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A laptop is a large investment, choose wisely or you may end up "investing" twice before you get the computer you really want.
Top ten things to consider when buying a laptop:
1. Size:Yes it's obvious, but is it? Some laptops may look smaller then they are while others may look bigger then they are. You definitely do not want a hulk of a computer if your plan is to lug the thing around campus all day. Here's a general rule for sizing.
>12" = net book - only buy one of these if you don't plan on watching movies or doing intense work with your laptop. While these may be thin and light, they do not have processing power of larger laptops and aren't good for multitasking.
13-14" = Perfect for school or a work situation where you need to move your laptop a lot. These laptops can be small enough to not be a burden and yet powerful enough to handle a large number of tasks.
15-16" = If you need a desktop-replacement-type, but also need to be mobile, this is your system. These computers are large enough to hold all the most recent hardware, but can be light enough to be mobile.
17+ = Only if you truly need a desktop replacement should you invest in a laptop this big. These computers are true behemoths. However, they can offer blistering beautiful graphics and astronomical processing speeds.
2. Processor: The type of processor is almost always the main indicator of how expensive a computer is. Currently the fastest processor available in a new laptop is an Intel Core i7 Extreme, and any laptop with this workhorse will set you back $2500+ At the other end of the spectrum, AMD's entry level single-core processor can be found in systems that start at $269. As a rule of thumb, Intel tops AMD in nearly every category. The current line of i3, i5, and i7 are your best bet. i3 systems should start at $450, i5 at $600, and i7 at $750. Keep those numbers in mind when shopping and you'll come away feeling good.
3. Hard Drive: Hard drives come in all speeds and capacities. The norm is currently a hard disk drive that can run at speeds of 5400, 7200, and 10000 revolutions per minute. The faster the speed, the better the drive. Realistically, 320GB of space is adequate, but laptops now come with 500 or even 1000GB of space.
Solid State Drives are much faster drives that use different technology to perform better. They come in smaller sizes typically, and you'll pay for the speed. If you want super fast boot time, go with a SSD.
4. RAM: This is your computer's short term memory - without it nothing (literally zilch) would get done. The newest laptops will all have the newest model of ram in them, so the thing to keep in mind here is how many gigabytes are offered. 4GB is standard at this point, 8GB is a lot, and 16GB is a true abundance. It's your preference, the more RAM, the more you'll pay, but 4GB is substantial enough to handle most tasks.
5. Graphics Card: The first question to ask is - Does the laptop have a graphics card? A majority of computers don't actually have a card dedicated to graphics processing, they simply use the main processor and RAM to power the visuals. However, if the computer does have a graphics card, there are several things to consider.
1. How many gigabytes does the graphics card support?
2. Is it ATI or Nvidia? - The two companies are contemporaries, but each has its strengths and weaknesses.
3. What level of processing power does it have? Not all graphics cards are created equal, so make sure to research the model of the graphics card to make sure you're not overpaying.
6. Ports: If the computer doesn't have the proper set of ports to connect devices to, problems will arise. Make sure you check all the devices you use in your everyday work to make sure that they will connect to your new laptop. Common interfaces, such as USB, HDMI, SD/MMC card readers, and E-Sata, are all connections you want to make sure are present.
7. Battery Life Somehow laptop manufacturers have gotten away with "embellishing" their descriptions of battery life. If a computer claims 5 hours, it probably gets 3, and so on and so forth. If battery life is really critical to you, make sure you find a laptop that claims 10-12 hours, and you'll get at least a solid 6 out of it. Batteries come in various numbers of cells; 6, 9, and 12 are the most common. The more cells, the more units of electricity that can be stored in the battery, and thus the longer the battery life.
8. Keyboard Is it spill resistant? Is it back-lit? Is it chiclet style or flat? Is it soft to the touch? Ask yourself these things before you buy the laptop and you'll be much happier the next time you sit down to write a research report or type up a blog posting. The keyboard is the second-most used input on a laptop behind the touchpad, and it gets used a lot - make sure you like it.
9. Touchpad Unless your computer is going to sit at a desk all the time, you will probably use the touchpad more than anything to control inputs. There are good touchpads, great touchpads, and awful touchpads. Not every person likes the same thing; some like their touchpad to be textured, others like it smooth, and still others like it soft. Whatever your preference is, take the touchpad for a test drive before you buy the laptop, you'll appreciate it later.
10. Price of Substitutes: How does the computer your looking at stack up to other computers with similar features? Are you finding yourself paying for a brand name or a certain look? Check with other manufacturers to see if there are any promotions running - you can find yourself saving hundreds of dollars.
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