Laptop lingo

USB flash drives are random access, read-write -- like floppies. CD-RW
discs come close but are much slower and more cumbersome to use that way -
flash drives are more portable, more durable, and faster.

Memory card readers will read one or more of the common memory card types
(compact flash, secure digital, smart card, etc.). If you have a digital
camera, PDA -- even some flash drives (like the SanDisk Cruzer) use them.

Laptops are slower than equivalent desktops; that's about the extent of the
difference as far as software is concerned. There ARE some packages that do
better on analog CRTs rather than digital LCDs, but the same would hold for
a desktop with an LCD, so the bias is not laptop-specific.



"Observer3" wrote in message
...
Happy 4th of July, group. I'm staying inside today because it is
blisteringly hot here in Ohio.

I'm still doing research on laptops, and came upon three more
questions.

1) Gateway offers a 16MB USB flash drive, all the way to a 128MB flash
drive. Are these devices really necessary for the home user? I would think
a CD-RW drive would be enough for storage space.

2) Under Floppy Drive, Gateway lists something called an Integrated 6 in 1
memory card reader. In plain English, could somebody explain what that is?

3) Are there software programs that are specific only to desktop computers?
In other words, are there any differences between laptops and desktops when
it comes to software?

The term is usually used interchangeably.

"Observer3" wrote in message
...
This may be a silly question, but are laptops and notebooks the same
thing?