If you are planning on buying a laptop and are struggling on how to choose one from the heaps of laptop models available in the market, you have come to the right place. Most often, you are confused on what are the factors to consider like the price and the specifications of the laptop. You need to think a lot because these days, there a lot of new laptop models available in the market. There are also many stores either online or commercially offering their best products at very reasonable process. Here is a list of ten things one must take into account before buying laptops in no particular order.
- Your own computing requirements
The most important factor to consider is your own requirements. The market these days are filled with laptop models classified into niches to appeal to different kinds of individuals. If you are buying laptops because you want internet on the go, there is the netbook. But if you require it for running heavy softwares or programming, you might need a more powerful machine. - Portability
You are buying laptops rather than a desktop, so it obviously means you want to be portable. Therefore check out how portable is the laptop model you are looking at. Is it too heavy? Does it fit a normal bag? Again this depends on your own computing requirements. Say for a jetsetting traveller, he or she would not want to lug around a heavy 2 kg laptop, right? - Battery and Power
Battery is a very important issue to look at. Some laptop models come with 4 cell, 6 cell or 8 cell, arranged in an ascending order of power. As a part of being portable, it means you need more power. Hence when buying laptops, one should always check how much battery life it has in a light, moderate and heavy usage mode. - Memory and Speed
Memory in laptops are measured in Hertz. The standard speed in the laptop market currently is roughly around 2ghz, while some laptop models have more or even less than 2 ghz. As with everything, your choice of the speed also depends on your requirements. Generally if you want a faster computer, opt for a memory of higher than 2 ghz. In fact, some laptop brands also allow an upgrade for a minimal prize. This option may suit you better. - Disk and Storage
How much can the laptop model store? The higher the disk space, the higher the storage. As a rule of thumb, opt for a machine with a higher disk storage place to avoid having to back-up your data in an external drive, which is an added cost. However, backing-up your data is not such a bad idea. So when buying laptops, look at the convenience level you want when it comes to storing your data. - Connectivity
What use is a laptop that cannot stay connected? Here look at the WiFi, Bluetooth, Infrared (if still required), USB ports, CD Drives, webcam, microphone and any other form of connectivity you deem important. In this age of cloud computing, some computers even offer instant connectivity to complementing gadgets. So you can choose that if that’s what you are looking for. - Brand Reputation
The laptop brand’s reputation should play a key role when buying laptops. More reputable brands mean more reliable laptop models. Look at online reviews or forums or friends who have used their products for referrals. - Warranty and Guarantees
Warranties and guarantees are very important when buying laptops as well. These are basically the insurance that the company gives you for whatever period specified. Within this time period, you are covered. So anything that goes wrong with your laptop may be fixed for free or with some subsidy, based on the agreement. It is important that you choose a laptop model with a decent warranty and guarantee cover. - Serviceability
What use is a laptop that cannot be serviced. Look for availability of parts and service centers for your laptop brand within your vicinity. Servicing should be a simple and easy process. Make sure your brand believes in that as well. - Freebies and Discounts
For some this may be the first and foremost criteria, but it is important nonetheless. Laptop brands these days give a lot of offers on their products with bundle packages and/or discounts on their products. When buying laptops, make sure you look around the market for the best deals in town.
The list above is not comprehensive but still covers basically the major factors that should be considered when buying laptops. For instance, there are various Novatech laptops of sleek models and they come in different dimensions and designs. Do make sure you choose what you fancy more based on specifications and price because it should be one time deal. For sure you will buy your next laptop after years so make sure you choose the right kind of machine for you.
Author Bio:
Archie de Lara writes on his general niche blog ad DOTCOM. He is a freelancer and works on various internet-based jobs like website development, transcription, writing and online marketing. He’d rather work via the Internet home based than continue working office based.