Everyone has a notebook or a laptop now. Before embarking on a notebook buying agenda, however, a few pointers will help you in the right direction. The first thing to decide is on the size of the screen. Generally speaking, notebooks which are thin and light will have 11`` to 13`` display screens. Sometimes they may be 14`` but that will come in the category of main laptops.

The usual notebooks do not have an optical drive as the drive takes up more space, carries more weight and consumes more power. Battery life for these notebooks is usually 5 to 8 hours. The larger screen notebooks have a 14`` to 15`` wide screen displays and some even have a 17`` display screen almost encroaching on the desktop replacement category. The thin and light ones weigh 5lbs or less while the heavier ones vary from 5lbs to 9lbs.

Most thin and light notebooks will have 1GB of memory but this renders the notebook just about functional. later on it is possible to upgrade it to 2GB later on your own. However, you have to make sure that the notebook has a 1 GB module already installed along with a free memory bay.

Sometimes to cut cost, these laptops will have two 512MB modules installed which would entail purchasing two 1GB modules and replacing the 512MB ones. This becomes quite expensive. The 512Mb modules are still available but they will make even the most tasks very slow. Also, you have to be technically able to open up your laptop to install the module. Therefore, it makes more sense to go in for a 2 GB one straightaway even tough it may cost a bit more.

Thin and light notebooks have dual core processors which are power-efficient. This means that they will not operate at the fastest rate possible to save power. A core2 duo T-series processor is there in most mainstream and desktop replacement laptops. This, though more expensive than the AMD Turion processor offers better value for money.

While choosing a notebook, there is no need to be picky about the hard drive but it should have enough space for your storage needs. Laptop hard drives usually max out at 200GB which is more than sufficient for most users but there are a few laptops having two hard drive bays accommodating up to 400GB storage.

As far as graphics are concerned, it really depends upon the user of the notebook. Some laptops offer integrated cards which are power-efficient. These are not too powerful and can barely function as DVD playback. The thin and light ones normally have this card. Some may be better for media playback and the occasional gaming but they are not suitable for long term gaming.

With the exception of a few laptops, most of the notebooks come equipped with an optical drive. The normal choice for such a drive is the DVDRW type which can burn discs and movies and create backups.

The operating system comes with Vista though XP is still being offered by some companies. If using XP, a 512 MB is absolutely imperative, if 1GB cannot be got. Regarding Vista, a 1GB is a must though a 2GB is naturally the preferred memory.

Notebooks are constantly being upgraded and there are laptops offering biometric security features which are especially useful for business travelers. Buying a notebook need not be a daunting job if the concepts are clear.