Top 10 things to consider before buying a computer.

 

What do consider  you before buying a computer.

Buying a laptop/ computer has never been easy as many people often find it difficult to compare brands prices, features, types of processor etc buying a laptop is not just a matter of running into a dealer or an online seller and clicking the buy button.
There could be a few surprises if one buys an outdated laptop or one which fails to suit buyer's specific needs.

Below is my top 10 basic considerations to make before buying a laptop.

1. The end use purpose of the laptop is very important, this should always be kept in mind. For this will hugely affect what to go for. For example if you are planning to do some basic tasks like surfing the web, using Microsoft office et cetera, a simple laptop with quite ordinary configurations would do just fine.    On the other hand hand, if you are planning to use your laptop for watching movies online, playing online games or for other jobs like editing videos or burning CDs, you may have to go for laptop with higher and better configurations. Identifying the end use is very important because it will have a big bearing on the price that you will pay for the laptop.

2. Processor, the processor is one of the most important part of a system and can mean the difference between a system that hang frequently or one that runs smoothly.

With basis to current technology single core and dual core processors would be naive.
For basic computer users a core i3 would be recommended whereas for more demanding careers, it might be a better idea to obtain a core i5 (if not core i7), as the core i5 uses Turbo Boost Technology other than Hyper Threading.

3. RAM, It is obvious that for more professional tasks and to run a Xeon server or for gaming, there will be more RAM required than for merely using a PC for surfing the web.
Today's moderate laptop in my view should have a Ram of at least 2GB but the RAM can increase depending on the what the laptop does. Users running a 62 bit windows can have Ram greater than 3GB unlike those running 32bit system can only have 3GB and below.

 

4. Hard Disk, Hard Disk considerations might not mean much to a lay user, nonetheless, having the right amount of disk space and disk type might be the necessary for the efficient management of regular tasks for a professional. A common user may merely have to decide between buying a 320GB or 500 GB hard disk system. An IT professional on the other hand might have to decide between a SCSI or a Sata drive. As a scuzzy or SCSI(Small Computer System Interface) drive might be required for Raid configurations.

 

5. Brand, Some brands offer better warranties, whereas others offer software packages that come with the system. Some laptops do not have ready repair utilities available incase need be e.g It may be easy to obtain a hp screen to replace a broken one than it may be for a Sony laptop.Also, a Dell laptop with the same specifications may be cheaper than a Sony Vio. The reason is that Sony provides many of its own softwares with their laptops which saves the users cost for buying software, e.g. a DVD burning.

 

6. Size, Some people prefer buying larger laptops for a better screen display mostly those with eye weakness whereas most people prefer smaller potable laptops which can easily be carried around. Laptops in the market today are usually categorized by display sizes ranging 11 to 18 inches.

7. Battery, If the laptop is going to be used regularly on the go the battery life is one critical feature you never have to look down upon, however if don't have to take your laptop on trips regularly then battery life ain't very critical otherwise pay close attention to how long the battery will last.
Do not entirely depend on the manufacturers word but also look for comments from users of the particular brand from blogs and sellers site.

 

8. Price and affordability, Considering your budget is quite an important aspect to check on before deciding on what laptop to buy. Whereas you can obtain a usable laptop at a "cheap" price, it is always important to ensure a moderate budget to help you acquire a laptop with at least respectable specs.

9. Wireless networking and Bluetooth, This feature is oftenly overlooked by most people when buying a laptop but considering that most laptops require internet connection to perform majority of their tasks, It is an extremely important feature.
At the very least you need a laptop that has dual band wi-fi adapter but for those who want Fastest networking, get a laptop with an Intel Wireless-AC 7260 which can work with the latest range of routers that have hit the market recently.
Also look for Bluetooth 4.0 which is not only handy for connecting wireless mice and keyboards but also awesome for connecting to a HI-Fi system wirelessly. We also use Bluetooth for playing music through a stereo system from our laptop.

 

10. Where to buy, It is always a good option to buy your laptop from authorized sales  outlets despite them having a slightly price compared to other outlets which sell laptops along with other electronic items and devices.
Some of the outlets who sell laptops have compromised hardware hence it is always a good idea to buy your laptop from a trusted dealer.

 

If you're buying large, bulky notebook that you'll use only on a desk near an outlet, you don't have to worry about battery life. However, if you plan to use the laptop on your lap, even if it's at home and or work, you'll want at least 6 hours of endurance, with 8+ hours being ideal. To determine a notebook's expected battery life, don't take the manufacturer's word for it. Instead, read third-party results from objective sources - See more at: http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/laptop-buying-guide#sthash.8EvS8JFh.dpuf