How to buy a laptop.
The laptop market has changed a lot over the last decade. No longer confined to the business world, laptops have become predominant at school and at home. You can replace your desktop with a laptop, use it to watch movies in bed, or take it the road to do homework at a friend’s house but buying a laptop is more confusing than ever.
Which laptop should you buy isn’t a question with a clear obvious answer. No matter your price category, there are simply too many different types of laptops to choose from. More to the point, there is no single best laptop because there is no single kind of laptop user. So when people ask which laptop or laptop brand is the best, there’s no easy answer for that because there are lots of good laptops out there and picking the best can be a bit difficult. Below are a set of criteria everyone should consider before splurging on a new device.
1. Travel light.
When someone asks”What kind of laptop should I buy?”, it’s important to know the following; How many days per week do you plan on carrying your laptop around with you?
Daily or near-daily commutes mean you want something with a 13-inch or smaller display, that weighs under three pounds and is at most around 15mm thick. So consider buying superslim systems.
2. Determine what you need.
You should consider the advantages of a laptop before buying one. If you haven’t had a laptop before, it can be a good idea to consider the possible benefits of owning one. When compared with a desktop, laptops have quite a few advantages. E.g. You can take a laptop with you wherever you go, even abroad provided that you take a power adapter as well. Also many laptops can do what we expect most desktops to do. For example, the i series are very fast workers with highest performance. Today, i7 is the most powerful type of computer. While you may not be able to run the latest games at their highest settings, most modern laptops are quite capable for all different tasks. Additionally, laptops save on space and are easy to move out of the way. This makes them great for small apartments, or for using on your bedroom desk.
3. Set your budget.
Of all listed so far, this should be the most important. You should know how much your budget is before you start looking or you might be swayed by long-term interest-free sweeteners to purchase something beyond your means. There is a large range of laptops available and setting a limit will ensure that you enjoy the laptop you can afford, without being prevented from upgrading later on because you’re still paying off the old one! Decide what aspects are important to you and fit these within your budget.
4. Laptop Size.
When it comes to laptops, size matters. Depending on what you plan to be doing with your next laptop, you’ll want to make sure you pick the size that’s the right fit for you. Size isn’t like the RAM or ROM of a laptop, you can’t upgrade it later. You’re locked into whatever you select up-front, so choose wisely.
Laptops sizes tend to start at 11.6-inches and go all the way up to 17.3 inches. Most brands and OEMS like HP, Dell, ASUS and Acer tend to offer three display sizes – 13.3-inch, 15.6-inch and 17.3-inches. However, some vendors do sell laptops that fall outside these sizes including 11.6-inches, 12.5-inches and 14-inches.
Obviously, if portability is your priority, you’ll want to go for a smaller sized Windows laptop. They tend to be thinner and lighter than their larger counterparts. Look for laptops that have a screen that is either 12.5-inches or 13.3-inches in size, and a weight between 1kg and 1.5kgs.
5. Consider what programs you need.
If you use a lot of Microsoft Office products, you’ll find the best compatibility with a Windows computer. This doesn’t mean you can’t use on the other operating systems, there’ll just be a few more hoops you’ll have to jump through. Conversely, if you’re doing music production or photo editing, you’ll find the most powerful programs on a Mac. Windows supports the most video games by far, though support for both Mac and Linux is increasing.
It might a lot needing some help If you are inexperienced with computers, buy the type of computer that helpful family members or friends know and will help you with.
6. Give it a test run.
It wouldn’t hurt to try out as many different operating systems as you can in the store or on friends’ computers. See what feels most innate and natural to your way of using a computer. Even within the same operating system, keyboards, track pads, etc., can feel very different under your personal touch.
7. Look at the amount of memory [RAM].
Consider how much RAM you actually will need in your new unit. The amount of RAM memory can be an important spec to consider. Often the amount of memory can limit the applications that you can run. Large applications will require more memory to run. In general, the more memory you have, the faster the laptop will run.
Most standard laptops typically come with 4 gigabytes (GB) of RAM. This is usually sufficient for most users. Netbooks may come with as little as 512 megabytes (MB), but this is becoming less common. You can find laptops with 16 GB or more, though this is only recommended if you are running multiple memory-intensive programs.
8. Take good care of your laptop.
While it depends on the brand and type of laptop, a laptop that is cared for well should last a good few years before you need to invest in another laptop. Taking the time to clean and maintain the laptop will keep it running smoothly for years.
