What exactly is gaming? To answer that question we have to make one thing clear: Gaming is a generic term encompassing many activities and genres of computer games. A computer game or video game is an interactive computer game that involves external interaction with a user interface (an x-box, game pad, joystick, or mouse) or internal user interface (a personal computer, game console, or mobile phone). While nearly every form of gaming is multiplayer, this definition excludes games that only involve one player (as in a single-player shooter or role playing game). Video gaming involves a group of people interacting through the use of a television, computer monitor, or laptop. There are a variety of types of video games, and a gaming console is usually the most common type of gaming device.
Gaming consoles come in a wide variety of forms and price ranges, but most modern consoles include three basic elements: the game disc, a hard disk (or memory card), and a video display screen. Modern game consoles also incorporate basic audio components to simulate game audio tracks. In recent years, game consoles have evolved into portable devices capable of connecting to personal computers to allow for game playing on the move. This has not only revolutionized gaming in public places where a group of gamers may gather, but has also opened doors to remote gaming over the internet.
Gamers have many options when choosing a gaming laptop. Before buying a gaming laptop it is important to consider how much space the gamer will need, what kind of graphics card in the laptop needs to support, and what accessories are required to maximize the performance of the laptop. For example, if the gamer will be downloading large video games, he or she will likely need a high-end graphics card, a fast processor, and good graphics display. If the graphics card and processor are not needed for gaming, a lower end graphics card may be enough for general browsing and using office applications.
There are a number of gaming laptops available on the market today. Depending on the manufacturer, they vary in performance, price, and size. High-end notebooks usually cost more than low-end laptops. High spec models have built in, external speakers, an extended battery, and a touch pad, while lower spec versions will only have a standard laptop keyboard and screen.
The graphics card and processor specifications are the most important aspects of a gaming laptop. Prices range from two hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. The graphics card determines the quality of the game, as well as the resolution, texture mapping, and color settings. The speed at which the game runs is dependent upon the speed of the graphic card, which dictates the speed of the processor. Speakers are an additional component of a gaming laptop that affect gaming experience.
Other accessories required by gaming laptops include optical drives, scanners, and CD/DVD drives. Typically, the optical drives are meant for long term storage of data. Scanners work to scan discs for information such as video. CD/DVD drives are used to store media that needs to be read quickly, such as music or movies. External hard drives are used to add more memory to the system and generally have faster access speeds than standard laptops.