Are you looking to buy a new laptop? Are you aware of the things you ought to look for? If you aren’t, read on for some excellent advice and tips. There are various options out there that may overwhelm you. Use this article to make the best decision about your next laptop.
One major consideration for a laptop is the battery life. Even if you’ll mostly use your laptop at home, it’s still inconvenient to have to recharge it constantly. Demand a minimum of four hours from your battery if you won’t be going far from an outlet with it and at least five if you will.
Before you buy a laptop, think about how long it will be until your computer is obsolete. New technology can make your new laptop seem like a dinosaur. Simply upping the specs a bit can mean the difference of years before you find the need to replace the laptop.
Be sure the laptop has multiple USB posts. This is one important feature which is frequently overlooked. USB ports are necessary to connect any number of peripheral devices to your laptop. As a rule of thumb, four full USB ports is probably plenty, although more never hurts.
Don’t confuse netbooks with laptops. They look like mini laptops, but they are very different in what they can do. Netbook users can enjoy surfing the Internet and using email, but a netbook is not as powerful as a laptop. Most buyers should stay away from netbooks unless their needs are relatively simple.
If you want a laptop only for entertainment purposes, get a tablet instead. A tablet will let you download apps. Tablets typically may be connected to a wireless keyboard for typing emails or taking notes.
Shop wisely when looking for a computer. Go to electronic stores to check out the laptops. Play around with different ones so that you can find one that you’re comfortable with. When you find a laptop you like, go online to find special deals.
If the laptop of your dreams happens to be out of your practical price-range by a few hundred dollars, think about getting a refurbished model. If it has a good warranty and the price is good, you don’t have much to lose. Many of them do not pose any threat to owners and put good models within anyone’s reach.
Most laptop owners don’t need that much computing power. Unless you plan to play video games, you won’t need a ton of RAM and a very fast motherboard. Save some money on this and look for a laptop with less RAM and an average motherboard.
Look at the ports of a laptop before buying it. You will have to have lots of USB plugs if you intend to attach extras such as a cell phone, iPod, wireless mouse, printer and so on. Figure out exactly which ports you need and be sure they’re all available.
Think about when a new model will be released prior to making a purchase. There are two great reasons for making a purchase when this happens. The first is of course the older models are going to now be cheaper. The second involves newer models offering better features that are worth the price.
For a lightweight computer that is inexpensive, select from the “no drive bay” versions. Software will need to be installed via online password or USB key, but it is possible to realize significant savings in this way. There are also USB DVD drives that are relatively inexpensive.
Reputation is the primary reason people choose a brand-name laptop. Do some research on Sony and Apple computers, but also look at lesser known brands like Asus, Toshiba and Acer. Generally, top brands are rated similarly, so there is not much advantage to purchasing one over the other.
It is not necessary to buy an extended warranty. Extended warranties are a usually a big profit maker for the store but do not merit the expense. Most electronics that are going to have problems do so within the standard warranty period anyway. If you must have an extended warranty, look online from companies that specialize in this area.
If you ever need to ship or mail your laptop, make sure that it is in an appropriate shipping container. Mailing stores offer laptop shipping kits just for this purpose. Consider buying one from them, even if you are using the postal service for shipping your laptop to someone.
Carefully consider your laptop’s portability. Increased portability does come with a price. For example, many laptops lack optical drives, have smaller hard drives and do not have enough ports for your needs. Be sure that you have all the things that you need in a smaller laptop before buying it.
Make sure you pick a light laptop if you will be mobile with it. You need to feel comfort when you use the mouse and keyboard. If you are accustomed to desktop models, you will have to get yourself acclimated. Don’t let yourself be sold on a slim laptop just because it looks better.
Before you buy a laptop, go to your local electronics store and try it out. Regardless of what type of laptop computer you decide to buy, you can find helpful information about optimizing the operating system.
Use a rather nondescript looking bag to carry your laptop, in order to prevent theft. If you use a diaper bag to carry your laptop around in no one will know what is in there, which means they will not be tempted to steal it from you.
Try to determine the specifications you desire in a new laptop purchase. If you want to play the most current games on your system, you will need a much more powerful processor and video card. If you will be using your computer for documents, you can save money by buying a laptop that offers fewer features.
There are many variables that go into buying a used or new laptop. This article has just provided the basic knowledge you need to know about these things. Take what you have learned and shop with confidence for your new laptop.