Apple has now earned the title of the worlds most valuable company and by looking at the demand for their products you can see why. The iPhone is one of the most popular phones available, they created an entirely new category of products which people didn't really need and it became wildly successful and then they have the Macs. Macs are some of the best looking computers you can buy and for many people in the market for a new computer, purchasing one has definitely crossed their mind.

Some of the reasons why Macs were not a serious option in the past was because their OS was foreign (i.e. not Windows), they were comparatively underpowered and very expensive when compared to competitors. Fast forward a few years and OS X, although not the most popular OS, is very well known and owns about 10% of the market. The appeal is growing with each subsequent release sharing features with iOS (e.g. OS X Mountian Lion comes with a new Notification Centre) which is good for those who know how to use an iPhone (the vast majority of people in developed countries).

In terms of hardware, Macs have definitely caught up with their Windows counterparts. They are no longer a generation behind other PC makers and their computers have the latest components inside.  Graphics cards are top notch on the higher end models making them quite decent gaming machine (always an argument against buying a Mac previously). As well as this the build quality of Apple products is undeniably good. Parts used are of good quality, especially the display and keyboard. Although some features which Windows users have come to expect can still not be found on a Mac such as a BD drive, USB 3.0 or eSATA ports although the addition of a Thunderbolt port is supposed to make up for the last two (despite the lack of devices).

One area which Apple hasn't really improved is their pricing. Comparing builds with similar specs really makes it obvious that Apple seem to charge extra money because they can. For example when upgrading to 8GB of DDR3-1333 RAM from 4GB on an Alienware M14X the cost is $120. To do exactly the same thing on MacBook Pro 15.4-Inchthe cost is $200. There seems to be little justification for the extra $80. One way to justify the price is the amount of software which is already loaded on the Mac when you buy it. The iLife suite is complimentary which has some very useful programs, some of which would cost quite a bit of money on a Windows computer.

So what makes the Mac so tempting over Windows computers despite the price? I think that it is the little details which do it. One thing I found absolutely amazing was how Apple thought to make the display hinge loose enough so that you can open the lid with one hand (without the bottom of the computer lifting up as well) but tight enough that the screen doesn't flop around. The MagSafe power adapter
is also very well thought out to prevent people form tripping over the cable and throwing your computer to the floor. The other thing is the option of an anti glare screen. Most laptop manufacturers do not have this option on the vast majority of their products as anti glare screens aren't what the majority want. Clearly Apple don't care about this as they still have the anti glare option despite the relatively low demand for it. These little options really make people feel that Apple cares about the needs of the end user and is probably what makes Apple products so tempting. This is why Apple's market share in the PC world is growing at a fairly fast rate despite not being able to compete directly with other companies on price.

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With laptops outselling desktops for the last 4 years, it is becoming more and more likely that your next computer purchase will be a laptop. One of the biggest problems with this is the massive range of products available. It is often overwhelming how many choices there are. So here are a few tips to help you on your way to selecting a laptop.

1. Portability and Battery Life

One of the advantages of a laptop is that you can carry it around. Obviously, how powerful it is can affect how long you can carry it around for. More powerful components will also make a laptop heavier due to the need for extra cooling and higher voltages as well as a bigger battery. So when you buy your laptop, make sure you see whether it is light enough for your needs and look at the quoted battery life to see whether it fulfils your demands. Some laptops contain graphics switching to switch between a dedicated and integrated graphics card in order to provide a longer battery life when needed. This is another option however these laptops are often a bit more expensive than those without the feature. Netbooks also have a decent battery life and are highly portable but most people will find them horribly slow for everyday use

2. The Keyboard and Trackpad

This is one of the first things you should try out when you go to the computer shop. Test to see if the keyboard is roomy enough, whether all the buttons are present and in the right place (some laptops have very dodgy placement for arrow keys) and if you find it comfortable enough to type on. Another thing you might want is a number pad on the side (only found in larger laptops) or backlit keys. The trackpad is also one of those things you have to live with on a laptop. Making sure you can use it and it doesn't feel too uncomfortable to use is important. Also try pressing the mouse buttons to check that they aren't difficult to press or too mashy.

