Laptops Buying Guide

Docking station or port replicator

IBM's port replicator works for many different ThinkPad laptops

A 'docking station' contains a mixture of ports, slots, drive bays and security features, and it usually attaches to the laptop from underneath. Docking stations come in a variety of shapes, ranging from the same size as your laptop, which is often referred to as a 'media slice', to much bigger -- some stick out 10-12cm past the back of your laptop. As the name implies, a docking station is where you park your laptop when you get back to the office, giving you easy access to your network, along with a bigger monitor, a normal keyboard, additional storage devices and the convenience of leaving cables plugged in when you walk away from your desk.

A 'port replicator', on the other hand, is a smaller, stripped-down version of a docking station that mainly features -- as you might guess -- ports, such as USB or parallel. A port replicator can range from the size of a tube of toothpaste to just shy of docking-station stature. When you're on the road, a port replicator is a convenient way to increase your connectivity.

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Laptop bag

A solid carrying case is worth the extra money

You're about to drop a grand or more on a laptop, and the last thing you want to do is spend even more money on a carrying case. So you save a few pounds by going with the manufacturer's basic case. But basic bags often lack a padded shoulder strap or internal pockets. You'll be kicking yourself soon when your 4kg load is cutting a groove into your shoulder and all of your peripherals come tumbling out of your bag in a tangled mess. Dig into your wallet for a sturdy, comfortable carrying case and your shoulder will thank you. Look for padded shoulder straps, reinforced corners and specialised compartments designed to hold the AC adaptor, the extra batteries and so on.

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Extra battery

The Compaq Evo N410c features two extra batteries

If you do even a modest amount of travelling, we recommend getting a second battery. They range from £30 to £100 and they are worth the money. Many laptops allow you to swap them into the main media bay. Other secondary batteries clip on to the back of the notebook or attach via a cable. Next time you're trapped on the tarmac, working away on your laptop and your primary battery is about to die, you'll thank us for encouraging you to buy a spare. If you rarely travel with your laptop, however, and it's pretty much always plugged in, don't bother with a second battery.

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External drives

This is an external drive hooked via a cable to a Sony laptop

External drives -- storage and media-burning options that hook up to your laptop via cable -- can be a pain to carry around and hook up, plus they can be pricey. You're generally better off buying a laptop that has everything you need out of the box. Nevertheless, external drives are sometimes required. If, for instance, you buy an ultraportable that lacks a built-in CD-ROM drive, make sure you get an external drive so you can load software. Types of external drives include CD-ROM, CD-RW, combo DVD/CD-RW, DVD-rewritable, floppy, hard drives, Zip drives and more.

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Mouse and keyboard

Wireless keyboard and mouse from IBM

Working for hours with just a pointing stick or a touchpad can take a toll on your hand, wrist and forearm. To save yourself some wear and tear, invest in a small travel mouse. These can cost as little as £10, they usually hook up via a USB cable and they're are very easy to carry. The same advice applies to typing for hours on your laptop's keyboard. If you plant your laptop on your desk when you work, hook up a USB keyboard and relieve your wrists. If you prefer working without wires, get a wireless mouse and keyboard.

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