Shopping for a laptop can be quite a stressful experience if you aren’t sure what it is you want simply because there are so many different brands, models, sizes and specifications to choose from, and finally haggling at the store. Our editor, Dave, is well aware of this problem when we tried to buy him a laptop on a recent trip to London.
If you already know what you want then great, but if you don’t then first of all you need to ask yourself what you want to use the laptop for and determine how much you’re prepared to spend.
If you just want to carry out basic word processing tasks, send and receive emails and browse the Internet then you don’t need much in the way of fancy specs. Although many will say this is all they want to do, in reality most people find they would like to do a lot more, for example, watch videos, listen to music and store and edit pictures, in which case you have to be a bit more careful as you might find that some of the more basic laptop models are just too slow and not up to the job.
Others may also want to do much more sophisticated tasks like create and edit videos, graphics and music files and will therefore need a much better processing speed, graphics chip and storage options.
Main points to consider when shopping for a laptop
Processing speed – this will determine how fast your laptop runs. Generally speaking Intel Core 2 Duo processors are better for speed and although you can get cheaper processors they do not tend to perform as well.
Memory – it pays to remember that the more installed memory the laptop has the better as you will be able to run more programs and the laptop will function better. It isn’t quite as easy on a laptop as it is on a PC to go back later and upgrade the memory. Many laptops come with 1GB RAM whereas 2GB or 3GB will give you more scope. If you need to work with graphics of any kind then it’s advisable to make sure there is some dedicated memory for graphics.
Hard Drive – if you need to store a lot of data on your laptop or work with heavy applications then you need to consider a larger hard drive.
Screen size – the larger the screen size the larger the resolution, which you will need if you want to perform complex video and graphics tasks. A smaller screen size is perfectly adequate for simple every day tasks like sending and receiving emails and basic word processing.
Battery Life – if you need to work away from a wall socket for any length of time then find out how much battery life the laptop has and if there is an option for extended life battery.
Weight – carrying your laptop around with you can be cumbersome and heavy so if you need to transport your laptop on a daily basis then weight would be an important consideration. Ultra light laptops are also likely to be a bit more expensive too.
Other features worth a mention – what connectivity options are available for example Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, USB ports etc. Is the keyboard comfortable to use as smaller keyboards can be a nightmare for all but the most nimble of fingers. Does it have an optical drive? Do you need a webcam and microphone? Have you any colour or design preferences?
Buying your laptop
If you are buying from a retail outlet then there is likely to be someone around that can advise you. However if you are buying online, it is worth reading reviews on a selection of laptops you have identified as suitable, as many as you have the time for. This will help prevent you from making a costly mistake and will reassure you that you are making the right choice.
Finally, read the small print regarding warranties, particularly if buying online from a reseller. You might also want to check what sort of technical support is available.
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