Laptop Buying for Dummies
The portability and convenience is what makes laptops preferable to desktop computers. Once touted as a luxury, competition has forced the prices of these machines down, and these days there are even affordable laptops under $200. Gone are the days when only the rich could afford laptops, in today's times, even the common man can afford one. And with the world slowly moving to a digital format, laptop has almost become a necessity.
Thankfully laptop manufactures have recognized this and there are lots of options available, should you want to buy a new laptop. From New, refurbished, used, choices are many, and, to be honest, confusing. For the average user or housewife, who don't understand the highly technical terms like processor speed, RAM, etc, this can not only be a nightmare, but an easy chance to get ripped off as well.
Points to Consider Before Buying a Laptop
- Requirement
- Processor
- Storage
- RAM
- Expansion Ports
- Graphics
- Connectivity Options
- Size/ Screen/Weight
This is the first thing you need to look for when buying a laptop. What is your laptop going to be used for? If you are just going to be using the Internet, and a little multimedia, it does not make sense to go in for an expensive laptop, loaded with features you are not going to use. Decide what your requirement is before considering the rest of the options. Though it is natural that you might want the best, the $ difference may change your mind. For everyday tasks like surfing the net, listening to music, watching movies, etc., a basic laptop should do.
Processor
The processor makes a big difference in computing, and usually it is better to go in for a better processor at a slightly higher cost, than risk saving money here and ending up with an outdated processor a few months down the line. Intel is undoubtedly the leader in processors and going for an Intel processor is the best bet. You should know where to draw the line though, as processors can get to be pretty expensive, and you probably don't need that much fire power. For basic use, an Intel core i3 is the best bet, which can be stretched to core i5 if you want something better. You should only opt for Intel's core i7 if you seriously need the extra power, as it will set you back quite a bit. Heavy gaming, serious multimedia or graphics work, etc, are some of the instances where you could justify going in for the core i7. For home use, the core i3 is the best and recommended.
Storage
Storage is another point that you must keep in mind before buying a laptop. Unlike desktops, there is no scope for expanding the storage in laptops. Replacing the HDD is a possibility, but that voids the warranty, in addition to loss of data, creating back-ups, etc. In short, though possible, it is not recommended. To save yourself from running out of space, buying a model with high storage is the best option. 500GB is not unreasonable, though a 320GB HDD is ideal. Again, depending on what you are using the laptop for makes a difference. Video editing, graphic designing, video converting all take up huge amounts of memory, and even 500 GB will not be enough. On the other hand, if you are just going to be surfing everyday, downloading a few songs, a few movies, pictures of your loved ones, etc, then a 320GB HDD is just fine. No recommendations here, as I firmly believe the more the better. Seagate is a good HDD option, as is Western Digital and Hitachi.
RAM ( Random Access Memory)
This is the most important part you need to look for in a laptop as this is what the smooth running of your laptop depends on. As a rule, don't buy anything with less than 2GB RAM. Prices have dropped, and 2GB is not only affordable, but standard as well. Again, most laptops come with only 2 RAM slots, so decide in advance how much memory you will need. More memory is always a better deal, as it never goes waste. 4GB is the best bet, and it is more advisable to use 2 2 GB RAM sticks, as compared to a 1 4 GB RAM stick. Going over 4GB is not recommended unless you are using heavy editing applications. Also note that if you go over 4GB you will need a 64bit Operating System to make full use of it. (More on this later). Kingston and Transcend are two of the reliable RAM options available.
Expansion and I/O Ports
While this is not absolutely necessary, it is a good to have a few expansion ports on your laptop. Look for a laptop with a minimum of 3 USB ports at least. Try not to consider less than 3 USB ports, unless you are getting a very good deal in terms of price or any other factor. As almost all accessories are USB based, it is necessary to have at least 3 so you are not reduced to looking for a USB hub to solve your problems. With the world going hi-fi, it is also advisable to have an HDMI out port on your laptop, should you want to watch your hi-def movies on a big screen. The IEEE port can be skipped, and if a HDMI port is present, the Svideo poet can also be skipped. Also look a card reader option.
