Unfortunately, shopping for a laptop PC can be far more complicated than shopping for a desktop. With so many shapes, sizes, and features to choose from, you’ll need to set aside plenty of time for research. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at the following features and decide what’s most important to you.

Weight, Size, and Durability

First, you must decide which type of laptop will best suit your needs: ultra-portable; thin-and-light; midsize; and desktop replacement. The lightest and smallest laptops are known as ultra-portables. These are designed for business travelers who need to take their computers with them wherever they go. Although these PCs are extremely compact and portable, there are a few drawbacks: smaller keyboards, fewer features, weaker performance, and very high cost. Nonetheless, this is the way to go if you spend a lot of time on the road. 

If you’re looking for the best combination of portability, features, performance, and cost, then a thin-and-light laptop is the perfect choice for you. It’s no wonder these have become the hottest category of laptops. Unlike ultra-portables, they have a decent sized keyboard, a larger hard drive, and a built-in optical drive. With these do-it-all laptops, you can leave the office behind without missing a beat.

Midsize laptops, or mainstream laptops, are typically the least expensive because they’re not designed for a specific purpose. Instead, they give you everything you need to perform basic operations, including online communication and home entertainment. Although they’re smaller than desktop replacements, they generally aren’t recommended for travel.

Desktop replacements may be the largest and heaviest type of laptop, but they offer the most features and the best performance. Desktop replacements can be used for multimedia authoring, serious gaming, and even high-level digital audio/video work.

Processor and Memory

As with any computer, the CPU (central processing unit) is the brain of the system and the most important decision you must make. The faster the processor’s clock speed, which is measured in gigahertz (GHz), the faster it will perform. On average, normal users should have at least 2 GHz of processor speed.

Memory, or RAM (random-access memory), is temporary storage that provides the working space for your computer to operate. As a general rule, the amount of memory you’ll need depends on the applications you’ll be using. Also, you might benefit in the long run by choosing a laptop with easy-to-access memory slots. This allows you to upgrade memory so you can hang on to your laptop for much longer.

Drives

The size of your hard drive depends on how much data you want to store. The average user will only need a 20GB or 30GB drive, unless you plan on storing thousands of pictures or hundreds of movies. But remember, capacity alone does not make a good hard drive—rotational speed is just as important. The faster the disk spins, the better your laptop will perform.

Unless you’re on a strict budget, you should choose a laptop with a CD and/or DVD drive.  Nowadays, some laptops offer DVD-rewritable drives that can store up to 4.7 GB. But if you don’t need to store huge files, opt for the less expensive CD-ROM drive.

External drives offer additional storage and media options which plug directly into your laptop’s USB connectors. Also known as flash drives, external hard drives allow you to transfer large amounts of data, and they come in various shapes and sizes.

Screen Size

In most cases, screen sizes range from 11-17 inches (measured diagonally). If you value portability, then smaller is usually a better choice, since size affects the laptop’s overall weight. But remember, smaller screens might cause your eyes some discomfort. We suggest going to your local computer shop and testing out various comfort levels.    

Battery Life

For the most part, your laptop should have about 3-5 hours of battery life. But with all the peripherals these days like DVD-RW drives, video-out ports, and USB ports, battery life shouldn’t be a huge concern.

When all’s said and done, weigh your options and try to get the most features for your money. Remember, you’ll probably want to save some money in reserve to buy anti-virus software too.

If you’re new to photography then you probably have read or seen much of the continual debate amongst photographers on whether Canon is better than Nikon or vice versa. Canon and Nikon are the two leading brands of SLR cameras and are continually in a pitched battle to build a better digital camera. The competition is tight and victory in the race ebbs and flows towards both manufacturers every year new cameras cameras are launched.

Let’s get down to the bottom line. We have had enough of this debate and need to look at the reasons. I suppose it’s like whether a BMW is better than a Mercedes or a Lexus is better than an Audi. There will never be a definitive answer for as long as both manufacturers perpetuate the race. Some photographic forums have now banned any discussion around this debate. So why does the debate continue? Is it for the sake of debating or are there factors that need to be taken into consideration.

The following criteria will help you make a decision about which camera is best for you.

