Shopping A New Laptop

What factors you should consider when buying a new one.

Here are a few tips and suggestions:

• Decide on the performance specifications that you will need by asking yourself: what use will you have for your laptop? Is it going to be for business or for education? Perhaps you would like to use a mobile computer as your multimedia or gaming center? If you are a frequent traveler, for example, it is wiser to choose a lighter laptop with many wireless connectivity options; if you wish to edit your digital photos or make movies using your computer, it will be more practical to buy a laptop with a large internal memory and useful recordable disk drives. If you are a gamer, meanwhile, you will surely appreciate a laptop that comes with a relatively wide screen size.

• How connected do you want to be? Today's technologies on laptop computers allow a plethora of connectivity options, be it wireless or peripheral. It is important to consider whether this is necessary to your use. USB 2.0 and internal modems are common facilities for connection but you may also have wireless options, such as a built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, infra-red, and Firewire.

• Also consider how portable you would want your laptop to be. While shopping around, spend some time to scrutinize the size, price, and weight of the laptop models. Make sure that the laptop you are looking for is something that you are willing to carry. Usually the lighter the model is, the more expensive it gets, but really it all boils down to what your requirements are for functionality - and not just for design.

• Consider the ergonomics. By this we mean that you would want to have a laptop that is as comfortable for you to use as possible. Keyboards on laptops are usually designed with smaller keys: how small can they get for you to be able to use them? Also, while a touch pad or tracking pointer will be sufficient for occasional use, it might help your patience and your carpal tunnels to purchase a separate mouse.

• Consider drives and storage memory. The amount of memory needed usually varies from user to user, but really everyone wants to have more than enough memory in their laptops' optical drive. When researching, make sure that you find out not just the RAM specifications installed in the computer, but the maximum memory a system can handle, and if it's possible to complete a memory upgrade more than once.

• One last step before completing your laptop purchase is to check other information such as prices and warranty plans. each the Internet to see if other stores are offering the same model at cheaper prices, and if there are retailer-exclusive bargains, coupon codes or discounts which you can avail in order to get a better deal. Warranty information, meanwhile, is necessary because laptops are made delicately, with parts crammed tightly and delicately into a limited space; otherwise, if you overlook this information, you may have to cover unexpected costs in cases of laptop damage.