How to buy a Laptop

Laptop computers have the same basic components as a desktop and therefore some of the same considerations apply. However, what you need in a laptop may vary depending on how you'll use it. If you also have a desktop, you may only use your laptop for web browsing. Buy a laptop only good enough to meet your needs and you can save some money.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Choose a display. The vast majority of laptops sold now are widescreen, but some brands still offer one or two square screen models. Most brands also offer several different size options. A bigger screen enables you to see more, but will also make the laptop heavier and sometimes more expensive.
2. Buy the right processor. The processor is the engine of the laptop. For basic web browsing and word processing, a 1 GHz processor is sufficient. However, if you plan to play games or do photo editing, you'll need a 1.5 GHz or faster processor.
3. Get the right amount of memory. A lot of memory is important if you will do more than one thing at once and have many programs running simultaneously. If you're a multi-tasker, two gigabytes of memory is a good idea. However, if you will have one or two programs open at one time, one gigabyte is sufficient.
4. Decide if you need a dedicated video card. Video cards are expensive for laptops, so it's important to determine if you need one. If you are going to play advanced games, be sure buy a video card with dedicated memory. Otherwise, save the money and get a laptop with an integrated video card.
5. Pick a hard drive size. A key consideration when you buy a laptop is where you will store your data. If you have a desktop you will store most of your data on, you may not need a very large hard drive. A 60 gigabyte hard drive is large enough to hold Windows, lots of programs, lots of text documents and a small amount of pictures, music and video.
6. Consider how much wireless Internet range you need. If you'll only use your laptop at home near your wireless router, get 802.11g. However, if you'll need to access the Internet away from home or if you will need to use your laptop more than 100 feet away from your router, upgrade to 802.11n.

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