Choosing A Laptop Computer
Shopping for Laptop Computers Is Not Exactly Rocket Science
Portability is the number one consideration when shopping for Laptops, although some people do purchase them and keep them plugged into a docking station. The ability to carry your computer home from the office or from your home office to the coffeehouse down the street is important. From students to business road warriors, laptops are an essential tool. However, do you know what to look for when you are in the market for one? There are a number of factors involved in narrowing down your choices.
Defining the User
Because there are several classes of laptops, it is important to know how the computer will be used as this can often direct you to the best class that suits those needs. For example, students would require a computer that is lightweight, easy to use and carry, is inexpensive and has just the basic programs for the internet, word processing, presentations and spreadsheets.
A business traveler would need the basic programs in addition to internet and emailing capabilities. This portable computer option for a business traveler would likely also need enough hard drive space for their company’s proprietary software as well as access to Wi-Fi networks. A gamer or photographer and videographer may need a powerhouse laptop with plenty of hard drive space, editing software and a large amount of operating memory. The average home user is probably similar to that of a student’s choice with perhaps some extras like a DVD drive.
Key Features
The processor, memory and screen size are perhaps the most important features that are often the deciding factor when shopping for laptop computers. When speed is important, you should choose a dual core processor, particularly if you are fond of running multiple programs at one time. The more RAM (random access memory) your computer has, the more efficient the operation. The standard rule of thumb is to always get slightly more memory than you think you will need.
In regards to screen size, you must consider several things. How is the computer going to be used? If you plan to watch TV shows and movies from the internet, you may want a wide screen model. However, for business, you may want a standard screen. If you don’t want to strain your eyesight, the obvious laptop choices are the ones with 17 to 21 inch screens.
The size of the laptop hard drive is another key characteristic you should factor into your selection of portable computers. The average size these days for students and home users is anywhere from 150 to 250 GB (gigabytes) which is acceptable for average file saving and even typical sound, photo and video file storage. However, if you plan to do more with your computer, such as gaming or professional level photo and video editing, the more gigabytes the better. The minimum you should consider is 320 GB.
Expansion bays, optical drives like CD and DVD rewritable ones, and networking options are additional features you want to review. Expansion bays allow for additional items to be plugged into your laptop such as a printer, flash drive or even an external hard drive. You want to choose a model that has at least three or four in case you exhaust all these pluggable possibilities. Optical drives are best when you plan to store data on a CD or even play DVD movies. And these days, most laptops are capable of broadband, Wi-Fi connectivity to the internet.
The final key characteristic when shopping for laptop computers is price. How much are you willing to spend? For obvious reasons, you want to choose the best laptop with all the features you want for the minimum price possible. This may require that you save up some money first or go for one of those pay-off plans that many stores offer these days. The bottom line is to choose a model that may be slighter more than you need so you have room to grow.
