When you don’t know much about computers, buying a new laptop can seem a little scary. However, if you do your research, you can find a great deal on the laptop you need. The article that follows below is meant to help you do precisely that.
Take a look at online reviews and feedback before buying your laptop. New laptops are shiny, but that does not necessarily mean they are worthwhile. This is why you should see what others say about it.
Consider making your laptop purchase online. You can usually get better deals there. Sometimes, you can even find promo codes to save you even more money. You may save money by making your purchase online, so think about it.
Do not look only at price when buying a laptop. It is not always the case that a more expensive machine means a better machine. Sometimes, you are in fact paying for the brand and the status that the brand affords you. Buy your laptop computer for its specifications, instead.
Invest in your laptop’s sound system. It is not uncommon to find sound being overlooked on laptops because they are not a desktop system. So when you go to enjoy an online movie, or watch a DVD, it sounds awful. It’s a must to test that sound out before buying.
Whenever possible, test-drive the specific model of laptop you are thinking about buying before you actually purchase it. A lot of people don’t think of ergonomics regarding laptops, and focus on other things. A poorly designed machine will be uncomfortable to use and can impact your physical health.
Remember to check out the battery life when you are looking at new laptops. Even if you’ll mostly use your laptop at home, it’s still inconvenient to have to recharge it constantly. Your battery must provide at least four hours of use. Five is better.
Get a laptop that has a number of USB ports. This is something not a lot of people think through. You may want to connect a laptop, mouse, memory card and other things that need a USB port at the same time. Always ensure that the laptop offers at least four ports.
Don’t let the netbook concept confuse you. It is a misconception to think of a netbook as just a small laptop. Netbooks allow simple Internet usage as well as email, but they lack the capability and power associated with a laptop. Don’t get a netbook if you really need a laptop.
Make a precise list of all of the uses for your laptop. For instance, will it accompany you into the kitchen so you can view recipes? If this is your intent, make sure to protect it with a waterproof skin. Go through your list and highlight anything you are not willing to compromise on.
The LCD is a big component that drains battery life. To boost your battery life, decrease your brightness to its lowest level that you can comfortably use. Dimming your display will greatly increase the life of your battery.
Consider getting a laptop that is refurbished. You will get a great price and you don’t risk much as long as you secure a good warranty upfront. Many people don’t have issues with these, and it makes them available to everyone.
To make your favorite programs easier to get to quickly, pin the shortcuts to the Start menu. Once you’ve located your shortcut, click on it with the right mouse button and pin it to your Start menu. This will pin the icon to your Start menu. You no longer need to search in “All Programs.”
Test out your laptop after buying it. Typically, you can return a laptop within 30 days of purchase. Most problems that creep up will happen rather quickly. If you don’t use the system for the first two weeks, you may catch a flaw late. This is your window to make sure everything works for you.
Think about getting a laptop equipped with a camera. In today’s world, the camera is used more and more. You may think you’ll never use it, but the small expense may be worth it. FaceTime and Skype have made this very popular. If you have family members living far away, these kinds of services are very valuable. Your webcam will really come in handy.
Before you begin to shop, determine which online retailers offer free shipping and restrict your purchases to those sites. If you have luck and find the right computer, you get to keep a lot of the money in your account instead of buying a computer that is too expensive.
If you’re a gamer or a person who uses a lot of memory intensive programs, you may not need a dedicated graphics chip. However, these cards reduce your laptop’s battery life. People often buy laptops with dedicated GPUs, but many of them don’t use the graphics card beyond integrated capabilities.
You can save much money by purchasing a laptop without tons of storage space. If you find that a terabyte of storage is more than you need, opt for a smaller hard drive. When you go with less drive space, you can save money. You could use the saved cash for processing that’s better.
When you have a narrowed down list, look at online complaints. Using the model number, perform searches that include keywords like “issue” and “problem”. You might learn that the optical drive has problems or that the mouse tends to stick.
Think about your other pieces of technology currently in your possession before getting a laptop. Do you already use an Apple TV device or an iPhone? If so, a Mac might be the best choice for you since these devices work well with Apple computers. The same goes for purchasing a PC with Android or Microsoft devices. Consider how compatible your laptop will be with the electronic devices you already own.
When it’s time to purchase a laptop, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of the options that are available. Simply use your newfound knowledge to choose the right computer for your needs. We hope that you now feel completely confident as you begin to shop.