I need a new laptop. What kind should I get and what are important things to look for?

Answer 1

RAM is the most important for most users. Look for at least 1 GB (I have 2 GB on my laptop). The processor is important, too; 2.5 GHz for a traditional processor or 1.5 GHz for a dual-core would be good. (Speeds up to double that are possible, roughly. It al depends on how much you want to spend.)

I wouldn't worry too much about the manufacturer; coputers are all pretty much commodiy parts these days, and a bigger name will only get you a bigger sticker.

Answer 2

Important things to look for
1) purpose of computer?
video or graphics work- Mac
standard use or gaming- pc
2) Hard drive?
The larger the hard drive the more expensive the computer, however anything less than 80 gig is really tiny and will fill up really fast. If it is affordable go with 100 -120 gig hard drive.
3) processor?
Intel options are pentium series, they are good but old technology generally pentium 4 or pentium M, the new intel centrino or centrino duo are better than pentiums, they are faster and duo makes it easier to run programs.
AMD is also a processor brand however I personally know very little about them. I trust intel because it is a solid company
4) RAM?
Never go with anything less than 512mb but I would suggest atleast 1 gig if not 2. This makes your computer run great
5) weight?
With a lot of traveling a heavy laptop is a lousy option.
6) battery?
Higher end batteries cost more but they allow for more time off of the ac. Its also advisable to have a back up battery
7) Brand?
What brand do you trust? Personally I think HP makes great desk top computers but i am not impressed by their laptops, acer and compaq are also among my least favorite laptops. Gateway will give you nothing but trouble. Alienware is great for gaming. Dell has a gaming computer (xps) and a high end multi purpose computer (inspiron e1705) which can be customised to be superior to desk tops however they are not cheap. Apple and Mac make solid computers. An old classic is toshiba, they were the best brand in the 90's.
8) what are you comfortable with and what do you need?
I can sit here all day and lecture you on what to get, what you should get and what i want you to get but in the long run its your computer and you have to be the one who is happy with it. You have to have it meet your needs. Dont forget though that usb is a vital must for peripherals like printers, and external mouse and/ or keyboard if you so choose.
9) Internet access and networking?
The internet is a vital part of our lives now. It is important to have a wifi card. A/B/G is probably the best option because it connects to anything. A wireless router is a great option for your internet so your house can be wirelessly connected to the internet. Blue tooth is another option though it is new technology expensive and not readily avaliable.
10) Opperating system?
I cannot stress enough that you need windows xp professional opposed to xp home. It has more to offer than xp home edition and is built to handle the stresses easier.

Answer 3

It all depends on what you are going to use the laptop for. Here are questions that you need to answer first:

1) Will I be carrying the laptop with me alot? If so weight and durability will be a necessity.

2) Will I need wireless connectivity? If so making sure the laptop has a built in wireless card - this is almost standard on all laptops now though.

3) Will I use my laptop for internet connectivity only? If this is the case then video card, RAM, Processor speed and things like that are not as important. If your going to be playing alot of online games then this stuff becomes important.

4) Will I need alot of HD space? If you will be putting alot of pictures, music, video's on your PC then maybe a larger HD is necessary.

5) Will I need to burn CD or DVD's? If so you need to make sure your laptop has a CD or DVD burner and software for burning.

6) Will I be plugging alot of USB devices into my laptop? If so make sure you get a laptop with multiple USB bays or you will need a USB hub.


These are just the most obvious questions you need to answer. There are alot of laptops out there that fit alot of needs. You first have to define how you plan on using the laptop and then you can narrow down your search. Happy hunting.

Answer 4

Its what you use it for.
I doubt you game so basically any laptop is fine
If you like some nice amount of speed
What to look for is the CPU speed and amount of RAM (also known as memory, usually around 128, 256, 512, (all in mbs) and 1gb and rarely if ever 2 gbs)
For CPU speed if you get a Laptop using Intel, you would like something around 2ghz to maybe even 3ghz.
I would suggest using AMD though, they are much faster, but not found too often in laptops, if you use AMD, it doesnt matter what speed as long as it is at or above 1.8ghz
i know Acer has a few AMD laptops
but if u like Intel, go for Dell or Apple

Answer 5

Priority 1, does it turn on? Other than that, you really need to define it better for a more accurate response. I get the feeling that you should be more concerned with cost than anything else, most would have definite needs they would define in the question if they needed much more.

Get your hands on at least a demo model of what you would like to purchase and make sure the monitor is big enough to be comfortable to you and that the key board is not so confusing/so much compact in it that it is difficult for you to work with. Other than that, at least 512 Megs of ram, a processor that is a p4 2.5 GHz or faster and a wireless internet connection ability should do you just fine.

The rest comes standard with the machine; also make sure it comes with a operating system that you are comfortable with unless you have one you can install on it.

John B.

Answer 6

I have 2 Sonys, an Hitachi, a Texas Instrument, and a Toshiba. Recently, I bought an Apple iBook. If you're looking for depenability get Apple, Sony, or Toshiba. If you want ease of use - Apple. If support is important - Apple or Toshiba. Check prices on accessories. (You'll want at least one spare battery. A battery for a Sony is $230, for the Apple it's $80. Btw, battery life on an Apple is FAR betterr than any of the others I've owned.)

You just need to know what's important to you.

Answer 7

Hi Emily, there are a number of things you should know when buying a laptop and there are a number of choices. The two hyperlinks below will lead you to pages where you can get a lot of info. Check it out.

Answer 8

It relies upon. how can you be making use of it? once you're in common words going to do uncomplicated information superhighway surfing and gentle word processing, an Atom processor and 2GB of RAM will artwork. in case you intend to do extra, you'll want a swifter processor and extra RAM. often, i'd say search for a twin midsection processor or extra valuable, and three-4GB of RAM.

Answer 9

I'd say any Toshiba Satellite is good, I personnely like the Satellite P30 and P20, of if you are looking for something cheap, go for Acer.

Answer 10

For one don't get Dell or Apple laptops. Dell has bad hardware and Apple's os isn't as good as windows. Plus Apple hardware is expensive to replace and you can only get it from Apple.