3.  What screen size and resolution?

The combination of screen size and resolution is very important. The standard resolution for a laptop nowadays is 1366x768 which is a fairly good resolution. However many people are looking for a laptop which has a higher resolution screen without increasing screen size. Manufacturers are starting to realise this and many offer much higher resolutions than standard in some models of their laptops. Manufacturers like Sony, Apple, Dell and Lenovo all have an optional high resolution option to choose when configuring selected models which gives you a lot more screen real estate as well as giving a crisper display.

If you want a super portable laptop with a 11 or 13 inch screen, looking at the resolution is a good idea. Often some high resolution ones can have font sizes difficult for some people to read. Other times, the resolution might be too low for your needs making it difficult to achieve some tasks which are crucial for you.

4. Do you want a dedicated graphics card?

Most laptops come with more than enough processing power for your everyday needs but one thing that not all laptops come with is a dedicated graphics card. Finding a laptop which has dedicated graphics is getting a bit more difficult after Intel and AMD have significantly improved their integrated graphics card offerings. Especially since laptops are becoming thinner, manufacturers are starting to lean more towards the integrated solution. This is true for the new ultrabooks (very thin, light laptops which run Windows) and the Macbook Air where it is difficult to have a dedicated graphics card and cool it properly without sacrificing a large amount of battery life. Larger, more expensive laptops come with dedicated graphics but this is at the cost of portability and battery life.

So, if you want a dedicated graphics card, your choice has been made for you on what type of laptop to get. If you want integrated graphics, there are still a lot of choices.

5. Be willing to make compromises

There is no laptop in the world which will fit all of your needs so what I suggest is to make a list of all the features you are looking for in order of importance. Then find the laptop that has as many of the features you wanted as possible. This way you will know that you are getting everything you absolutely need in the computer rather than coming home and finding that it is missing a crucial feature. This is one of the biggest things which make finding a laptop so difficult since people will always be searching for the perfect machine.

By following these simple tips, you can go to the store, check out the computer and make sure it fits all of your needs before you take it home. Try out all of the features in the store and make sure it is what you want. This will help you choose the right laptop for you.

6. BONUS TIP: Read the reviews

Everyone who is reading this blog probably has a smartphone. When you're in the store, write down the model number and search for reviews on it. Make sure there are no horrible issues which stand out on the computer. Make sure that everything works the way it should, there are no known bugs etc. User reviews can be especially helpful when it comes to this. Some forums will also have topics dedicated to your laptop so any major issues should be known to you before your purchase. This way you can avoid getting a dud.

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One of the largest technology companies on this planet is Apple. They are the creators of many of the products we use in our everyday lives such as the iPod and the iPhone. Whenever Apple releases a new product, they have a lot of market hype. Every technology blog, including this one, has to report on Apple's latest product. They were the ones who made having a lowercase "i" in front of a product name cool. On top of this, I notice a large traffic increase whenever a new Apple product has been released. Apple's Macs are far from the worlds most popular computers, this title goes to Dell. But for some reason, every time a new Apple product is released there is more hype surrounding it than any other product. People wait in nerve wracking anticipation when Steve Jobs hosts another keynote and journalists from around the world wait to be one of the first to hear about Apple's latest product. Whenever Apple does release a new product, you want to buy it. often it has its limitations but you still want to buy it. It just looks so cool. You merely have to a take a trip to your local Apple store to experience this feeling. But what is the reason for people's fascination with Apple, so much so that no matter what product Apple releases, you can guarantee a line will stretch for miles and it will be sold out in every store within a couple of days.

Take a look at the iPhone 4. It has had a few issues such as introducing video calling which is so limited that it is almost useless, and the dreaded antenna problems. By the time these issues had been found, many people in the US had already bought them and were upset over the antenna issue. You would think that on its worldwide release, the new iPhone's sales will suffer incredibly. This was not the case though, just take a look at the headline on The Sydney Morning Herald on the day of release:

"iPhone 4 Sold Out Around the Country"

"A Stronger than Expected Reception for iPhone 4"

As you can see, the antenna problems bothered no one. The phone was still selling like hotcakes. Apple's fan base is so dedicated that they are willing to accept Apple's band-aid solution in order to get their hand on the next big thing. Then, we look at the iPad. So many other companies have tried and failed in releasing their own version of the tablet. Often, more powerful but less user friendly than the iPad. Apple on the other hand managed to create a whole new segment of the market and convince people to buy a device they previously didn't need. Instead of telling people to replace their laptop, they should use the iPad to complement their laptop. On top of this, they managed to get above their expected sales and have basically made the tablet the next must have device. Something which other companies have been trying to do since the year 2000. They managed to bust the myth that e-readers must have an e-ink screen in order to compete. Despite the critics of the product, it sold more than anyone expected.

