Laptop / Notebook / Tablet Buying Recommendations

When people ask what kind of laptop to buy we always tell them there are two things to look for in any laptop. Weight and Battery Life. There are other factors that you must consider when purchasing a laptop including purchase price. As laptops go though they are all very similar so shop around for the best features for the price. Here are a few things to look for when you are considering buying a laptop. We hope this helps you in your search for the best laptop. We have a list of recommended vendors that manufacture good laptops. If you have any questions please contact us.

Weight

Weight is by far the greatest factor when purchasing a laptop. Laptop computers are meant to be portable. Would you rather heft around a 15 pound lead weight or a 5 pound lead weight? If possible get the lightest possible laptop you can afford. The lighter the laptop is the more likely you will use it as intended, a portable computer. Although if you intend to use it as a desktop replacement and not move it very much this option may be very low on your list of requirements.

Battery Life

Battery life is also very important. You will not always be near a power outlet to plug in so the longer the battery lasts the longer you will have to work with it. Most systems today have very good battery conservation settings that can make some batteries last 8 hours with mild uses. Most you will find are only good for about 3 hours with heavy use.

Hardware

Hardware is something most people only think about when purchasing a laptop. Get as close to top of the line as you can with hardware. Laptops are a specific form factor that does not allow for much upgrading like a desktop model does. This limits its useful life by half. The faster your laptop is when you get it the longer you will have to use it with modern software.

Wireless Network Interface

Wireless networking has become the newest feature included with laptops. Today most laptop manufacturers include wireless networking as standard.

Price

Price is something most people are unaware of until they go to purchase their laptop. In general a good rule of thumb is the lighter it is the more you will pay and the faster more cutting edge it is the more you will pay.