There are a lot of reasons for using laptops. Some use them for work, for school or just for entertainment purposes. No matter what your laptop will be used for, some things should always be considered before making a purchase. Keep reading to learn the things that you need to know about laptops.
You may not actually need a disk drive. Consider a computer that simply comes with a CD/DVD combination drive. Flash drives, external hard drives and cloud storage available on the Internet make it easier for you to save vital files without cluttering your computer’s hard drive. This can save you money and decrease the weight of your laptop.
Before buying that netbook, really consider whether you’ve got the processing power that you need in the machine. Netbooks are amazing on battery but typically poor performers in terms of power. If you are using the machine for emails and light word processing, you’ll be ok. But if you are looking for more, then another option may be better.
If you typically only search the web, check email and handle small word processing tasks with your computer, consider purchasing a Netbook. These units are inexpensive and light to carry, but they are also limited in how they function. For the moderate user though, they offer a budget friendly option that is easy to travel with and gets the job done.
You may want a cheaper laptop, but buy as much battery life as you can afford. Prematurely running out of juice is the most common complaint about cheaper laptops. Shop for at least four hours of battery life, but try to snag a model that lasts six hours or more if possible. Look for power saving features.
Do not overspend on your laptop purchase. There was a time when you had to spend $1000 or more to get a good laptop, but those days are long gone. Today, you can find great options for $700 or less, and it is worth shopping around to get these type of prices.
Are you afraid of your laptop being stolen? Invest in a tracking software such as CyberAngel Security, Absolute Software’s Lojack for laptops or TheLaptopLock (which is free). These increase the chances of recovering your laptop by pinpointing the location of the registered notebook once it connects onto the Web.
Write down the features you need before going to a retail outlet to buy! When you shop online, you can have a list next to you, making the process simpler. If you go to the store and forget your list, you may end up with a laptop which doesn’t meet every need.
Try out the keyboard. There is not much worse than buying a new laptop to find that the keyboard is a pain. If the keys are hard to use, or too close together, they may not be comfortable for heavy tapping. Though you can add-on a keyboard, you may want to test the one you are buying by typing on it.
When purchasing a laptop, try to find a seller that offers an extended warranty. Computer repairs can be expensive, and replacement is even more expensive. Just invest a few dollars annually into a good warranty, and you might save a bundle.
To start out setting up your new laptop, the first thing you need to do is install and activate the antivirus software that you should have bought with your computer — or that came free with it. After all, you wouldn’t walk around downtown with your ATM PIN on your forehead, so keep your computer information secret from the beginning.
When shopping for a laptop, you should consider what you need it for first, then look at price later. Simply shopping by price alone is a good way to be disappointed later. You want adequate battery life, for instance, especially if you’ll be away from a power source for long periods of time. Longer battery life costs money, though.
Test out the keyboard of any laptop you are considering buying. You may love the screen, the size, and the shape, but if the keyboard give is really not working for you, then you’re going to have a poor experience over time. You’ll send the majority of time typing on your laptop, so the keyboard needs to feel comfortable to you.
Every time a new model of laptop is released, an older model will be reduced in price to clear the stock. If you are budget conscious the next time you need a new laptop, look for the previous model instead of the newest. There may not be a lot of difference except in the price.
To keep anyone else from using your laptop, choose one that has facial recognition or fingerprint scans, so that only some users can get access to particular documents. You don’t want just want anyone viewing your information or proprietary files, so use that extra layer of protection to give yourself peace of mind.
Always be careful when plugging your electric power cord into your laptop. If you use excessive force when putting it in or pulling it out, you can damage your laptop. It can weaken or break the solder points where your power supply connects to the motherboard an can eventually damage your motherboard.
As this article has shown, there are many things you should know before buying a laptop. Computers aren’t all the same and you should be educated before making your next purchase. If you keep this article’s advice in mind, you’ll be well-prepared to make a smart decision and get the laptop you need at a price you’ll like.
