Sony Vaio VPC-Z12Z9E reviews: Laptop computer

Software on which the device runs

Computer processors are made up of 1 or more cores. Having multiple cores allows the computer to run two or more processes at once, improving multi-tasking and speeding things up.

The number of pixels the screen has. The more you have, the more detail the screen can display, given a high quality source.

A breakdown of resolutions can be found on Wikipedia here

This is the processor model range. Different types of processor have different types of functionality. For example Centrino processors are specifically designed to increase battery life in laptops.

The processor is the driving force of your personal computer. The higher the number in Megahertz or Mhz the faster your computer will run. Don’t forget that other factors such as the number of cores will have an effect on speed.

A webcam is a small, in-built camera that allows you to record video to upload to popular sites like Youtube or have video chats with friends on Instant Messaging services.

Bluetooth is a technology for the wireless transfer of data such as contacts, photos and music between mobile phones, computers and a host of other Bluetooth enabled devices. Read more about Bluetooth on Wikipedia

Fingerprint access offers you an extra layer of security on your computer and is essential for any budding secret agent.

DVD Writers can be used to copy data, music, documents or films from your laptop, netbook or desktop computer, onto a blank DVD. DVD writers can also copy info onto blank CDs but CDs have a lower storage capacity. Normal DVD discs can store up to 4.7GB of info. DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disc.

VGA stands for Video Graphics Array. The VGA socket is used for connecting a monitor or TV to your computer. If you want to use an external monitor, TV or projector on your laptop make sure it has a VGA or DVI socket. VGA is also sometimes referred to as D-sub.

A memory card reader allows you to connect various types of card such as SD Cards, MMC Cards or Compact Flash Cards to your laptop or desktop computer. Memory Card Readers are extremely useful for photographers as it allows you to quickly transfer your snaps from camera to machine meaning you can have them uploaded to your favourite website or printed out in a matter of minutes.

Graphics cards in desktop computers and graphics chips in laptops are manufactured by 3 main companies: Intel, ATI and nVidia. If you want to play modern games aim for an ATI or nVidia card or chip. Intel cards and chips work perfectly for general laptop use, video playback and older computer games.