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Thursday, 4 June 2015

What to Consider When Buying a Laptop

So you are looking to buy a laptop? It's more then how much does it cost and how do I connect to the internet. When making the purchase of a laptop there are multiple considerations to choosing the right one for you. You have to make sure that the system has the speed, power, memory and capabilities to meet your needs. You have to make sure that it has all the ports and connections that you will use. Is it the right size and weight for you? Do you need accessories (computer lock, memory card readers, carrying case, etc.). Will you need room to grow? Does it come with a warranty and tech support? As you can see there are a lot of questions involved in with making the right purchase for you.

It is not best to buy the cheapest laptop on the market. The laptop should meet the needs of the tasks it will be primarily used for. This should include performance, connectivity, mobility, and warranty requirements. When buying a notebook, careful consideration and research should be done before making the purchase. You should think about how it will meet your personal or business requirements for approximately 3 years in order to get a good return on your investment. Take into consideration that the laptop cannot be upgraded as easily or cheaply as a desktop and that the price of a notebook costs more out the door. Don't worry, you can still find cheap notebooks that can meet your needs and budget.

How hard will your Laptop work for you? Notebooks are quite comparable with their desktop counter parts in performance. They make a great mobile platform for a wide spectrum of high intensity Central Processing Unit (CPU), graphic and memory applications. This being said, you really need to look at your needs and meet or slightly exceed them in this aspect. There is no need to spend a lot of money on extra features such as high end graphics cards and a ton of memory if it is not needed. A lot of money can be saved or lost just due to a graphics card and some RAM.

Nowadays, most notebooks are built with the state of the art connectivity options. You must really think about making sure you have yours configured with the current and future requirements in mind. Will you have a wireless network at home, work or where you travel with you notebook? Most new computers have wi-fi built in that enables it to connect to the internet quickly without using a modem, cables, or NIC cards. You must also consider Bluetooth and built in 3G HSDPA.

With Bluetooth technology you can transfer music, video, and various other files and documents between your notebook and other personal devices without the use of wires. It can also be used with wireless headsets for audio or VOIP applications. Seriously consider Bluetooth, because it allows excellent synchronization with most cell phones. If you opt for one that does not have it built in you can still buy a key chain sized USB Bluetooth adaptor fairly cheap.

 Also recently available is 3G HSDPA which provides data connectivity through the cellular network of a public carrier. With this type of mobile broadband your laptop will be able to access critical applications and data in many places that you cannot with any other connection. Your Cellular Service Provider may also be able to provide an Express card or USB modem if it is not built into the computer. Remember though, there is a service fee for this feature.

Since mobility is one of the main reasons for purchasing a notebook think about your normal daily use. How often will you be carrying the computer? Do you need to take it to meetings, travel, or the local coffee shop? Truth be told the lighter it is the more it will cost usually in this category. The smaller technologies embedded to keep the weight down usually is costlier. Buying a larger notebook with a bigger LCD screen can have its drawbacks, too. Other then the added weight it will also drain the battery much faster. 15.4" is currently the main stream standard and provides good visibility. You may want to consider a 12" or 14" for better portability.

Do not overlook the value of a warranty. Unlike a desktop it is not as easy to replace or repair parts when they go bad on a laptop. It requires a skilled technician to perform these tasks. If you add in the parts, that cost more then they would on a desktop, it can cost a pretty penny. Seriously consider the 3-year warranty if you can afford it.

There are many accessories available for notebooks. Some may be considered essential and others just make it a lot easier to work with your laptop. Starting with the AC adaptor. Like the batteries, the AC plug is an essential element of your machine. It also is a major factor in a number of breakdowns. One of the most fragile elements of your laptop is the AC connector. The connector that plugs into laptop directly fails frequently and often occurs in stages. Initially with poor contact, you will find yourself moving the cable in all around to find the current. Then the connector is torn off definitively, or the produced sparks roast the motherboard. The latter being is most catastrophic, but either leaving you with an unusable laptop. Equally essential are extended life batteries, a must for computer users who are away from a power supply for extended periods of time. If you work frequently unplugged you will find a need for a second battery.

Some non-essential, but quite useful accessories are backpacks and memory card readers. Laptop backpacks are very functional and practical laptop carriers for students or business people who travel. The backpack allows for much more storage room then a traditional laptop carrying case. They are also water resistant and come in a wide variety of colors and designs. Memory card readers can be great, too. As more and more today you see cell phones, PDA's and digital cameras in peoples hands.

A majority of these devices use a memory card of some form or another. Having a memory card reader can help transfer and store data without having to connect the device. If your laptop does not have one built in you might consider buying one. They are fairly inexpensive and there are many options for memory card readers that can plug right into you laptop. Some are small enough to fit on your key chain.

Notebooks can be stolen very easily and security is another factor to think about. Contrary to popular belief, many laptops do not get stolen while you are in transit. In fact, usually it occurs right in the office. Individuals are usually not worried as much about the laptops, but more the thought of losing the crucial data that is stored on them. This could give thieves access to accounts, passwords, information needed for identity theft, along with photos, files and anything else that may be stored on your computer.

Many companies are coming up with advanced security features such as finger print detection and face detection so that others cannot access to your computer and personal information without permission. This protects data from being stolen, but not the laptop. This is the reason why many people prefer to go for computer cable locks. A computer cable lock comes in the form of a cable that you lock to an unmovable object like you would with a bicycle. A large number of laptops get stolen every year simply because of the fact that these laptops are not fitted with laptop locks. There also is Lojack for laptops which has some key features that most others security adaptations do not include.

This includes tracking and recovery of the laptop and also remote deletion of sensitive data. Another great feature about lojack is that a portion of the agent is installed into the BIOS by the notebooks manufactures so it cannot be erased. This allows for the software to be reinstalled remotely after it has been stolen, even if the hard drive is completely wiped clean or even replaced. This would be your best security solution, but you should make sure that the new laptop has this pre-installed by the manufacturer.

As you think about your new purchase you must remember there is more to consider then just the notebook itself. Make sure that the laptop meets your needs and you still have enough money to afford the other key elements that meet your needs fully.

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An article by Scotts DIGITAL - Top digital agency in Singapore and globally. Contact Scotts DIGITAL @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to admin@scottsdigital.com for more information on how to brand your website in Google and generate more clients for your business.

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