The money making laptop

In business with your laptop at home

In today’s world of global communications there are many opportunities to make money for yourself that were not available to previous generations. We no longer have to rely on a sole salary from one company, and can instead develop multiple sources of income. One good way to start this process is with a home laptop. So called because they are aimed at the home user who may wish to use one as a replacement or substitute for a traditional desktop computer. They are ideal for people starting out in business for themselves, or just looking to supplement their income. They combine value for money with all the performance features of desktop models. You can pick up an entry level machine for a little over £300 which will be ready to connect to your internet service, be it broadband, dial-up or via a wireless router. This type of laptop will probably come with a 15 inch screen, a 120 gigabyte hard drive, a gigabyte of RAM, expandable up to eight gigabytes, and built in stereo speakers. This is more than enough for many home-based business opportunities. If you are just starting out, and want to avoid any niggling technical problems, it is a good idea to look for a machine with a well known brand name. This should mean the company operates a decent laptop support system, with a choice of warranties. Also there should be an informative website with solutions to common problems and the latest updates for your particular model.

Qosmio F50 series

More options

If you are running a more established small business or feel you need more capabilities than an economical home model, perhaps a business laptop would be more suitable for you. These type of machines offer a higher level of performance and enhanced security features. These can be essential for some businesses that need to keep their clients information completely safe. Advanced encryption is available to ensure that even in the event that someone is able to remotely access your laptop while you are online, they will not be able to make any sense of the data they find. There are other features that you may like, such as the integral alarms on some models, with motion sensors that detect any movement of the computer and can alert you to possible attempts at theft. If you do lose your machine somehow, then biometric fingerprint scanners on business models will not allow other people to log onto your machine. Even though they are designed with the business user in mind, they have all the necessary equipment with which to relax and enjoy watching a film or listening to some music with decent stereo sound systems. Integrated microphones are useful for making voice over IP calls to keep in touch with your clients. If you purchase this type of laptop you will find they have a number of attributes making them a durable option for outdoor use, including rubber-encased hard drives for the more clumsy among us.

Satellite L350D-12M

Moving pictures

While many of the opportunities on offer to make money via the internet involve a structured business with support and marketing handled by others, some people want to go it alone. For this type of person a digital camcorder is a very useful piece of equipment. With good models offering high-definition video capability and large storage media, allowing you to shoot over nine hours of film before having to save to your laptop, you can spend the whole day getting all you need, before heading home to edit the results. When you do get round to the task of post-processing as it is known, you will find the best machines to do this one are of the gaming laptop type. This range of computers have up to eight gigabytes of RAM and powerful video cards, which enable you to work with very large media files, without your machine slowing down to a crawl. They also come equipped with great home theatre sound systems, making them ideal for watching films, listening to music, or indeed mowing down enemies in the latest game. In common with the business models, a good gaming machine will also come with integrated security features to keep both your data and laptop safe. Pick a model with a double-layer DVD drive for easy storage of your film and music. For the fashion conscious, you will be pleased to know they are among the more stylish of machines on the market today.

Toshiba Camileo Pro digital video camera

All round performers

If you do not think that any of the above types are exactly what you are looking for then you may like to look at the satellite laptop range. These offer display sizes from 13 to 17 inches, a choice of graphics cards and processors on many models and a classic black design. They all have stereo sound systems, so together with a 17 inch screen can make a capable multimedia alternative. Integrated microphones and webcams make keeping in touch with friends and family, as well as important clients, an easy task on this type of laptop. Built to use less energy, they are environmentally friendly and with an extensive range, with models weighing from under two kilograms, you should be able to find just the right mix of power and portability. On the other hand if portability is of the greatest importance to you, above all other considerations, then a netbook could be the answer. These ultra portable models tip the scales at a fraction under one kilogram at their lightest, and are a great way to stay in touch when you are away from home. With wireless connectivity and bright widescreen displays, they are surprisingly easy to use, despite their small size. Some models come with mobile broadband capability, so you can get online using your phone, in remote areas. In conclusion, there are many types of laptop available today, so you should be able to find one that will best help you in your online business ventures.

Toshiba NB200-10G