots of features. My preference is for motherboards that give tons of features, here is what you should expect.

• USB 2.0 with 4 slots at the back of the computer and 2 in another location, usually the front.
• External SATA (not completely necessary, but good)
• Built-in audio, with 5.1 channel (or equivalent) support as well as mic and headphones.
• Network port, preferably Gigabit, 2 ports a bonus.
• PCI express for graphics card upgrades (if not used already). SLI a bonus.
• PCI-X, which is a faster PCI slot, but still compatible with older PCI cards. Expect 2 or more.
• Make sure SATA2 is supported, it’s faster and more future-proof.
• Firewire (IEEE1394) slots, just 1 or 2 (not essential).

This ACER comes with a slightly slower AMD Athlon X2 processor and all the extras I would recommend, including a DVD burner and 1GB of RAM.

Your computer should come with at least 1GB or memory, often called RAM. More memory makes a huge difference and you should get as much as you can when you buy your computer. Remember that 512MB is my recommended minimum for Windows XP, while Vista will run better with 1GB(1024MB) or more. If you can afford it, get double the minimum. This is my same recommendation as for a more expensive PC, and it is not worth saving money here. Rather get a smaller hard drive or slightly slower processor.

The hard drive should be a balance between storage size and speed. Get bigger than 100GB, one DVD movie is 8GB, so you might only get 10 on your hard drive. If you don’t store the movies, no problem. Fast hard drives spin faster, at 10K rpm, like the WD Raptor, but are smaller sized for the price. I prefer speed as I don’t need massive space, I backup to DVDs when necessary.

A DVD writer is essential. Make sure it does dual-layer, DVD+R and DVD-R, and should be rated about 16x. DVDs are great for backing up any data, including your DVD collection.

And that’s it. You should be good to go, with a computer that will stay current for at least a few years and last for many more than that.

The most alarming fact, and the one that makes good cheap desktop computers so appealing is that the most up-to-date computers are complete overkill for surfing the net, listening to mp3s, typing documents and running Windows. The best cheap desktop computers keep with the core principle in getting the best deals… you don’t need the latest for killer performance!

“But I don’t want to build it myself!”

Lucky you’re not alone in that area. The majority of people don’t want to get their hands dirty fiddling with a computer. Who can blame you, you have better things to do.

You can get most of these benefits from online retailers. They offer options to pick and choose your parts or customize a standard model using a few options they provide.

These case studies will guide you with step-by-step instructions on customizing from a good preset package.

• Super-budget computer case study
• Mid-range computer case study
• High-end gaming computer case study

If you want to tackle the computer building on your own then continue and read more about each individual part before making a decision. I’ll start with what I consider the most major parts that require the most thought, and move down to those parts that are easier to choose.

1. Processor: The computer processor is likely to be the most expensive part of your system. It is also the most overhyped part. I have two computers at home, one of them being an Intel Pentium 4 2.0GHz and an AMD Athlon XP 2500+, both of which are not sold anymore. They are fine for everything I do on the computer, mostly internet based stuff, and I see no need to upgrade within 2 years or even longer. When looking at buying something new I like to stay current, but keep the cost down, I would go for the slower of the most up-to-date parts. Currently that would be the Intel Core 2 Duo E6320, next up would be the Core 2 Duo E6420 and the highest would be the Core 2 Duo E6600. There is also an E6700, but the price jump to get there is currently too high for the speed gains.
2. Motherboard: Although the processor is given much attention, this part gets my most attention. The motherboard connects everything together and is more like the heart and soul of your computer. I must have USB 2.0, SATA connectors (2 sets are better), built-in sound, built-in network adapter, built-in firewire, built-in external SATA. I should also have PCI Express if you want to upgrade to super-fast graphics cards.
3. Memory: Gives the most clout if upgraded. Everything you use on the computer is held in memory and then run. At least 512MB for Windows XP and at least 1GB for Vista, more is always better, but 2GB is the most I’d recommend for now.
4. Hard drive
5. Graphics card
6. DVD writer
7. Computer case
8. Keyboard and mouse

Those are the major parts aside from the monitor.

In a nutshell, refurbished desktop computers are computers that have been used before, either they were returned, or they have gone off-lease and also returned, or are simply old stock. They are all tested, not extensively, but they work. You would generally get an operating system like Windows with it, but you will have to check first. If it doesn’t have one you’ll have to buy one.

This refurbished HP gives you an internet capable computer for under $200

If your computer needs are limited to…

• surfing the net,
• checking your email,
• typing documents,
• listening to some mp3s,
• chatting to friends online,
• and using office related software…

then you should be fine with almost any computer, and the cheap deals on these refurbished computers should will suit your needs. As most parts in a computer can be upgraded, or replaced if they break, previous wear and tear should not be a huge issue, however, I will suggest which parts need to or should be attended to.

Here’s what you should expect at the very minimum.

For the processor, get an Intel Pentium 4, Pentium Dual Core, or Core 2 Duo. If you want AMD, an “Athlon 64″ or “Athlon 64 X2″ (dual-core). The newer, and the higher the GHz rating, the faster they will be, but they will all be fine for the above tasks.

RAM should be at least 256MB. This will be only just enough to run Windows, but will run Linux fine. If you want to run Windows I would highly recommend upgrading to 512MB if possible.

An HP refurbished desktop for $240 that just needs an OS

Hard drives wear out pretty quickly. They are one of the few mechanical parts left in a computer. They also hold your data. Replacing the hard drive would be an idea, but at the very least take some precautions, like backing up your data, to prevent losing any.

As with new computers, every accessory included, is one you don’t have to buy later. Check for the following and take account of how much that part by itself will add to your purchase price.

• USB ports, preferably USB 2.0 (faster)
• Ethernet (Network) port
• DVD or CD drive (I recommend DVD burners for making backups)
• Audio card (or built-in)
• Wireless networking capability

You will save yourself a heap of money getting a refurbished desktop computer. They also make ideal second computers.