Laptop Computer: Research your needs

In order to end up with the laptop best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.

Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of laptops are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in a laptop.

Research the market: Laptop Computer essentials

The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the laptop market. The range of options can seem overwhelming, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:

Processor (CPU - Central Processing Unit): The speed of a laptop computer's processor is determined by the clock speed, which is measured by gigahertz (GHz). The more gigahertz a processor has the faster your laptop will work. If you're only going to use your laptop for checking email and surfing the internet, you should find that a slower processor is sufficient for your needs. However, if you plan to run several programs at a time, you'll want to select a faster processor.

Unlike a desktop computer you can't upgrade the processor of a laptop. Once you have bought the machine you are stuck with the speed that you have chosen. Consider carefully how long you want to keep the laptop for and whether you will need a more powerful processor in the future.

Memory (RAM - Random Access Memory): RAM is the second major factor in determining your laptop's speed. Most laptop computers come with at least 256Mb (Megabyte) while the standard for others is 512Mb. The absolute minimum memory you want is 256Mb, which is adequate for basic uses, including surfing online, checking your email, and word processing.

TIP: For a small increase in price a 512Mb will give you a substantial improvement in the speed of your laptop when running Windows XP. 512Mb is the minimum RAM needed to run Windows Vista.

Hard drive: All of your information is stored on the hard drive. The bigger the hard drive, the more files you can save, and the more programs you will be able to download.

Plan ahead on how big a hard drive you need as you can't add a second hard drive in a laptop like you can with a desktop. Upgrading a hard drive is also very expensive. Using an external drive is a good option for backing up information but they are inconvenient to use day to day.

Screen: Screens on laptop computers vary in size from 12 inches to 17 inches. Additionally, wide screens are now becoming more popular, and in some cases, you can purchase a laptop computer with a screen that rotates.

Mouse: A detached mouse doesn't come standard with your laptop computer. Instead, you'll either have a touchpad or a small ball that works the same as a mouse. Most laptops come with only one of these pointing devices, but some models do offer both. Many laptops have a port into which you can plug an external mouse - and there are even 'mini-mice' available, which are smaller and take up less space.

Wireless capabilities: Most laptops today come with wireless capabilities built in, allowing you to connect to the internet and other computers easily and quickly. If you'll be using your laptop for surfing online, ensure the laptop has wireless capabilities.

Ports: Nearly all devices you may want to attach to your laptop use USB connections. Make sure you have enough USB ports for all the devices you want to use (printer, scanner, external drives etc).

CD/DVD Drive: Your laptop will have a CD drive as a bare minimum. However you can also get drives that read DVD's and can create (Burn) CDs and DVDs.

Speakers: Most laptops have built in sound but the quality of the speakers varies greatly. If you have the right ports you can also buy separate speakers and plug them into your laptop.

Battery: If you plan to use your laptop where there is a lack of electrical outlets, you'll want a battery that lasts longer. Batteries generally last between two and six hours, depending on the laptop model.

Some laptops allow the use of a supplementary power pack. If having a long battery life is necessary for you, make sure you choose a laptop that allows a supplementary power pack.

Price: Today's laptops are becoming increasingly affordable. You can get a basic laptop inexpensively while those with all the latest technology are considerably more expensive.

Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself

Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in a laptop. For example, will you use the laptop only for displaying recipes in the kitchen or will it be used extensively for study or business purposes?

You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.

Have I used a laptop before?
	If you have used a laptop, work out what you did or didn't like about the laptop. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular limitations that you found inconvenient.

What will be the primary use of my laptop?
	You may use your laptop for work, to surf the internet and check your email or to use desktop publishing programs. You may want video editing capabilities on your laptop or want the ability to play games.

Is having the ability to have several windows open at once essential?
	The more windows you have open the more memory you will use and the harder your laptop will have to work.

What size screen do I want?
	With a laptop you don't have the huge screen size choice like with desktop computers but they are gradually getting bigger and some are available in widescreen format.

Do I need a disk drive?
	Most laptop computers no longer have disk drives; instead they have CD or DVD drives. You can, however, purchase an external disk drive that plugs into your USB port.

How important is weight?
	Laptops come in various weights starting at just a few pounds.

Do I want a laptop that has a long battery life?
	If you are in transit a lot with your laptop you will want good battery longevity.

How much can I afford to spend?
	Laptop computer prices are dropping. Still, the more functionality you want in your laptop the more expensive it will be.

Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.

Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of laptop and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.

Video Links

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