Your very first laptop is your introduction to all the wonderful and liberating opportunities that can only be offered by a portable, virtually do-it-all device. To make your experience that much more satisfying, here are some tips to help you buy your first laptop:
1. What do you need the laptop for?
Never buy because a laptop has an impressive list of specs. If you are not a heavy computer user, it is possible you might be buying more functions and features than you need or know how to use. Carefully consider what you intend to do and what you need a computer for. This will help you zero in on the most important features in one model.
2. What is your budget?
If cost is not a concern, then you pretty much have free rein about which brand and model to buy. However, if you wish to set a limit, having a budget will help you zero in on the brands and models of laptops that you can afford. It will limit your choices but it will make it a lot easier to decide which laptop to buy. For those with a very tight budget, you might want to consider buying a used laptop instead.
Read also: Best Budget Laptops for College Students
3. Portability
Today’s laptops are designed to replace or at least be an alternative to the more bulky desktops. With more and more emphasis being placed on portability, laptops have also become thinner and lighter. If mobility is a huge priority, it is a good idea to consider smaller, lightweight laptops. These are easy to carry around and can be stored in a drawer or mid-sized handbag.
However, be prepared to compromise. Smaller laptops will have a limited amount of space for certain features and functions. Netbooks, for example, often lack a DVD player or burner because it takes too much space. The keyboard and tracking pad will also be smaller. For smaller laptops, it may be necessary to purchase additional accessories to extend the functionality of the laptop.
Read also: How to Upgrade Your Laptop for less than $150
4. Battery life
You will need to rely on getting power from the laptop battery in places where an electrical outlet is not available. If you prefer working unemcumbered by wires and cables, then look for a laptop with longer battery life.
Read also: How to Take Care of Your Laptop Battery
5. Connectivity
Even first time buyers are likely to purchase a laptop to access the Internet. Most laptops have wireless capability, so this is not much of a concern. Once the service has been activated, it is pretty much just a plug and play routine.
Ports are also an important consideration when buying a laptop for the first time. These ports will be used to connect laptops to peripheral equipment such as a printer, scanner, digital/video camera, MP3 player, mobile phone, etc. Ports extend the functions of a laptop and allow you to sync two or more devices so files can be shared.
6. Should you consider brand name laptops?
Some first time buyers are drawn to a particular brand and model but if budget is a concern, it may be a good idea to consider less popular options. The good news is that there are no-name or less popular models that can be as good as or even better than brand name computers. Before buying, however, ask about warranty, customer service and after sales support.
Read also: Tips on How to Improve Laptop Performance
Soon i am going to buy a Laptop for my Business use.
I think i have to follow your all tips. My Budget is Approx $800. I always prefer first Brand, Because a branded company only can give us quality product. Bettery , Portability and Connectivity is another important factor.
Thanks Peter for sharing this tips with us.
$800 can definitely buy yourself a good laptop Amit! I’m glad the article helps. Thanks for reading.
Well i think laptop is one thing you will not buy everyday. And when it is your first laptop, i think going with the brand is important i guess. Dell and lenevo are some good company laptops you can check before buying laptops.!
I think most people do too. They will go for branded laptops especially it’s their first. I know some do go for no-names because they’re a lot cheaper. Yea Dell and Lenovo are some of the best in the market. I’m using a Toshiba though. Appreciate you stopped by Sanjib 🙂
If you gave these tips 1 month ago then It could help me because I just bought my laptop few days back. But Its good to have your tips for my future laptop. :). By the way I am quite happy with my acer laptop.
Glad you finally got yourself a laptop Atish. So it’s ACER huh? 🙂
You are right about this post, before choosing the right laptop for ourselves we need to know the Specification. I still remember my laptop , i bought this last year, its not that expensive but worth a use. the brand is compaq I don’t have any regrets using this. and I really love my laptop.
An expensive and full spec laptop is not necessarily good for everyone. IMHO, we should buy only what we need and not what we want. What’s the point of buying a full spec, high-end laptop if we don’t need and use some of the features at all right? Thanks for the comment Kate.
I guess you are right Peter but I think using high specs is much better because we can use this laptop in anything, games, business and many more. in case we are building our own webpage we need full speed. am I right.
Hey Peter …It seems like i’m in love with your blog! Great work out here! Buying a laptop can be confusing at times …becase we often say “I could have waited for sometime to get a better one”!…Same is the case with women 😛 (Joking)
Yea I get your point Mario. Not only when it comes to buying a laptop, in fact we often feel regretted about most of the things we had done in life too 😛
I found this article to be very helpful and handy in buying a new laptop
I am currently looking at notebook for one of my friend and this checklist is very helpful. Great and Thanks to all 🙂
Nice tips Peter. But, I would like to add another point, it is always better to go for a brand whose service centers are near to your place. It is quite helpful in the cases if it needs to be repaired.
Yea that’s vital too as you will never know when your laptop is going to need the repair services. A nearby service center would definitely helpful and preferred! Good point Ankit!
When I bought my first laptop I thought about price, warranty & connectivity! Now it’s about time to buy another one and I’ll definitely consider other options that are just as important.