Even though laptops have significantly fallen in price in the last 18 months, buying a laptop is still an expensive decision, and you want to buy the best laptop for your needs. This laptop buying guide will walk you through the main decision factors you need to consider when buying a laptop computer. Unlike desktop PCs which all "look" more or less the same, a laptop is something you will be carrying with you (although they work fine as a desktop replacement as well), running your fingers over, hunching over all day perhaps. So after you do your research, SPEND SOME TIME at Circuit City of Best Buy and get your hands on these machines to see what they FEEL like - the weight, the key spacing, etc.
What is the best laptop for me?
Before selecting a particular laptop brand, ask yourself what your basic laptop needs are. Is the laptop for business use? Are you a college student? Is portability (battery life, weight) the main factor? Are you looking for a gaming machine? Do you need a large screen for giving presentations? Start by writing down a list of your top 5 requirements in a laptop.
Now think about the size of the laptop you are looking for, since most PC makers divide their product lines by size and weight. The smallest laptop PCs are less than 1" think and weigh just 2-3 pounds. Newer tablet PCs that allow you to "write" on their touch-sensitive screen with a digital stylus are very light but normally lack CD and DVD drives, limiting their usability. If you are choosing a desktop replacement that will sit on your desk all day, you can select a larger, heavier feature-packed model where weight is not an issue. If you will be on the road all day with a computer bag hanging over your arm, you will likely want a lighter weight laptop computer.
Laptop Technical Specifications:
Since laptops are by their nature small, manufacturers need to make trade-offs when designing these portable machines. Big batteries last longer but weigh more. DVD players are nice, but they add bulk and weight. Special low-voltage processors are needed to minimize energy use and extend battery life. The Intel Celeron and Mobile Intel Pentium 4 are common chips you will see in laptop configurations. AMD also makes chips especially for laptops, but they have a much smaller market share than Intel. Look for the Celeron which is specifically designed for mobile use. For memory, all Windows XP need at least 256MB of RAM minimum. 512MB feels much better, and 1GB will leave you smiling all day. LCD screen size is another choice - small screen and smaller, lighter, machine, or big screen and heavier laptop? For a desktop replacement, you may well be connecting your laptop computer to an external monitor, so LCD screen does not matter. A 14 inch screen is about average - the large 17" ones are difficult to open on a cramped airplane workspace. 20GB hard drives are the current standard in laptops, but 40 or 60GB gives you more space, especially if you are a music or video fan, as those files can fill up space quickly. And if you are a movie fan, you probably want an internal DVD drive (recordability not as important, unless you plan on doing your backups on DVD). Remember again, all these things add to the weight, and you need to consider that list of "requirements" you made at the start. Almost all laptops come with built-in ethernet ports for connecting to a network or an internet connection (broadband). You may also want to consider built-in wireless support (802.11b or g), although plug in adapter cards are readily available, cheap, and easy to use.
Buying a Notebook Online
When it comes down to it, cost will also be an important factor in your final decision. You'll want to visit the major online notebook companies and compare features and prices. Your goal is to reduce your choices to 3 or 4 models.
Dell - Latitude, Inspiron, Precision Laptop PCs
HPShopping.com - HP laptop and Compaq notebook families
Gateway
Sony VAIO
Toshiba
IBM/Lenovo - makers of famous ThinkPad
Fujitsu
Panasonic
You'll also want to read some reviews from technology editors - CNet, PCWorld, and PCMagazine are good places to do some preliminary research. The good news is that you will now find laptop and notebook computers at discounted prices - as low as $599 for a decent machine. Check your Sunday circulars as well for special sales and discounts on notebook PCS - they ofter feature a $999 machine with more than $200 worth of mail-in rebates coupons.
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