With all the laptop choices, it can be hard to find the one you need. However, all you need in order to make a well-informed decision is a little more information. Read these tips so you can make an educated decision.
Before you get out there and buy your laptop, you need to have a budget in mind. Think about which type of computer you want and the features you need. Are you a PC or a Mac person? Macs give cutting edge technology in graphics, making them ideal for people working in an environment rich in graphics.
If you watch a lot of multimedia on your laptop, like DVDs games,, Netflix or Hulu, get one with a good-quality, devoted graphics chip. There are many video games available; however, if your graphics card is just an integrated chip set, you may not be able to run them. Do you need a dual core processor or a quad core chip?
Spending a little money on a cooler now could save you a lot of money in the future. You might not be aware that a laptop’s bottom gets quite hot. The laptop cooler will protect your legs from this heat.
See if it is possible to upgrade your laptop’s RAM as well as its hard drive prior to purchasing. Though you may not require such features at this point in time, that could change. Upgrading is usually cheaper than purchasing a whole new laptop. Think about this before you buy a laptop.
Look at the battery life the different laptops offer. It can get really annoying if your battery dies on you all the time. Look for 4 hours of battery power if you’re stationary and at least 5 hours when you’re on the go.
Look at Windows and Mac when thinking about buying a new laptop. Windows is generally more affordable; however, many people like Mac best. Go see both in person. Then read customer reviews for the devices you’re considering.
When budgeting out your laptop shopping, don’t forget accessories! Whether it be a mouse, a pack, or a case, they can cost quite a bit of money. To get a good gauge of how much you’ll spend altogether, add up the price of the accessories online, even if you’ll eventually buy in a retail store.
Watch your available memory for your laptop. Doing this can indicate to you when it’s a good time to dump programs to free up available space. The more memory you have available to you, the faster your laptop is able to run.
Think about the mouse that comes with your laptop. You will find many mouse designs available today. Some have track pads, some have buttons, and some have balls. Get the one that is right for you. You can always change out the mouse later, but start with a model that you like the best.
Dim your display to increase battery time. The display is one of the biggest battery drains, so keeping this setting low will help your battery last longer. You can adjust these settings from the Control Panel.
A majority of laptop users don’t require the most powerful computing power. Unless your plan is to game on your computer, you’re not going to need tons of ram as well as a fast processor. Computers with less RAM are cheaper, so don’t go for something you don’t need.
Many of today’s laptops do not come with a DVD drive. Many users now stream video online. Obviously, though, you’ll want to be sure you’re getting a DVD/Blu-Ray equipped laptop if you prefer to watch movies straight from discs – or if you like burning your own!
Do you need a laptop to solely check emails and surf the web? Consider a Chromebook. These are laptops made by Google and they have little storage and a light operating system. They’ll give you a strong browser experience with lots of speed and performance. They are relatively inexpensive too. Sometimes they are as low as $300.
If you want a light, affordable computer, go for a “no drive bay” option. You’ll save lots of money by not having the drives. For less than $100 you can buy a portable disk drive, should you really need one.
If you are concerned about buying a laptop because you are frequently in areas where your computer may be accessed without your permission, you should buy one that has an extra security layer. Some laptops have fingerprint and facial recognition security.
Check the local sales ads to price laptops. This is the best day of the week for sale ads. Buying a paper every week is a good investment when you are looking for a great deal on a laptop.
If you will ever need to mail your laptop somewhere, make sure that you ship it properly. Stores that specialize in shipping often have laptop packaging kits ready to buy. Consider purchasing one, even if your laptop is being shipped through the post office.
Be sure you can carry your laptop easily. You ought to feel comfortable with the keyboard and any mouse. If you’ve only used desktop computers in the past, you will need to become accustomed to the differences between the two. Do not worry too much about what your laptop looks like.
As you can now see, it’s easy to buy a good laptop when you know what you’re doing. Use these tips to make the process as simple as it can be. Knowing what you want and doing your research will help you get what you need from your new laptop.