From time to time I’ll get requests for laptop purchasing advice, many people are always on the lookout for new laptop technology as the Windows OS landscape changes almost every 5-10 years it can be confusing what to purchase.  Microsoft the developers of Windows OS are a recognized brand name and the most commonly installed OS based on it’s price point when compared to the MAC OSX, which is what I use daily along with Windows Servers and Linux Servers.

So what should one look for when getting a new laptop?  My basic Laptop Purchasing Advice:

1.  Reviews:

Whenever I purchase Technology (Laptops, TV’s, Phone’s, anything really etc.) I like to read the reviews so I can be informed of what works and what doesn’t. Reviews from consumers like you or me provide a healthy view of a users experience with a particular product/service.

When reading reviews you get a general idea of what consumers experiences has been with a product or service, ie: good or bad.

I like to see anywhere from 10 – 25 reviews so this gives me a healthy idea of what the consumer like and really like or disliked about a product or service.  With this being said to be an intelligent buyer you have to be informed so one should read the product description and features so you know what the product or service is supposed to do.  “What does is say on the tin”  does it do what is says on the tin?

Places like Newegg.com, Amazon Laptops, and others give great consumer reviews. Check them out.

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Go to all Departments – > Computers -> Laptops

2. Check the warranty.

What’s the Warranty on the laptop and return policy from store or manufacturer? Understand this so there are fewer problems when you purchase your new laptop and need to return it.

3. Ram/Hard drive

Be sure you have plenty of Ram for the application your purchasing the laptop for.  I would say if money is no problem then I would go with as much ram as your laptop can support; else 4 GB should be plenty enough for what your probably want to do with the laptop, write papers, basic email, chat, etc.

The faster the hard drives the more it costs and also better performance over the life of the drive usually the higher the spin the faster the drive.

Check out some Performance charts over at Toms Hardware (SSD – Solid State Hard Drives over the older IDE – Integrated Drive Electronics Drives).

4. Faster CPU is better (Cost more).

For more intensive applications ie: Gaming, Video Production you will have to look at faster CPU, fast video cards, fast hard drives etc.  Get the fasted CPU you can afford as when you have more memory intensive programs and many programs open your system can and will slow down.

Feel free Check out some in-expensive laptops here at Walmart:

Go to all Departments – > Computers -> Laptops

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Go to all Departments – > Computers -> Laptops

Review several Laptop offers on Amazon

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