Choosing the Right Laptop

With the Christmas season fast approaching, it's time to start researching your big ticket item purchases. The savvy buyer can save big bucks if you do your homework. Laptops remain one of the top Christmas gift requests. The price of laptops in recent years has come down considerably, but you will want to make sure you are buying a laptop that fits the need of the user.

Before going online to purchase a laptop, I find it helpful to make a short list of what the actual needs are. Price is always at the top of most people's lists, but there are other factors that are just as important. I have created a short list of questions to consider:

Keys to choosing the right laptop

• Who is the laptop user? When choosing a laptop, it is important to understand who will be using it..,high school student, college student, working professional, etc.
• Where will the laptop be used? For heavy mobile users such as college students and working professionals, size, weight and battery life are very important. So when pouring over the reviews and spec charts, keep those factors in mind. The average high school student uses a laptop from room to room in their house, and have ample access to AC power most of the time. So for these users, the factors listed above may not be as critical.
• How will the laptop be used? The more mobile the user, the more durability plays a role. Heavy users spend a great deal of time start and shutting down their laptops every day. On average, the heavy user will open and shut their laptops 5 times a day. Although that may not seem like a lot of wear and tear, there is also the issue of general handling. Heavy users will be going from location to location, in and out of cars, buses, plane, on a constant basis. This increases the likelihood of damage to the laptop, via dropping, bumping and banging, coffee spills on the keyboard, etc....which leads me to service contracts.
• Should I buy a service contract for my laptop? In one word, YES. When you think about carrying around a fragile piece of electronics costing $1000 or more, the price of a typical service contract is a bargain. The price for service contracts on a laptop is generally in the $200 dollar range. You should never even think about buying a laptop without one. The top manufacturers have outstanding service agreements. I have 3 Dell laptops, and have needed service for 2 times. In each case, a technician was on-site within 24 hours, corrected the issue, at no cost. Every service plan differs, so be sure you read the coverage offered with the same scrutiny you give the laptop components.
• How much should I expect to pay for a laptop? It used to be hard to find a quality laptop under $1000; however, this is no longer true. There are several companies offering what I consider as quality products, starting around $500. The options or upgrades you select have a large impact in what you can expect to pay. Having a list of what you want in a laptop, such as memory, speed, hard drive size, burners, etc..will help speed up the process when you go shopping. Although online laptop manufacturers allow a great deal of customization, my experience has been to first look at the pre-bundled or specials they offer. You can save plenty of money with these laptops because they can build them ahead of time. These specials will also come with additional upgrades at lower costs. So plan ahead, but be open to see a value when it is available.
• What Laptop Brand Should I Select? Great strides have been made in the laptop industry, however, there are still the good, not-so good, and greats of the world. Personal experience has always been the main reason I have stuck with Dell. Great value and service, no complaints. Before recently purchasing my new desktop computer, I really thought I would go with Apple. Apple is at the forefront of design, style, and innovation. But when the rubber met the road, I decided that Dell has never let me down and choose another Dell. You will always read reviews, pro and con, about any product...with the exception of Apple. The Apple owners of the world are a united front. They love Apple...period....and I am ok with that. If you have no past experience computers, ask a trusted friend, people in the office, etc. Computer advice is cheap and in great supply. For online reviews and test results, my laptop reviews always start with PCWorld

Technical writer for Lilsurfergirl.com - Tech Reviews From a Different Perspective

Article written by LSG at Lilsurfergirl.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_Huey

By Rick Huey