Buying a Laptop is a fairly simple task. It’s as simple as going into a supermarket and buying a bar of soap or toilet paper for that matter. However buying the RIGHT Laptop is altogether a different thing.
Foremost thing to do would be to make a list of your requirements. Make yourself clear of what you are going to use it for and what applications you plan to run. For example the usage could be anything from Basic Web Surfing to Programming and CAD (Computer Aided Design) and Applications ranging from a simple Word Applications to software’s like Photoshop, Visual Studio , 3DsMax, etc. If it’s a complex and professional software look at their min requirement as specified by the Vendor. Also Decide on how long you are going to be using the Laptop ( If it’s short term it would make sense to keep a Lower Budget while if you plan to not change for a few years its important to buy something that would be redundant soon). Last but not the at least have a rough budget in mind.
Below are something’s that you will need to Consider:
a. Design, Weight and Size (Portability) : Laptop can be defined a portable computer, So its highly important that you choose something of the right size and weight. Also if you want to flaunt it around or if you are in the Creative Business Designs are important too. Size of the laptop is also directly proportional to the Size of the Screen. Take 14 – 15 inches as a reference and go Up or Down as per your needs. Let me tell you “small is in” right now. When you are about to choose a model as yourself “Can I easily carry this around where I go? Does it feel Sturdy? , If the answers are positive go to the next point.
b. Processor and Ram: Unless Web Browsing and Word processing are the only things you would do on your laptop go for the Dual Cores. RAM is a very important part in the Laptop too as most newer applications are RAM Hungry and OSs like Vista require Decent amounts of RAM. Except for a Web Book consider 2GB as a Base. You could always upgrade later but 2GB is the base. Intel Celeron based processors would be the Low End, Intel Core Solo , Core2Duo 5000 Series and AMD Turion 64 would be the Medium Range and Core2Duo 8000 Series being the performance range.
c. Hardisks: Hardisks are becoming cheaper by the day. 80GB / 160GB or more should be the basic, Make sure that it has at least double of what you presently require, this will save you a lot of hassles later.
d. Connectivity: This is very important considering that you will need to use Internet / Lan in almost every place you go to, Right from you neighbour coffee shop to Wireless Internet at the airports. Make sure the laptop you buy supports Wifi b/g/n and also Ethernet ports / Fire wire ports as per you requirements at home and office.
e. Battery: Although this is mentioned last does not mean that its not important, This is one of the most Important factors to consider. Most Decent Laptops provide backup of 2.5 Hours and above. Understand the laptops battery life by asking the salesman, Reviews on the net, etc. Also but a Higher capacity battery (Like a 9 Cell one instead of the 6 Cell which might have come bundled)
f. Warranty: For the very fact that Laptops are portable and will be used in a Number of environments and are more Subject to Rough Usage, falls etc Warranty is highly important. This you would need to consider are whether it has a international Warranty, Is its Carry In Warranty only, How Quick is the response time and the Service time.
Also if you are a traveller like I am, Make sure the laptop has the card reader which you so require and what kind of Laptop bag is provided.
And coming to the most important thing to do, Go to the nearby store and Physically Feel and try to work a few minutes on the laptop you intend to buy. Most major retailers you have display pieces. Don’t just buy it off the net. It’s highly important to actually feel the Quality and Size of the laptop and how easy its for you to use it, especially since its may be you only companion in many of you trips and you may spend more time with it than anyone else for the next few years.
