Laptop Options

Buing a new laptop?
There's no doubt they are convenient and with wireless technology they are fast becoming the computer of choice. According to Rod Scher, editor for Smart Computer Magazine, laptops have become more popular in recent years, "This year the sale of laptops will exceed the sale of desktops for the first time," Sher says.

Lower Prices: Scher says that laptop prices are constantly dropping because their popularity is increasing dramatically and vendors are in fierce competition with each other. "They're becoming more and more powerful at the same time they're becoming less and less expensive," he adds.

Still, making a decision on which one to buy isn't easy. There are several things to take into consideration like weight, features, price, and processing power. Scher says, "You can get a reliable laptop for $1000 these days... or you can spend $3000." If the thought of shelling out more than a thousand bucks on a laptop is still making you cringe, consider these things:

Weight: When you're buying your laptop, ask yourself if you'll be taking it outside your house often. If the answer is yes, you may want to buy a thinner, lighter laptop that will fit into your bag or briefcase. According to Scher, when choosing a laptop, weight should factor into your decision.

Laptop Lifestyles: When buying any type of computer ask yourself where this device is going to go. Between home and the office? For school? For gaming? Are you going to use it for high-end graphics? On flights? Will the laptop travel every day, or once in a while?

Business: According to Scher, if you're a businessperson who generally uses word documents, spreadsheets, or surfs the web, then you don't need a very powerful machine. On the other hand, if you are a graphics designer, or a high-end gamer, make sure that your laptop has the power that you are going to need. " If you use your computer for video editing or photo editing what you really need is a notebook computer that has a lot of hard drive space because those are the types of files that eat up memory space," said Scher.

Student: Scher says students have to take two things to take into consideration. If you are a student who will be using the laptop strictly for schoolwork and web surfing "Then a $1000 laptop will do the job."

But, Scher says, a student who wants to use his laptop for gaming, downloading music, and more, will need a laptop with more capabilities. "If the student is going to use the machine as a form of entertainment device, which could include gaming then you probably want a machine that has a more expensive, sophisticated graphics card and graphics memory to deal with that," he says.

Traveling: One of the main reasons why people get laptops is because they can bring them anywhere. Scher says, "They don't take up very much space and that's convenient." You can work on a tray on an airplane, you can work on a small desk, you can work sitting on a hotel bed," he added.

So if you're going to travel with your laptop, Scher suggests picking a laptop with a durable battery. This can be crucial when traveling on long flights. You wouldn't want your document to disappear because your battery dies.

The screen display is another thing you'll want to keep in mind. Scher says you may spend hours at a time looking at this screen, so make sure the screen is clear and easy on the eyes.

Accessories: Want to protect your investment? It is important that you splurge on a good carrying case. Scher says, "To protect your laptop from being stolen or damaged one of the best things you can do is buy a decent carrying case."

Your case can also protect your laptop from theft, "Buy a carrying case that does not look like it has a notebook or computer in it... something that's shaped like a backpack or briefcase," Scher says. For even more security, Scher suggests attaching proximity alarms to your laptop to keep it safe. With a proximity alarm, a wallet-sized receiver is put inside the case, and the user carries a keychain transmitter. The alarm activates when the authorized user gets more than 40 feet from the laptop.

Laptop Deals: And now that you're excited about getting a new laptop, you may want to compare prices. A good place to start is industry websites where you can select a number of computers and then have a system create a chart for you to compare them. Scher says, "You can also go to vendor sites, many which will allow you to do the same things." Another good idea according to Scher is go online to user groups or user forums, "People who have purchased or who are thinking about purchasing such equipment will get on that and talk about their questions, their problems, their issues and they tend to be good sources for unbiased information," said Scher.

For more laptop buying tips check out Smart Computing magazine's website:
smartcomputing.com

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