How to Decide What Specs are Needed in a Laptop
The right laptop is all about user preference. Knowing how, when, and where you intend to use the laptop will go a long way in helping you identify which specifications are most important to you. Once you narrow down your features list, you can start comparison shopping.
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Instructions
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Choosing the Right Laptop
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Make a list of what you intend to do with your new laptop. Do you want to surf the web, play games, work with digital images and video, communicate with work, or solely use it for business? Chances are you want the laptop for more than one reason. Some functions, however, make some specifications more important than others. For instance, a laptop whose primary function is for game playing would benefit from a fast graphics card and a higher end audio card. A business user will want to run multiple applications simultaneously, so more memory should be a priority.
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Think about when and where you are most likely to use your laptop. If you intend to take the laptop with you when you travel, its size and weight are important. A laptop with a 17-inch screen that weighs six pounds or more wouldn't be a good choice for a road warrior.
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Create a need-to-have/nice-to-have feature-comparison list. On a piece of paper (or in a spreadsheet) draw three columns. In the first column, list laptop features. Then, in the second and third columns check off what you need to have and what would be nice to have. Some features to consider are a large screen, lots of RAM, Blu-ray DVD support, a DVD burner, long battery life, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, multiple USB ports, TV card, a LightScribe DVD labeling and burning system, dual processors, and a 64-bit operating system.
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Take your features list with you when you shop (or have it handy if you're searching online) and look for a computer that has all your need-to-have features and is within your price range.
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Tips & Warnings
There is no difference between a laptop and a notebook. These are just different terms used by different manufacturers. A new category gaining in popularity is the netbook. A netbook is a very small computer designed primarily for wireless Internet access. If that's all you need, a netbook might be worth a look.
Don't spend extra for a feature you don't need. If you have no intention of ever watching a DVD on your laptop, don't buy one with a built-in Blu-ray DVD player.
