How to Choose a Laptop

The size and portability of a laptop is the most popular reason that people choose to purchase one. Like its desktop counterpart, a laptop computer has many possibilities in terms of price and performance. Here is your guide to choosing the laptop that is right for your needs.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Think about how you want to use your laptop in order to decide on performance specifications. If you enjoy making home movies, for example, you should select a laptop that comes with a recordable DVD drive and a large memory to hold your films. But if you travel frequently, it is worthwhile to choose a laptop that comes with a built-in wireless Internet card.

2. Decide on the screen size you prefer based on your usage. Gamers should choose a screen that's wide enough to capture all the exciting graphics while students should opt for something smaller and easier on the eyes. There are many sizes out there so pay close attention to what works for you.

3. Visit an electronics store that carries a wide range of laptops. Take some time to get familiar with the size, price and weight of several different models. Just because an expensive laptop is smaller than the cheaper ones does not necessarily mean it is lighter or better.

4. Inquire with the manufacturer or salesperson about upgrade options. Technology changes rapidly and your laptop should be able to last many years if you have the option to upgrade memory or disk drives.

5. Ask about about details that are often overlooked such as battery life, connectivity ports and networking capabilities. These factors can seriously impact the way you use your machine, so choose a laptop with a nice balance of all three.

6. Go online to check if any competitors are offering the same computer for a discount. If so, you may be able to bargain with another retailer and get the price you want.

7. Consider an extended warranty. Due to their size, laptops contain parts that are crammed into a tight space with many complex connections and, unlike desktop computers, their delicate parts do not come apart easily. If something goes wrong, you can look to your extended warranty to cover unexpected costs.

Tips & Warnings

• A salesperson will invariably try to make you purchase a laptop that is loaded with extra features you will never use. Stay conscious of your needs and be firm about the price you are willing to pay.

[scottys94]

on 11/8/2007 Before you get a laptop, you should make sure that you like everything about it. You should make sure that it has at least 1GB of memory, 2.0 GHz, Windows XP or later, a CD/DVD player, and other things that you are interested in.