Laptops / Notebooks

Price

Setting a budget should be your first step. While laptop prices have dropped dramatically in recent months, laptops can still cost almost twice as much as a comparable desktop. Most laptops run between $1000-$1800, depending on the speed and features you get.

 

 

Portability

Just how much portability you need can greatly affect the type of laptop you choose. Do you frequently travel, or will you only occasionally transport it between a few points? Generally, the more you travel, the lighter the laptop should be. While a few pounds may not seem like much, over time, the extra weight can take its toll. Before you go out and buy the lightest laptop you can find, you should consider a few more factors.

 

Screen size

The size of the screen will directly affect the size and price of the laptop. Screens typically range from 14”-17” and are very thin. Because of the process and materials used, the LCD screen of a laptop can be costly to replace. For this reason I always suggest an accidental damage plan that LCD replacement if the laptop gets damaged.

 

 

Speed/Power

While laptops have come a long way, most cannot compete with a top of the line desktop. Many manufacturers use a special version of desktop processors, like the Pentium M processor. While it drains less power and increases battery life, it costs you speed. The smaller the laptop, the more likely it will use one of these modified chipsets. They tend to work well for basic office applications, but for power users or hardcore gamers they don’t even come close to a desktop model.

 

 

Expandability/Memory

With a laptop, there is limited ability to expand. To save space, most laptop functions are built onto the motherboard, which gives limited memory expansion slots, usually only two. Initially get as much memory as you can or you may later spend more to remove the old chips and replace them with bigger ones. The basic user should have at least 256M of memory, while the power user should strongly consider 512M-1G or memory.

 

 

Extras like infrared, WiFi (802.11b & 802.11g) and Bluetooth should be considered. WiFi is valuable if you frequently travel or would like to work in various rooms of your house. Infrared and Bluetooth allow you to communicate wirelessly to other devices. In each case, make sure they can be turned off to preserve battery life.

 

 

While not directly related to your purchase of a laptop, you may want to consider a port replicator if you will use the laptop in set spots. Connecting your laptop to the replicator allows you to use things like a full-sized monitor, full-sized keyboard, mouse and USB devices.

 

 

Battery Life

Battery life can be a major consideration for the average laptop user. Batteries can last between 2-5 hours depending on usage, screen brightness, processor power consumption, peripheral usage, etc. Lithium batteries tend to last the longest overall, but the manufacturer should list average battery life in the laptop specifications.

 

Laptops are becoming more and more popular because of their advantages over desktops. And there are many great deals for laptops that are out there waiting for you to come by and grab them, provided you know where to look. Your chances of getting a great bargain also depend a lot on the kind of laptop that you need. And though there are many great bargains out there, the necessary research must be done to locate the most affordable products. There are quite a few places that one should search in order to have a variety of choices.

Before you start searching for the best deals on laptops, you must decide whether you want a brand new one or a used one. While making the decision, keep in mind that the best prices are available on used laptops. And once you’ve come to a decision you should use the internet to search for a laptop of your choice. The internet has revolutionized shopping. Now we are no longer confined to a small shopping location or area, but have the whole world at our disposal. And you can sometimes find sales that are available only through the websites of large online stores.

There are also many sites that are exclusively dedicated to selling second hand equipment. These sites often sell computers at throw away prices. However, getting used computers can be tricky because you’ll be taking a chance with them as they might be damaged or might not work properly. So, before making the decision, it’s best to read up on the seller. However, if you decide that you don't want to go for used equipment but still want the best deals on laptops then there are many bargain sites that sell brand new computers at low prices. These websites have some of the best laptop deals. You’ll need to ensure, though, that you are dealing with a legitimate and reliable company with a good tract record for excellent customer service.

There are great laptop deals available in your hometown stores as well. So, this is an option that shouldn’t be ignored or overlooked. Your home store can give you a good deal on laptops provided you know how to. There are, however problems like, your hometown computer store salesman might actually not know what you want in a computer, so you will have to tell them. Also, a lot depends on the kind of bargaining that you do. Often, hometown computer stores will try to sell things at a greater price because they are not a commercial company. But it has its advantages like great customer support.

Also, before making a decision, take time of to look for laptop deals in the electronic stores around you. And don’t forget to search in the weekly sales ads and compare the sales from week to week. This is because, with each new advancement in technologly, the prices of older model laptops will start to drop, oftentimes drastically. Sometimes laptop deals are readily available with manufacturer rebates. However, when purchasing a laptop that comes with a rebate, it’s important to follow all the directions. So, read the rebate offer carefully to make sure that the purchase is eligible. Sometimes, rebates are very specific and require certain software purchases in addition to the laptop. So, make sure you go through everything before jumping in. And, send the paperwork off on time. So, on the whole, as long as you use your common sense, there’s nothing to stop you from getting a great deal on a laptop

Good luck

While this is far from an all-inclusive guide, it should get you started down the right path in choosing your laptop.