What to Know and What to Look for When Purchasing a New Laptop
Why are you in the market for a new laptop?
Perhaps you're a parent searching for a laptop for their child to take to school this year, or you're seeking for a system that will offer you a competitive edge at work. The reason you're purchasing a laptop will dictate the features you require from the new device. If you're going to be utilizing Computer Animated Design software on your laptop, for example, you're going to need a faster processor than if you're just going to be using it for Word Processing or Internet research. Are you an obsessive gamer? Do you enjoy photo editing or video creation? Are you a musician seeking increased exposure? It may be prudent to set down every scenario in which you envision yourself using the laptop before proceeding to the next section of the tutorial, to ensure that you get everything you need from the system.
Laptops are available in an array of designs and sizes.
It is true that size matters.
This is an often overlooked factor when purchasing a laptop, yet the size and physical characteristics of the laptop are possibly the most critical. While the CPU, memory, and hard drive may all be changed or replaced as needed, other elements such as the laptop's size, the location of its numerous input/output ports, and its weight are all things you're likely to be stuck with once you acquire it. Several questions to ponder include the following:
- How huge a screen will I require?
- Am I going to be transporting this laptop frequently?
- How many peripherals will the laptop be connected to?
- Is there anything I'm going to miss about not having the NUMPAD on my keyboard?
What Characterizes a Good Laptop?
Now that you've decided on the exterior design of your laptop, it's time to evaluate the interior design. If you're purchasing this laptop solely to utilize Microsoft Office, a web browser, and iTunes, you won't require a lot of power from your system. Laptops on the retail market today come pre-installed with Windows 7, and, unlike their Vista counterparts from a few years ago, are built to run the operating system seamlessly. That being said, a fair benchmark to set for your system is 4GB of RAM; preferably DDR3, a high-quality dual-core processor (avoid the Intel Celeron series, for example), and then a hard drive sized appropriately for the amount of data you intend to store on your computer. Typically, lower to mid-range laptops come with hard drives ranging from 250 to 500GB, which should provide more than enough storage space.
If you intend to run more taxing programs, such as graphic design software, music editing software, or anything else that places a high demand on your system, you should take a closer look at your processor. A processor with dynamic performance enhancing capabilities, such as the Multithreading function included in the Intel I family of processors, is an excellent candidate for this. The i3-i7 processors' cores are designed to partition jobs into threads within each processing core, giving your system the illusion of having more cores to deal with. As a consequence, you can squeeze a little extra power from your system in a hurry. A useful aspect to keep an eye on is the size of your L2 and L3 caches. The greater the cache, the more your system can accomplish without slowing down to seek more distant memory sources, which results in faster reaction times for whatever you're accessing.
If you're purchasing this system primarily for gaming, high-definition multimedia, or 3D modeling, you'll want to examine the graphics card that will be included. While a graphics card with 1GB of video RAM should be more than capable of handling your needs, it's prudent to examine the particular requirements of the game or software you're installing and ensure that the capabilities you require are included in the card's design.
Finally, the laptop's battery life may be critical. If you intend to use the laptop in a variety of locations without access to power, you'll want a laptop with a longer-than-average battery life. And, given that the average laptop battery life is between 2-4 hours, this can be a critical option for the commuting overachiever or social butterfly.
A laptop's hard drive holds all of your data.
How do we proceed from here?
So you've chosen on a laptop that meets all of your requirements. It's the perfect size, with the NUMPAD on the side, isn't too heavy, and comes in a lovely shade of charcoal gray. Now that you're prepared to pour money into the system, it's time to evaluate everything else you'll need to run it efficiently.
Consider your software requirements again in light of what you intend to perform with your laptop. If you're going to take your computer online in any capacity (and who isn't these days), you're going to want to invest in a trustworthy antivirus package. Currently, one of the greatest comes from a business called Kaspersky. As of this writing, it has been demonstrated that it can locate and quarantine/remove the greatest library of harmful software of any retail antivirus. Additionally, the internet security bundle provides measurements to safeguard your personal information online against online phishers. This is critical if you use the internet to access your bank account information or sensitive company assets.
Microsoft Office is another must-have for business and school. Microsoft Office is available in a variety of packages, and the one that is suitable for you is determined by your job requirements. The majority of users will find the Home and Student edition sufficient, as it includes Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. This enables you to generate professional-looking papers and resumes, as well as organize and construct complex spreadsheets. Various popular tools included in other Office suites include Outlook, which is used to handle e-mail in ways that most internet services cannot, and Access, which is used to create databases for organizing and storing data on anything from sales records to Elvis Presley memorabilia. When acquiring a copy of Microsoft Office, ensure that it includes all of the programs you'll need to succeed.
Photographers and graphic designers will want to get photo editing tools such as Adobe Photoshop. A music producer will require software that enables him or her to record, edit, and store music. Gamers will have to pay for their newest digital fix, and Web designers will almost certainly want to invest in a license for Macromedia Flash or Adobe Dreamweaver.
