It's Not Just A Laptop: Top Five Things To Consider When Planning To Buy One

Gone were the days when you could just go to your neighborhood computer store, pay for a decent desktop, and leave with your new purchase in 15 minutes. These days buying a computer means countless hours researching on specs, weight, aesthetics and of course, affordability.

Now more than ever, it is so much easier for us to decide on which laptop to purchase. Certain sites like CNET.com and Laptopical.com offers extensive product reviews and guides to help you ultimately decide which laptop best suits your lifestyle. Here are some of the more important things to consider before shedding out some cash for a laptop.

Hardware Specifications

This is probably one of, if not, the most important thing to consider on your purchase. The memory (RAM) allows your computer to run as smooth as possible. For simple internet surfing, e-mail, and video streaming, at least 1GB of RAM would be suitable. Internet gaming would require twice as that, if not more. A fast processor equals to a fast computer, so the higher the number, the better it is. The hard drive should be as large as your money can buy.

The Display

This is also one aspect that needs careful discerning as to how you will use your laptop. You may think that a 17” screen would be the best way to go, but there are a couple of downsides that cannot be easily discounted such as a shorter battery life and a few extra kilos.

The best way is still to look at the prospective laptops personally and take note of the screen size, video resolution, and even feel the LCD and see if it is glossy or matte. All of which immensely increase your viewing pleasure.

Battery Life

Battery life is a critical consideration especially to the user who is always out and about. A second battery would easily solve the problem, but others who don't want to be hassled by it have the option of upgrading to a bigger battery which lasts longer, for a few hundred bucks.

Integrated wireless

The ability to connect to the internet should also be a key factor in your decision. A system that includes 56Kbps modern and Fast Ethernet and an integrated 802.11g wireless adapter (WiFi) should be enough for you to connect to the internet anywhere you are.

Price

For many, budget is the number one determinant as to the purchase of a laptop. There will always be countless of choices on both sides of the money equation but again, it all boils down to how your new laptop can complement your lifestyle. There is no point in spending thousands on the latest and most state-of-the-art computer if you are only going to use it for web browsing, instant messaging and sending e-mails.

So do your research and do not be afraid to go to a computer shop and try to get a feel of laptops within your price range. After all, you'll be purchasing your new best friend with your hard-earned money.