Apple MacBook Air 13” Apple M3 8C CPU, 10C GPU/24GB/512GB SSD/Silver/INT

The display size describes the size of the visible part of the screen of your portable computer across the diagonal in inches. Average portable computers have 15.4" standard or 15.6" wide-screen displays. The ultra compact category portable computers have the display size of about 10,1".

Some portable computers have the option of turning the screen to the angle of 180 degrees and close it with the keyboard – the result is a true tablet computer without a keyboard. These models are sometimes referred to as transformers or tablets - they can be used both as a standard portable computer and as a tablet computer. This option is very handy for reading or, for example, drawing when the keyboard is not required.

Portable computers that are positioned as a replacement of desktop computers sometimes have the screen as big as 17". A bigger monitor is usually required for editing graphics or reviewing big-size tables, etc. However, it has to be considered that a bigger screen means a bigger size and usually also a bigger weight of the computer, besides it can be damaged more easily during opening and closing.

The screens of portable computers are divided into Glare, or flossy and AntiGlare, or mat. The advantage of the flossy screen is better contrast, colours and sharpness, therefore this type of monitor is preferred by home users. The disadvantage of this screen is the glare which disturbs seeing the image in bright lighting.

AntiGlare, or mat screens to some extent prevent the glare problem by "scattering". This type of screen is usually used in business class computers intended for working with documents and accounting systems.

This index determines the number of cores in the computer CPU. Each core is like a separate CPU that is capable of operating various applications separately. Thus, if there are several cores the operating system of the computer can distribute the load evenly between cores, so that the computer user can, for example, listen to music, browse the Internet and download files at the same time.

RAM is a short-term data storage. This component determining the operation speed:

• allows the CPU of your computer to have fast access to the information that needs to be processed used by the computer application which you have opened;
• at the moment of opening an application stores it in its microchips, thus the memory capacity determines how many applications can be run by your computer simultaneously and also with how big data volume (pictures, texts, webpages) you can operate at once.

Thanks to the dense placement of chipsets the RAM of a portable computer has the same characteristics as the RAM of desktop computers. TopPC.fi recommends to use 3Gb or higher capacity RAM for general use.

AnSSD, or Solid State Drive, is a modern storage device that, unlike hard disk drives (HDDs), has no moving parts and stores all information on NAND memory chips. This is why SSDs are much more reliable, as they can withstand shock, vibrations and temperature changes much better. The main advantage is the high data transfer speeds as well as the lowaccess time. Currently, SSDs equipped with a SATA 3 port deliver data transfer speeds of 500 MB/s on average. However, some drives using M.2 or PCI-Express ports have data throughputs

2000 MB/s.

If you want to connect portable headphones or stand-alone, more powerful speakers to your computer you should certainly look for a computer with the connection slot for headphones.

If you don't make your choice at once later it will be necessary to buy an external sound card which is an additional expense and quite often not a very convenient solution.

This index determines whether the portable computer has the 1.8" mini-jack stero connector for connecting the classic headphones or computer speakers.

If this connection is not available it will be necessary to buy the USB sound card for connecting these devices and this is an additional expense and inconvenience.

This device allows to copy photos from the memory cards of digital cameras without connecting the camera. All you have to do is to insert the relevant card in the reader and all its content is available in the computer at the very same moment.

There are different types of cards (SD, MMC, xD, MS Pro, etc.), therefore you should verify whether the selected card reader supports the required type of the card.

Bluetooth connection provides secure wireless data transmission among various devices (at the distance of up to 150 m). This is a possibility for your portable computer to connect with your mobile phone, another portable computer, palmtop and other bluetooth devices without using any wires for exchanging Mp3 music, photos and documents. You can use bluetooth for connecting wireless headphones with a microphone, mouse, keyboard, printer and other devices supporting bluetooth connection.

Examples of use of the Bluetooth technology:

• transfer of files between computers or between a computer and another device;

• printing using Bluetooth enabled wireless printer;

• use of a Bluetooth equipped keyboard or mouse, listening to music via wireless headphones;

• synchronisation of the personal digital assistant (PDA) with a computer or another device;

• wireless connection to the Internet via the mobile phone or the modem server;

• connection to the Bluetooth personal network (PAN - this is the technology that allows to establish the Ethernet network with wireless links between portable computers, mobile phones and hand devices).

*For establishing a connection with a portable computer with bluetooth; all the devices to be connected need the bluetooth support.

Which keyboard should be chosen - English or English/Russia - this choice depends on your needs and the language you use on daily basis. The arrangement of the keys of the keyboard should be as close as possible to the version of the keyboard of desktop computers.

currently almost all the portable computers are equipped with the full-size keyboard (with a separate number pad). Function keys have to be located in a rational way, so that it is not necessary to get used to them by searching for them in unusual corners of the keyboard.

Trackpoint is a small-size cursor-lever placed directly in the middle of the keyboard keys. It can be very handy because it is not necessary to take your hands off the keyboard as it is in case of a touch pad. This function is characteristics of many Lenovo ThinkPad series portable computers.

This parameter determines whether the keyboard of the portable computer has a separate number pad. If you have to work with numbers and figures a lot you should certainly verify whether the selected computer has the numpad.

The battery time indicates the approximate time how long your portable computer will be able to operate after it has been disconnected from the electricity supply when the battery is fully charged.

The battery time depends on the configuration, performed operations and other factors. This indicator usually is based upon the testing results. The lithium batteries built-in modern portable computers usually provide the operation time of 3 to 5 hours and this time depends on the use and configuration of the computer. The maximum battery capacity reduces the time of use of the portable computer. Currently lithium batteries are used in computers and they replaced nickel batteries. It has to be taken into account that the lifetime of portable computer batteries is limited. The capacity decreases with time and it is necessary to replace the battery.

*The battery time may decrease depending on the loading of the portable computer during the time when the battery is used as the power supply to the computer.