Top Tips For Buying Your Next Laptop

Just about everyone nowadays has either used or seen a laptop computer. The ease and convenience they offer is truly appealing to a wide section of the population. If you are interested in learning how to select precisely the right model for your needs, continue reading the article that follows.

Ask friends and family for recommendations. They can be a good source of information, and you can also use their laptop before you shell out money for your own. Family and friends will be quick to share whether they like their laptop, and they will be very honest about it as well.

If youre 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.

When buying a laptop computer, it is a good idea to consider how you will be using it before you compare all the different models. If you are doing just basic word processing and checking your email, you wont need as powerful a laptop as someone who intends to play video games.

Consider the operating system. Most laptops will come with one of two operating systems. Those systems are Mac or Windows. There are advantages and disadvantages to each operating system. Consider what you will be using the laptop for, and the features you will require. This will help you make the best decision.

If you are a student, you may be able to use financial aid to buy your computer. Talk to an administrator at your school or a counselor about whether or not they have any programs which help students get laptops. While you may end up with a used model, the price will be right!

Write down the features you need before going to a retail outlet to buy! When you shop online, you can have a list next to you, making the process simpler. If you go to the store and forget your list, you may end up with a laptop which doesnt meet every need.

Laptop computers that you carry around are more likely to suffer from an accident than your desktop computer, so look at a warranty plan at the checkout counter. Protection plans can save a lot of cash if you drop or damage your laptop. Before purchasing read the coverage details.

Find out what warranty is offered with your prospective laptop. See what warranty the manufacturer offers, how long it lasts, and if it covers software and hardware issues. It should at least have a one-year warranty. Many of the cheaper models have 90-day warranties, so consider whether or not a cheaper computer is worth paying for servicing and part replacements.

Pay attention to the processor of the laptop. The process is just like your computers brain as it executes the commands. A computer with at least two processors is ideal if you will be using the laptop a lot. This will give you the best performance in your portable computer.

Do you need a DVD drive? If you plan to watch movies, install software or burn back-ups to disk, a DVD drive is a must. If not, you might be better off buying a smaller, lighter laptop at a lower price which doesnt include a DVD drive. Only pay for what you need!

It is tough to dispute the widespread popularity of the laptop computer for a broad array of uses. The fact remains, however, that there is a great deal of knowledge that can be useful to the process of purchasing one for yourself, and without it you may feel lost. Fortunately, you are now prepared to hit the laptop market armed with terrific information.