1. Personal preference

This is an important one. I admit to being a Canon user because the first camera my Dad gave me was a Canon. I fell in love with it and it became my companion. So I like Canon. I like the way it looks and I like the way it feels to hold. It’s just my personal choice and feeling about the camera when looking at it. Nothing else. The Nikon may be a better camera for all I care but Canon is the one for me. Plain and simple.

2. The Purpose

For what purpose are you going to be using your camera? The reason I include this as one of the criteria is you need to know what the predominant purpose will be be. Both camera manufacturers have a huge range of digital slrs and within those ranges some are better than others for particular purposes. And, that is just within their own brand. So when looking at both brands some will be better for particular purposes. For example you may need a camera that has a fast frame per second rate and writes fast to memory card. Within a particular bracket Nikon might be better in this area than Canon so Nikon would be the one to choose.

3. The Price Range

This is linked to the previous criterion. Within a particular price bracket the one camera may have more of the features you require. So with this price constraint in mind you may need to go for the cheaper range in order to get these features. So perhaps in this price range the better of the two cameras might be Canon.

4. The Conditions of Use

This is a very important one. If you are a traveller you may find that the Nikon in the range you are looking at is more rugged than the equivalent Canon although the Canon has some better features. You would choose Nikon rather Canon because it is more suited to travel. Other factors like dust and moisture seals and will determine which you choose based on the camera that has these features, if you will be using the camera in a more humid or dusty environment.

I don’t think the aim of any manufacturer is to build the perfect digital camera for all situations and conditions. I personally feel it would be impossible probably due to the costs involved. It boils down to the issue of personal choice which usually helps the camera manufacturer make more money. Better to sell two cameras that cover all the needs of a photographer than one.

My advice to anyone needing to make a decision about purchasing a Nikon or a Canon digital camera, is to look at all of these criteria and make a decision for your particular photographic needs. The brand of camera should be the last thing you take into consideration. If you do, you will quite likely find yourself limiting your choice based on preconceived ideas.

Commercial property and business owners have a lot to consider when it comes to setting up a store.  Planning a building, office, store or warehouse design is typically left up to contractors while the owner concentrates on pressing matters like inventory, etc. 

However, neglecting to get involved in the design process may inadvertently lead to excluding patrons with disabilities.  It may even result in a lawsuit.  Choosing ADA compliant commercial door hardware should be the responsibility of both the contractor and the business or property owner.

The United States Department of Justice administrates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA.)  The Act became law in 1990, and its aim is to protect Americans with disabilities from discrimination, and to provide them with equal opportunity to jobs, shopping and every thing else pertaining to daily living.  The ADA has gone through a number of updates and amendments as times have changed and technology has progressed.  The most recent amendments to the ADA were signed into law by former President George Bush in September of 2008.

The ADA, in part, requires commercial property owners to design their buildings, offices, store space, etc. in a manner that makes them fully accessible to people with disabilities. While the word “disabilities” has a broad definition, it speaks in particular of Americans with limited mobility (i.e. wheelchair bound or crippled) when applied to commercial building design.

The parameters for commercial building design for Americans with disabilities are set out in the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.   Section 4.13 applies specifically to commercial door hardware.  This government publication is available for free to interested citizens, advocacy groups, contractors and business owners/managers.  

Doorway egress and ease of opening are of particular importance when addressing issues of access to commercial buildings/businesses for people with disabilities.  The current ADA sets particular standards for door egress, for example, to ensure that those in wheelchairs can enter and exit a public building without undue difficulty.

When it comes to commercial door hardware, the ADA states in Section 4.13.9 that:  “Handles, pulls, latches, locks, and other operating devices on accessible doors shall have a shape that is easy to grasp with one hand and does not require tight grasping,  tight pinching, or twisting of the wrist to operate.”  This means that doors on public buildings must be outfitted with ADA compliant commercial door hardware.  Lever-style door handles are one example of ADA-compliant door entry hardware.

Other commercial door hardware components, such as door closers, must also be in compliance with ADA regulations.  Door closers shut doors automatically after they have been opened.  Door closers must be set in such a manner that allows ample time and egress for a person with disabilities to fully enter the doorway before the door swings shut again.

Other commercial door hardware components that must be taken into consideration when outfitting public buildings include crash bars/panic bars, automatic/power door openers, locks and thresholds.  Every business/commercial property owner and contractor should become familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act, particularly the “Standards for Accessible Design” section.