Have you ever gone shopping for a new laptop? If so, you probably are aware of how confusing the process can be. There are so many different features and software packages available that it can be hard to know which one you need. Use the following tips to help make the process go more smoothly.
If you have your heart set on a more expensive laptop, consider a refurbished unit. Many manufacturers offer these, and they often come with a fair warranty too, protecting you in many ways. This will save you hundreds of dollars over a new laptop, while still offering you all the conveniences of the model you truly want.
If you need to get something fixed on your computer, make sure you know how long a repair place will take to do it. You don’t want to have to send in a computer you need only for it to take forever to get back. Try finding some place that isn’t that busy and does good work in your area.
If you’re a gamer, you’ll want to make sure that your laptop has a dedicated graphics processing unit. If it’s a standard (built-in) GPU, it may not perform well in the wild with the games you like to play. Look for an ATI or NVidia GPU. Both will deliver on graphics and speed.
If you’re going to buy a used laptop, make sure that you use it for a while first. You want to make sure that it boots up quickly. It should also not be making too much noise. Check to see how hot it gets as well. You may want to consider buying it from a retail place with a guarantee of some kind.
Understand what the specs mean. Pentium and AMD CPUs are today’s lowest price processors, with faster dual, quad and multiple core processors more expensive. RAM affects the speed in which tasks are performed almost as much as the processor. SSD drives are the latest, faster versions of hard drives. For displays, generally speaking the higher the pixels the better the display.
Often times your laptop will have sensitive personal and/or business related material on it. You will want to get in the habit of backing up all data as soon as you get home from the office. In this way if your laptop is ever misplaced or stolen the personal contained therein will not fall into the wrong hands.
Be sure to get a case for your new laptop. The fact is that dropping it, having someone bump into it or watching helplessly as someone’s coffee spills all over it will all break your heart. If you protect your laptop, it will last longer, so the investment in a case is worth it.
If you are buying a laptop on a small budget, look for refurbished laptops. These are used laptops that have been cleaned up and tuned up. You can get a great deal on a perfectly functioning laptop. You still need to do some research to make sure the computer you pick fits your needs.
Do you need a CD drive? Many computers today do not come with CD drives. If you need or want one in a computer, be sure that any computer you are considering purchasing has a CD drive. If you aren’t sure if you need one, you can always purchase an external CD drive.
A laptop can be an expensive investment, so protect it. If the store you are purchasing it from offers a warranty, purchase it. Components of laptops wear out faster and age faster than their desktop counterparts. Spending a few dollars up front will ensure the functionality of your laptop for a longer period of time.
If you can only afford one upgrade on your laptop, consider an extended-life battery. An extended-life battery can keep you from being tied to a power outlet for six hours or more, meaning your laptop is increasingly portable and can be used anywhere. You will thank yourself for spending the extra money the first time you travel with your computer.
Before buying your laptop online, check the prices at your local brick-and-mortar store. Sometimes they are the same or even less, especially if you can find an open box or recently returned item. Another advantage is that returns are often easier at a local store since you can avoid the hassle or shipping an item back if you are not satisfied.
The larger your hard drive space in a laptop, the higher the cost, so consider how much space you actually need as you shop. If you want to carry around many gigs of movies, music, television shows or photographs, that is the only time you’ll need a huge hard drive.
To make application icons easier to find on a laptop that uses Windows 7, you need to uncombine the icons. Right-click on an empty section of your taskbar, and choose Properties. Then choose “Never Combine” on the buttons menu for the Taskbar. You will never have to separate the icons for your favorite programs again.
If you plan to do a lot of high-end gaming on your laptop, understand the components required can be expensive. Bleeding edge graphic cards, for instance, are much more expensive on a a laptop than their PC counterparts. You should probably understand that gaming on a laptop entails a few compromises unless you are able to really break the bank.
If you ever use a public hotspot or a restaurant’s Wi-Fi, ask an employee the name of the network. Sometimes, hackers and criminals set up their own wireless network in a public place, hoping to lure in unsuspecting victims that just assume it to be legit. Make sure you are always using the right Internet connection.
Now that you have read this article, you should find it much easier to go shopping for a new laptop. Sorting through all of the different choices is a lot simpler when you have armed yourself with some good advice. Use the tips you have read to find the perfect laptop.
