Am busy choosing the right Laptop model for myself, so here’s what I discovered.
The Laptop is the new PC. Everyone who is anyone is now using a Laptop and taking advantage of its portable feature. Choosing the right Laptop for your needs is an art that few have mastered. Most people end up getting nice and expensive high end models with a host of features that they know nothing about and almost never use. I know it sounds harsh, but its true. Most of us will never use the new fangled features that the laptop has to offer.
So it makes sense to first set down the reason why you need the Laptop before you buy it. What is your budget and how much do you want to spend? Don’t get conned into spending more than you can afford just for some new feature you just heard about. If you are going to use it on a regular basis, go right ahead and buy it. But if its just something that you want to try out, wait for a friend to buy it and do your little experimenting then.
Is it for home use or office use? This will determine the processor speed and memory that you will need. Naturally an office computer will need higher processor speed and memory options. If it is going to be used as your portable office specially if you are a freelancer, you would like to get massive memory storage. Or at least an expandable memory device. An external hard disk drive is a great way to have the storage and not pay for it in your laptop.
Will you be carting it around everywhere or will it sit on a table for most of the time? If it’s just going to sit on the table most days, ask if you really need that ultra light model. Also if you are traveling very often make sure that the size that you pick will fit in easily into your regular travel suitcase. Just how large a screen do you need? 14 inches? Wide screen? Resolution? All these terms will confuse you in the show room.
It is ideal to make a list of what you need and eliminating any laptop that does not meet the criterion in the list. Eliminate both underperforming and over performing candidates. Then you will be left with a handful of laptops that you really need. Asking yourself a few such pertinent questions before you decide on a model will ensure that you pick up what you truly need rather than something you fancied.
11 Responses
good tip! thanks
Great info.
better see you on the contents of a brand
Thanks for the info and tips
Great tips, Cashmere. I’m sending this from my laptop, my wife is on the PC!!
I’ve been considering a laptop. Thanks for the tips Cashmere.
Thanks for sharing this! I needed it! Excelent write up.
I have two laptops. A regular sized one and a Dell mini 9. The regular one just sits on my desk. I take the mini everywhere. It is perfect for writing and browsing. Of course, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of my regular laptop but it fills a need. It weighs just over 3 lb. You might want to consider a mini also…I think they have now stopped making the 9 but they do have a mini 10.
I couldn’t go back to a desktop computer at home, I have too much freedom with the laptops.
I have finally picked up the Acer travel mate 5730.
Seems just right for my needs. It is a bit large size wise, but after the PC its great.
Handy tips indeed. I think that laptops are very effective if you are not in one location all the time, and/or are in the need to do presentations on the go, visit colleagues, use it in multiple locations, etc.
They’re not quite as powerful as a Desktop (PC or Mac, really), but they do get the job done!
-Fresh Writing
I might be investing in a laptop soon once I’m off to University in a couple of years so this is a really good guide to fast track the process of purchsing a laptop. Good tips for a first time buyer!