Choosing The Best Laptop For You

Today, the inevitable happened. My 6-year-old laptop finally gave up on me. It was a day like any other as I was going through my emails for the day then all of a sudden, the screen went black. I tried to reboot but it showed no signs of possible revival. It was then I decided that I needed a new laptop. I knew this day would come but I thought I still had more time.

This was the laptop that got me through college. We bonded over thesis papers and typing out my first resume. I spent countless hours playing The Sims and other games. 6 years worth of files turned into nothing.

Once I got over the loss of my trusty laptop, I worried about the daunting task that I needed to do: choosing a new laptop. I drove myself to Best Buy in search of a new laptop and I was overwhelmed by what I saw. Rows upon rows of different laptops, PCs and tablets with keyboards all highlighting different features. I was there for one purpose alone and that was to get myself a new laptop. I forced myself not to be sidetracked by all the high tech looking PCs and tablets and focused on the laptop aisle. I thought the choices would get easier, I was wrong. In the end, I was able to find the laptop suited for me.

So based on my experience, here are a few tips you can use when getting yourself a new laptop:

Research, research, research

I made the silly mistake of heading over to Best Buy without even doing research on the current laptops in the market, pricing and reviews. It’s important to do research! Gather facts and opinions on the current models. Reading reviews of users who already own the unit will give you an idea if it’s what you’re looking for.

Speed and Memory?

Think to yourself what you’ll need the laptop for. Do you just need it to browse the web, check emails and shop online or will it be for heavy use like running an online business, editing photos and installing a lot of software. This is important because if you buy a laptop without learning about it’s RAM or memory capacity then you would’ve probably invested your money in a device that might not be enough for what you need.

Should I go BIG or small?

Consider also WHERE you’ll be using your laptop. Will you always have it when you travel? Or is it just a desktop computer replacement that you’ll just mainly use at home. If you’ll only use it at home then you may invest in the heavyweight laptops but if its portability and lightweight form you’re after then best to stick to the smaller, slim ones.

Battery Life

One of the reasons why people purchase laptops anyway is because of how portable and easily mobile it is. You can use it anywhere without plugging it in. Because of this, determine how much you really need the device when it isn’t plugged in. Do you run an online store and is in need of a long battery life to manage your business without needed to plug? That’s an important factor to consider. There are many laptops in the market that only work for about 30 minutes without power connected and others that can last up to 5 hours so it all depends on your need for it.

Conclusion

Once you’ve decided on what you think is the best laptop for your needs, invest in gadget insurance. Protect yourself and your wallet from spending hundreds of dollars if your new laptop gets damaged or has mechanical failure.

This article is contributed by Joel Ekstein, an eCommerce retail expert with over 12 years experience in the industry. He has had experience in buyer and inventory forecasting, marketing, and expanding customer base in new markets. www.protect-o.com.  If you would like to write for us, join eSoftload Community.