Graphics
As it becomes very difficult and expensive to upgrade a laptop after buying, it is advisable to include a graphic card in your configuration. For those who are into heavy gaming or editing, a high-end graphic card with 1GB DDR5 memory will be ideal. For normal everyday use, a 512MB graphic card will be more than sufficient. Though most, or in fact nearly all laptops come with on board graphics, it is best not to use those, and include a dedicated graphics card for the same. Graphic cards can be expensive, so choose wisely before you purchase one. Recommendations would include the NVIDA and ATI lineup, any card with 512 MB RAM is fine. This can be dropped if your budget does not cover it, but is not advised.
Connectivity Options
Choose a laptop that has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity options built in. These are both necessary and will allow you to use the Internet with the various Wi-Fi spots available in your vicinity. Both technologies have become so affordable that it is now possible to say not to consider laptops that do have these connectivity options. If budget is a problem, and the lack of one of these options makes a considerable difference in the price, then you can opt out of the Bluetooth option. Never consider a laptop without Wi-Fi, unless the exact things you are looking for are in a model without Wi-Fi. Even then it is not advisable to buy. Infrared is outdated and can be safely skipped.
Size/Weight/Screen
Size makes a difference in the price, the portability, and the customization possible. Laptops in the 12-13 inch (screen size; diagonal) size are usually more expensive than the 14 to 15 inch models. Laptops with heavy customizations are usually not only more expensive, but will also be a bit bigger and heavier. To stay in the affordable price range, a 15 inch model is the best, and a matt screen is recommended too. Matt screens cut out on the reflection and glare, making it possible to use the laptop in various setting. Glossy screens have lots of reflection and glare, but are more vibrant than matt screens. Also keep in mind that being a laptop, the weight should not be too much to cut out on the portability factor. Test the laptop for weight, and decide what is comfortable before buying one.
Additional Tips
Other than these main points there are some other things you need to keep in mind when it comes to laptop buying. One of the most important of these other things is the battery backup. Depending on your configuration the laptop battery life will change, but you should go in for a laptop that has at least a 2 hour battery back up, regardless of the configuration. Considering that very few people go in for the best of everything, this is a reasonable estimate, and even if you max out all the above options, something close to the 2 hour mark is advised. The other thing you need to check for is the durability, the laptop should not be too delicate with flimsy casing or parts. For the rugged users, magnesium alloy casing is an option, but will add to the price. Warranty is another aspect that you should keep in mind, try and subscribe to the longer warranty plans if available. There are laptops that offer 2 years warranty, and these are better option than the rest.
| Laptop Guide for Dummies | ||
| Average User | Advanced User | Gaming/ Editing Users |
| Processor | ||
| Intel core i3 | Intel core i5 | Intel core i7 |
| RAM | ||
| 2GB DDR3 | 4 GB DDR3 | 8GB DDR3* |
| Storage | ||
| 250 GB HDD | 320 GB HDD | 1 TB HDD |
| Graphics | ||
| 512 MB DDR5 | 1GB DDR5 | 21GB DDR5 (in SLI) |
| Screen | ||
| 15 inch | 13 inch | 17 inch |
| I/O Ports | ||
| 3 USB, DVD Writer, Memory Card Reader | 3 USB, Blu-ray Reader, DVD Writer, Memory Card Reader, HDMI out | 4 USB, Blu-ray reader wirter, HDMI out, Memory card Reader |
| OS | ||
| WIndows 7 Basic | WIndows 7 Home Premium | Windows 7 Ultimate (64bit) |
The configurations mentioned in this article are what the author would like to see in a real world scenario. This does not, by any means, indicate that there are laptops with similar configurations available at the time of writing this piece. Opinions and recommendations in this article, too, are the author's personal views, and should not be taken as hard and fast rules when it comes to buying a laptop.
