What is the main purpose of buying a laptop? Are you a professional who wants a lightweight alternative to the desktop PC? Are you traveling and lugging around a heavy laptop with luggage is becoming unbearable? What about a student who needs to take notes in class or needs a convenient portable option for group projects? Or the mom who would like to look up recipes and keep in touch with other moms but she needs her counter space?
Most laptops have a wide range of sizes and features. A netbook is exceptionally light, with an average weight of 2.5 pounds. Most mini screens are between 7 and 10 inches and have a battery life that only lasts 2 to 3 hours, although upgraded batteries are available. The mini has limited features and a small keyboard. It’s best for someone who just needs to surf the internet, send and receive emails, and take notes. Mini laptops are relatively inexpensive. They’re a great secondary computer for quick and easy outings when getting back to the main computer isn’t an issue.
Other small laptops that are more feature rich are better if you want a main computer. Weighing between 5 and 9 pounds, laptops are a great choice and a popular choice over bulky desktops. Daily tasks like word processing, web searching, and photo editing are basic features available on most laptops. Key features to consider when buying are screen size, hard drive, memory, processor speed, optical drive, and wireless network capability. Screens range from 12 to 18 inches and the choice will depend on sacrificing a small screen for portability or the need for a larger screen due to vision problems and possible eye strain. How much is going to be stored on the laptop? If it is the main computer, a suitable hard drive and memory is needed or an external drive may be required. Are entertainment, games and multimedia essential? An optical drive is best if the computer will be used for watching movies or TV. For gamers, a computer with exceptional graphics, peripheral ports, and adequate memory will be necessary. With Wi-Fi hotspots in most public places, wireless network capabilities are a must.
Laptops are an excellent choice when it comes to power, performance, and portability. Choosing the right one is key to overall satisfaction. It is best to research options and find out what your needs are before you buy.