What Makes a Laptop Good?

Laptop quality is as diverse as their prices.

Like any product, laptop computers come in all sorts of different configurations. Usually, you get what you pay for. Certain features can clue you in to whether the laptop you're looking at is a good one.

Screen Size

High-end laptops typically have large screens that are HD-sized (e.g., five-by-three instead of four-by-three). HD-sized screens make it easier for you to view HD video without having letterbox black strips on the top and bottom of the screen.

Memory

Operating systems that are 32-bit can make use of up to four gigabytes (GB) of physical memory (RAM). Operating systems that are 64-bit can handle much more (up to 16 exabytes, or EB), so the amount of RAM a laptop comes with is indicative of its power. Quality laptops also allow memory upgrades, whereas lower-end laptops don't.

Processor

High-end processors as of August 2010 are typically 64-bit. Laptops with 32-bit processors are handicapped compared to 64-bit processors in terms of memory that it can use.

Operating System

Just as it makes sense to have a 64-bit processor for maximum performance, it makes sense for your operating system to be 64-bit as well. Having a 64-bit processor with a 32-bit operating system defeats the purpose.

Graphics Hardware

Make sure that the graphics hardware can handle the latest version of Microsoft's Direct X software. As of August 2010 the latest version is Direct X version 10.