Buying a New Laptop Computer – 4 Things to Help Your Decision

Believe it or not, there are good things that come out of a slow economy.  One of them is great prices on almost everything.  That includes electronics which are selling at their lowest prices and are helping retailers make it through these tough times.

If you are in the market for a laptop computer, you can find low prices on almost all brand names.  I purchased one in the last week after shopping and comparing prices and features.  From my experience, here are 4 things that will help influence your decision to buy right now.

Price.  The prices have never been better, especially if you are looking for an entry level or low-end laptop.  If you watch for sale prices and rebates you can get a brand-name laptop for around $400.  That is an awesome price considering that these laptops are not stripped down as much as you would think.  The one I purchased has a 250 GB drive and 2 GB of ram as well as a 15.6″ wide screen.  Yes, it does lack some of the features in more expensive models (built-in webcam, HDMI output), but since those are not important to me, it was not a reason to reject them.

Selection.  The big decision on selection now centers on the size issue.  There are new laptops out that are called ‘netbooks.’  These smaller, lighter laptops are designed to provide excellent functionality in a trim, slim package.  They are not quite as powerful as their bigger, heavier counterparts, but they do what they do very well.  The price points also please with some coming in at around $250 or less, depending on if they have Windows operating system or a variation of Linux.  Keep in mind that a small 10″ screen, tiny keyboard and track-pad with buttons are not for everyone.  That is what kept me from going this route.  Netbooks are good for light Internet surfing, word processing and a few other less-intense processor applications, but not much else.

Performance.  Any full-size laptop worth your consideration must have at least 2 GB of ram to be considered worthy of consideration.  The netbooks start at 1 GB which is ok because the requirement to run Windows XP Home Edition or Linux does not preclude needing the extra (although it would be nice).  Most processors are so close in speed and performance that it is less of an issue for most users.  Those who are into gaming and other processor intensive applications should be more concerned about this than the rest of us.

One to fit your needs.  Top all of this off by the realization that you can find a good laptop to fit your specific needs.  Since I am a freelance writer, I do not need a lot of fancy features that chew up processor power and drain the battery quickly.  I needed one with a full-size keyboard and a good screen since I will be sitting at it for significant amounts of time.  Your needs might be different from this, but one thing is true: you can find one that has what you need at a good price point.

One final point:  if you make a living with your computer like I do, then consider an extended warranty (but don’t buy the top-end plan).  It used to be that the manufacturer’s warranty would suffice, but now that it no longer the case.  Most manufacturers have scaled back their warranty offerings in order to save money.  Buying an extended warranty is important for laptops, too, because of their vulnerability to excessive wear and tear.

Do your homework, shop around and compare prices.  You can find a good deal on a laptop or desktop computer right now.