The key to finding the right one for you is to step back andconsider exactly how you plan to use your laptop. When youdefine what you need before you go shopping, buying theright machine becomes much easier.Here are 5 basic factors to consider:
- Size In the world of mobile computing, size definitely matters.The size of a laptop affects two key areas: portability anddisplay size.If you're always on the go and will be using your computeronly in short bursts, a so-called ultralight will save you some shoulder strain.On the other hand, if you're going to spend hours in frontof your laptop, a larger display may be in order.Today, some laptop displays exceed 17 inches, rivaling thedisplay size of many desktop systems. The down side is thatthese monsters can easily weigh three times as much as an ultralight.
- Hard DriveSpeaking of size, what about the size of the hard drive? Oneway to approach this issue is to ask yourself the following Question:Will this be my primary computer, or will it supplement my desktop system?If the former, you should look for a bigger hard drive - 60GB or more.If the latter, you may be able to make it with a 20-30 GBhard drive.But even this isn't absolute.If, for example, you plan to copy a huge MP3 library fromyour desktop system to your laptop to make your musiclibrary portable, you'd be well advised to err on the side of too big.
- Memory-In determining the right amount of system memory, or RAM,take a look at the ways in which you intend to use yourlaptop:If your needs are somewhat mundane - email, spreadsheets,word processing, etc. - 256 MB of RAM should be plenty. Thisis a common configuration for many laptops, so it means youprobably won't need to spend extra for more RAM.On the flip side, if you're an aspiring mobile digitalphotographer or videographer, you should stuff your laptopwith as much RAM as it can hold.In fact, exactly how much RAM your laptop can hold may inpart drive your purchase decision. Applications for editingand manipulating multimedia content are notorious resourcehogs.
- Network Connections-Thanks in no small part to the Internet, computing in the21st century relies heavily on being connected:Connected to the Internet, connected to a corporate network,connected to a wireless network, connected to a homenetwork, connected to an online service.Your life will be easier if you buy a laptop that includesbuilt-in means to connect to them all.
- Price-If you're considering a laptop, you're probably wonderinghow much money you'll need to spend.A few years ago, you'd be hard-pressed to find one for under$2,000. Today, there are plenty of laptops to be had forunder $1,000.What's more, most of the major manufacturers offer a varietyof financing options.Laptop prices have come down, to be sure. However, a laptopstill represents a fairly major purchase for most people.If you take the time to search for a laptop that meets yourspecific needs, you should get many years of use andenjoyment from this important investment.
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