So what gives Apple this degree of control over their consumers? How can they convince someone to buy a product they don't really need and get them to buy something which has a lot less features than a cheaper alternative?

Well, there is no simple answer to this but I am going to give it a go. Apple's dominance of the market started with the release of the iPod in 2001. They had changed the market completely with a simple, easy to use media player providing a better alternative than most players out there in that day and age. Then they released a second generation model and expanded the line to fit new market segments. This made it the most popular mp3 player in the world and as you moved on to newer generations, more followed the iPod trend because of its coolness. Everyone had to have one and through this, people feel the need to upgrade to newer models and become first time owners of the iPod. From this, Apple got their loyal fan base with people always wanting a new model of iPod coming out much like people anticipate the release of a new operating system. Once someone has an iPod, they are likely to stick with the iPod and when a new model comes out, rather than consider an alternative, they will buy another iPod. Then, with the release of the iPhone, they combined the phone with the iPod and a completely revolutionary interface. People had been dreaming of having an iPod like interface on their phone, something which was easy to sue and brought the iPod to popularity in the first place. This is probably what boosted the sales of the iPhone in the first place. Then as each subsequent version came out, people felt the need to upgrade. This consumerism is what led to Apple developing a following behind the iPhone.

Apple's Mac was selling nowhere near as much as the iPod and so Apple took this opportunity, with a large following behind Apple and many people with iTunes on their computers, to convince people to go the whole hog and convert to a Mac. They reinvented it and made it support Windows. This left no excuse for anyone not to switch to Mac. As its popularity grew, they made it cool to own one. So through the aesthetics of the product, Apple has managed to win fans of its products. They get people to associate the Apple logo with quality devices and something which will make you look cool to be seen with. Through this brand recognition, they have made the younger generation look at Macs differently. They want to buy one to show their friends. How many times have seen someone with an iPhone and asked them if you can play around with it? Or when you go to the shops, how many times have you rushed to have a go on the iPad? This is how Apple's marketing technique works. They have no need to advertise on TV, it is all done through the  logo and Apple stores. They have made their product appeal to the younger generation and the older people who want to feel younger. When Apple introduces their own product, it will be even more popular because people just look at it and buy it because of the Apple logo.

Other companies have not built up the same reputation for their brand. They have not put in the time and effort into making their product look good and still have excellent build quality. This makes Apple the only company which has done this, making them unique and this is why people are so fascinated by Apple and their products.

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You've seen ultra-thin notebooks and you've seen large-screen notebooks but never have you seen an ultra-thin large-screen notebook. Well, now you have.

Tonight, Dell is launching the world's thinnest and lightest notebook with a 16-inch display. What's more, it's the world's first notebook to incorporate wireless charging. The Latitude Z is aimed at business users and will focus on security and usability rather than outright performance.

At about 1.25 centimetres thick and weighing 2 kilograms, the svelte-looking laptop achieves its thin profile by eschewing the DVD burner altogether; it's an external module that plugs in via a USB cable. Another way Dell has managed to shed size and weight is by using solid-state drives (SSDs). The SSDs are available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB capacities and, for the ultra paranoid, you can even have two of them in case the first one fails.

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The Latitude Z's external shell is finished in a matte "soft-touch" coating, available in a single colour called Black Cherry.

The stand-out feature, however, is its use of wireless induction charging. Instead of a cord, the Latitude Z can sit on a purpose-built stand designed to charge up its batteries without a physical connection. You'll pay for the privilege though; it will take 30 to 40 minutes longer to fully charge the battery and it's an optional extra that will set you back $395.

The Latitude Z can also recognise your face using a FaceAware feature via the built-in webcam, which locks out the notebook to other users when you step away. The 2-megapixel webcam focuses automatically and can recognise contact details on a business card. A fingerprint scanner is a given but there's also a no-contact smartcard sensor next to the touchpad that can be configured to work with certain office security passes.

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