If you want to buy a Laptop
It is a good idea to know a little about how a computer works, and what you’ll be using the system for when buying a laptop or you might get ripped off. You should know the prices of the parts that make up the laptop you are buying. The value of items like processor speed, memory size, hard drive size, graphics card size and software programs will vary from one laptop to another; depending on the brand name and where you are buying from. Here are a few key points and examples that should make laptop comparisons easier and more useful for you.
Before you buy a laptop you should always know what is inside and make sure that it’s not overpriced for the hardware it offers. For example: you can order a gaming laptop right now that will play any game on the market without any degradation in performance, but you can also buy a basic laptop that may look different but has the same hardware inside for much less. The main problem a lot of people have when buying a laptop is paying for a name. Just because a laptop has a certain brand name, doesn’t mean that the extra money they will be spending will mean they are buying a better laptop.
But first let’s consider some of the basic criteria you need to look at when buying your laptop.
Remember that the whole purpose of a laptop is that it can be easily carried around and is meant for the person on the move. If you need to hire a person just to lug it around, you are better off using a desktop.
The processor depends upon what purpose your laptop is going to serve. If it is meant to be a mobile web browser, email, word processing or even DVD player, any CPU above 800 MHz should be sufficient. Unless, of course, you are a graphic designer, a PIII will suffice.
When purchasing a laptop, look at the resolution of the screen as well as the size. A large screen is generally preferred but some large screens have such high resolutions that it can make standard fonts unbearably hard to read. The size of the screen also impacts the size of the laptop. Unlike traditional desktop CRT (cathode-ray tube) monitors, notebooks ship with thin, liquid-crystal displays. Notebook LCDs range in size from 10.6 inches (diagonal) to 20 inches; display size is a key factor in the laptop’s overall weight. For comfortable viewing at the preferred Windows resolution of 1,024×768, most people like 14.1-inch or larger LCDs.
Just how good is your portable computer going to be if you are only able to get half-an-hour of computing time on a single charge. Check the manufacturer’s listed battery life for the standard battery. Look at getting a system with at least two hours of battery life under normal conditions. I recommend laptops with Ion-Lithium batteries, they last longer and also have no memory, so you can recharge anytime without losing usage-time. It’s also good to buy them in a place with an extended warranty, because the warranty covers the batteries. Remember, you’ll probably need to change the batteries every year or so and the extended warranty covers itself with that
Since laptops are used on the move, they take a lot of abuse and are more prone to breakdowns. When buying a system, make sure to get at least a year’s warranty from the manufacturer.
Before you pick up your shopping bag, be sure of the purpose your laptop is going to serve. If you are the kind who needs it for using Microsoft Office and to check your mail, you do not need a very high configuration state-of-the-art machine. Settling for a slightly older configuration may, therefore, help land you a good deal.
So, you should consider the following check lists when you are in the market for buying a laptop:
- Size and weight
- Processor (CPU)
- Memory (RAM)
- Display
- Battery life
- Warranty
One Response to “If you want to buy a Laptop”
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May 15th, 2008 at 2:26 am
Thanks for all the useful advice about choosing and buying a laptop. I actually don’t own one yet. I either use my desktop computer at home, or the desktop ones at the university. But I think, sooner or later, I am going to need a laptop for traveling and going on holiday.