SECTION 1 Questions 1-10 Questions 1-3

Mike: Hi, Steve! How’s it going?
Steve: Oh, fine. How about you?
Mike: Pretty good.
Steve: Mike, you know a thing or two about laptops, don’t you?
Mike: I suppose I’m pretty well informed. Need some advice?
Steve: I do. I’m thinking about buying one and was wondering what sort of things I should consider. I mean, there’s such a wide choice. I hardly know where to begin!
Mike: I guess you need it for your studies most of all, right?                  Q1
Steve: Yes, but I also like downloading music and watching TV programmes
    on the Internet. How have laptops developed in recent years?
Mike: Well, the displays are bigger and crisper and they have better
    keyboards than before. Processors have become a lot faster.
    Fast CD and DVD recording drives are common, as are ample
    hard drives. As many people use their laptop computers to                   Q2
    store digital photos, music, and video, manufacturers are making
    laptops increasingly compatible with home-entertainment
    systems. And, of course, a growing interest in wireless computing
    plays to the laptop’s main strength: its portability. A
     laptop is the most convenient way to take full advantage of the
     growing availability of high-speed wireless Internet access at
     airports, schools, hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops.                Q3
Steve: Yes, that’s why I’d prefer one to a desktop. I want to be able to do stuff on the move. I really need a wireless capability in a laptop.
Mike: Most laptops now have wireless networking capability built in, so that shouldn’t be a problem. You need to think about how much you’ll be moving around. I mean, if the laptop is heavy, you won’t want to carry it around too much. The thinnest laptops  on the market are less than an inch thick and weigh just 3 to 4 pounds. To get these light models, however, you’ll have to pay extra and make a few sacrifices in performance and screen size.
Steve: OK, so basically, what’s available?
Mike: Well, laptops can be grouped into four basic groups. First,
    there are budget models. These have slower processors, fewer     Q4/5
    features, and lower screen quality but are suitable for routine
    office work and home software. They cost $1,000 or less. Second,
    you’ve got the workhorse or multimedia models. These
    have faster processors and more built-in devices, so there’s
    less need for external attachments. They also have larger                Q6
    screens and enhanced sound and video components for home-entertainment   Q7
    uses. They’re not lightweight or battery-efficient
    enough for frequent travellers. They cost $1,000 upwards.
Steve: The lack of battery power could be a problem for me.
Mike: Well, the places that offer wireless Internet connections often
    have sockets that you can plug your laptop into. There are
    some portable devices that use solar power to recharge your
    laptop, but they’re not very efficient at the moment.
Steve: You said there were four main groups. What are the other two?
Mike: Well, third, you have slim-and-light models. These are for
    travellers. They are about an inch thick and weigh about 3 to
    4 pounds. Some require an external drive to read DVDs or
    bum CDs. They cost $1,000 and upwards. The fourth kind is
    the new tablet-style. These sit in your hand like a clipboard
    and have handwriting-recognition software. Some convert to              Q8
    a "normal" laptop with a keyboard. They’re more expensive
    than the other types, but the price is falling as they become
    more common.
Steve: I’ve heard that some people buy a laptop configured to their personal needs.
Mike: Yes, that’s right. Configure-to-order is now common practice
    for laptops as well as desktops. Purchasing a computer off-the-shelf
    is fine if you don’t have very strict requirements for                     Q9
    how a laptop is outfitted or if you want to take advantage of
    an attractive sale price. Configure-to-order will often give you
    choices you won’t get if you buy an off-the-shelf model. If you
    buy configure-to-order, be sure to double-check your choices              Q10
    before ordering, and look for unwanted items that some manufacturers
    include by default.
Steve: Thanks for the advice. You’ve given me plenty to think about.
Mike: No problem. When you’ve given it some more thought, let me know and we’ll go and look around together.
Steve: Thanks. That’d be great!