Laptops 101: What You Need To Know Before You Buy

There are a few things you must know about laptops in order to choose well. If you don't, you will be relying solely on the opinion of store representatives. Utilize this advice to make a smart choice when buying a laptop. Go home with your desired laptop instead of what the store wants to sell.

Look at testimonials and reviews before buying a laptop. A new laptop always looks good and sounds like a deal, but there may be some issues you cannot see. By reading reviews, you can make sure that you will be happy with your choice.


When you make a laptop purchase via a website, do not waste time purchasing pre-installed productivity, and word processing programs. Preloaded software can be more expensive, whereas buying it separately and installing it yourself is usually much cheaper. Discount vendors offer the software at considerable savings. You will typically save a third off the retail price, sometimes even much more.

Don't assume that paying more for a laptop will mean that you are getting a better laptop. This is certainly not always true. Sometimes, this just means that your are paying for the status that comes with the brand. Use the technical specifications to compare models and choose the best deal.

Before purchasing a laptop, consider the type of work you will be doing on it. This will really affect the amount of money you're going to be spending. If you just browse the Internet, getting something simple would be in order. By thinking of how you use a computer, you can save yourself quite a bit of money.

Know how long a battery is going to last when you go laptop shopping. While you might not anticipate traveling much with the laptop, you probably don't want to always recharge the machine when you do. 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.

Size plays a large role in laptop choice. Laptop sizes are measured diagonally, and typically range from 13 to 17 inches. If your laptop is substituting a desktop, a 17 inch monitor will probably be the best choice for you. If portability is the goal, a smaller version will be ideal.

Create a type of exacting list for what you plan on using your laptop for. Are you going to take it into your kitchen so you can read recipes, for example? If your computer might get wet, you will need to purchase a waterproof skin. Go through your list and highlight anything you are not willing to compromise on.

A laptop is more prone to damage from moving around than a stationary PC. For this reason, you may want to consider an extended protection plan. A protection plan will pay for damages caused by accidentally dropping your laptop. Find out exactly what types of issues are covered by your warranty before purchasing it.

Lots of considerations go into getting a laptop. Be sure you are making your own decisions and not being unduly influenced by the salesperson. Utilize the strategies provided here to separate the wheat from the chaff. When you do, you'll get the best possible machine for you and your needs.

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