Laptops - 16" and Up Buying Tips - ConsumerGuru
What to Look for When Buying Laptops - 16" and Up
GURU says this about buying a Laptop!There are an abundance of choices to make in purchasing a laptop. It can be an overwhelming purchase to make! The first step in making a laptop purchase is to determine how it is going to be used. Is it for home use, student use, travel, business, or gaming? If the laptop’s usage can be determined, the selection process can be narrowed down. It can be narrowed down further by determining the appropriate budget and sticking to it. For example, a laptop for home use with email and word processing requirements does not need dedicated graphics and a high speed processor. So, again assessing needs is a smart step in the process.
There are also many buying options to choose from. There are off the shelf laptops to be had at any big box store and are typically configured for the average user. They are a popular choice among consumers. For the more sophisticated user, specific configurations can be designed on many manufacturers’ websites allowing for a custom design. Here, particular configurations can be played with and pricing options can be explored.
In purchasing a laptop, here are some basic features to keep in mind and look for: screen size, weight, battery life, performance, memory, hard drive, communication ports, optical drive, and ergonomics.
A larger screen size will be easier on the eyes and allow multiple viewing of web pages for example. It will also offer better resolution although a larger screen can sometimes mean a heavier laptop. A 17” or greater screen might be suitable for a desktop replacement or a gaming machine.
Performance is also a consideration and this is where needs should be assessed. A dedicated gaming machine will need high RAM, a fast CPU and dedicated graphics. These are different requirements than a laptop for home use for email, word processing and web surfing.
Battery life is also important for the student and travel laptop. Supplemental battery options should be considered for this type of use and general battery life.
Most laptops today are configured with a multitude of communications ports. Again, knowing what is important for usage is key in making the right selection. There are so many options from multiple USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, Bluetooth, multi-format flash card readers to HDMI ports.
The last piece of advice is to do a test drive before making a purchase. The keyboard on a 14” laptop might not be as comfortable as one on a 16” laptop. It is smart to check out the keyboard layout and feel to see if it is the right fit. Also, check out the screen display in various lighting scenarios. If the laptop is going to be used outside, a high gloss screen might not be appropriate. The buying process should be simple and fun if needs and budget are kept at the forefront.