What about adornments?
Thus, you now possess a laptop and associated software. What more would you require? To begin, what are your plans for transporting it? Laptop bags are available in a variety of styles. Slipcases are ideal for storing your system in a backpack or briefcase, messenger bags are ideal for carrying your laptop and a few necessary accessories, and bigger briefcase-style bags are ideal for transporting your laptop and business supplies. They come in a variety of sizes to fit any laptop, so make certain the bag you choose will fit the 17" wide screen you ordered.
A wireless mouse is another item to add to your list. The majority of people (including myself) dislike the touch pad that comes with your laptop; but, by inserting a receiver into a USB port on your laptop, you can replace the problematic pad with a classic mouse without having to untangle four feet of cable first. Additionally, if your laptop keyboard lacks a NUMPAD, you can use a Tablet for sketching or signing documents.
If you're going to be listening to a lot of music, voice chatting, or even just taking verbal notes for your to-do list, you might want to consider acquiring a USB Headphone/Microphone combo. If you want to add video conferencing or the ability to create video blogs to that list, you'll also need a web camera. (Keep in mind that many laptops include an integrated camera and/or microphone). If you're keeping a lot of data or critical information that you can't afford to lose, consider investing in an external hard drive. They can hold as least as much data as a laptop and can even perform scheduled backups of your complete system. Additionally, they are simple to install and can be portable, allowing you to carry them with you everywhere you go.
If you plan on printing frequently and working in multiple locations throughout the house, a wireless printer is an excellent complement to any laptop purchase. They are no longer more expensive than their wired counterparts, and the increased range and flexibility far outweigh the cost. Bear in mind the cost of the printer in comparison to the cost and yield of the ink cartridges. Typically, the less expensive the printer, the more expensive the ink required to maintain it.
Finally, there is no better time than now to upgrade to wireless in your house. Because your laptop already includes a wifi adapter, all you'll need to purchase is a Wireless Router. Spend an additional $10 or so on technology and go for a Wireless N system. It boasts a quicker wireless download speed and a much increased signal range, allowing you to update your Facebook status from the peace of your bedroom or destroy your best friend's Town Hall from the luxury of your lawn chair. Bear in mind that virtually any wireless router you purchase includes at least four Ethernet ports, allowing you to connect your wired PC and/or gaming console to the network as well.
The majority of your gadgets will connect to your laptop via USB.
Where Does the Router Go?
Now that you've completed your comprehensive shopping list of everything you're going to need to return to school in style this year, you're beginning to wonder how you're going to get everything installed, set up, and ready in time for the start of courses. It's time to consider taking the final step of purchasing a new system...
Any vendor worth their salt can assist you in configuring a new laptop. They'll turn it on, install your hardware titles, and install the printer's drivers; in certain situations, they'll even drive to your house and set up your wireless network. If the prospect of configuring your home computer, new laptop, Xbox 360, and iPod Touch to work together on a single network scares you, it may save you hours of agony to pay for professional installation and configuration.
One final point to consider is safeguarding your money. If you're beginning from scratch, you're going to spend close to a thousand dollars, if not more. And, while adding another expense to the already intimidating list of expenses you're willing to incur may seem counterintuitive, the next thought could literally save your buttocks in a pinch. That is, the dreaded Extended Service Plan. Unfortunately, I believe that used car salesmen and commission-based electronics businesses have tarnished the reputation of ESPs. The Extended Service Plan was created to safeguard your investment against the limitations of the limited warranty offered by the major electronic manufacturers.
The One Year Limited Warranty offered by firms such as HP or Dell is limited to manufacturer's defects. That is, unless the issue can be explicitly attributed to a manufacturing flaw in the device, HP or Dell will deny you support or financial compensation for the system. And believe me when I say that they will go to any length to convince you that they did not make a mistake. What does this mean for you personally? Without the support of an Extended Warranty, the likelihood is that you will be stuck with the laptop's dead hard drive and malfunctioning screen.
However, the extended warranty protects your Laptop against any and all damages and faults that occur during the warranty period, which is normally between 2-4 years. This implies that if the cheap hard drive installed by HP in your laptop fails after a year and a half, you can contact the business from which you purchased your warranty and either have your laptop fixed, replaced, or receive a refund (less the money spent purchasing the warranty). And in most circumstances, the warranty fee is less than the cost of purchasing the replacement item, much alone having it replaced.
I hope this guide has been beneficial in assisting you in purchasing not only a new laptop, but also all of the necessary accessories. I spent a significant amount of time creating this from personal experience, and any comments you can provide will be greatly welcomed. I wish you luck in your hunt and hope to see you online!
Post a Comment for "What to Know and What to Look for When Purchasing a New Laptop"