It's easy to be intimidated
by all the laptop models on the market today. There
are literally dozens and dozens in every price range.
The key to finding the right
one for you is to step back and consider exactly how
you plan to use your laptop. When you define what
you need before you go shopping, buying the right
machine becomes much easier.
Here are 5 basic factors to consider:
1. Size
In the world of mobile computing, size definitely
matters. The size of a laptop affects two key areas:
portability and display size.
If you're always on the go and
will be using your computer only in short bursts,
a so-called ultralight will save you some shoulder
strain.
On the other hand, if you're
going to spend hours in front of your laptop, a larger
display may be in order.
Today, some laptop displays exceed
17 inches, rivaling the display size of many desktop
systems. The down side is that these monsters can
easily weigh three times as much as an ultralight.
2. Hard Drive
Speaking of size, what about the size of the hard
drive? One way to approach this issue is to ask yourself
the following question:
Will this be my primary computer,
or will it supplement my desktop system?
If the former, you should look
for a bigger hard drive - 60 GB or more.
If the latter, you may be able
to make it with a 20-30 GB hard drive.
But even this isn't absolute.
If, for example, you plan to
copy a huge MP3 library from your desktop system to
your laptop to make your music library portable, you'd
be well advised to err on the side of too big.
3. Memory
In determining the right amount of system memory,
or RAM, take a look at the ways in which you intend
to use your laptop:
If your needs are somewhat mundane
- email, spreadsheets, word processing, etc. - 256
MB of RAM should be plenty. This is a common configuration
for many laptops, so it means you probably won't need
to spend extra for more RAM.
On the flip side, if you're an
aspiring mobile digital photographer or videographer,
you should stuff your laptop with as much RAM as it
can hold.
In fact, exactly how much RAM
your laptop can hold may in part drive your purchase
decision. Applications for editing and manipulating
multimedia content are notorious resource hogs.
4. Network Connections
Thanks in no small part to the Internet, computing
in the 21st century relies heavily on being connected:
Connected to the Internet, connected
to a corporate network, connected to a wireless network,
connected to a home network, connected to an online
service.
Your life will be easier if you
buy a laptop that includes built-in means to connect
to them all.
5. Price
If you're considering a laptop, you're probably wondering
how much money you'll need to spend.
A few years ago, you'd be hard-pressed
to find one for under $2,000. Today, there are plenty
of laptops to be had for under $1,000.
What's more, most of the major
manufacturers offer a variety of financing options.
Laptop prices have come down,
to be sure. However, a laptop still represents a fairly
major purchase for most people.
If you take the time
to search for a laptop that meets your specific needs,
you should get many years of use and enjoyment from
this important investment.
The author,
computer journalist John San Filippo, has created
the definitive guide for buying a laptop computer.
It's an easy read and explains everything you need
to know. Check out: http://HowToBuyALaptop.com/
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