Buying a laptop for your college course is an important decision and one that requires some thought. No one wants to waste their money on a computer that doesn’t meet all the requirements necessary. It can all get a bit confusing with many different configuration options available, but here is what I have figured to be the best way to go about it.
Weight
This is an important factor as (this might sound quite obvious) the lighter the laptop is the more portable it will be. This is of different significance depending on your personal circumstances. If you wish to carry your laptop into college or on the bus to try get extra work done , then searching for a lighter option is advisable. However, the lighter the laptop, the more expensive the price is (generally speaking). If you’re looking for something to be mostly used at home then perhaps a cheaper and slightly heavier option will seem more appealing. Personally, as a lot of our subjects involve and require computer work (ICT, Cyberpsychology, Multimedia) I think it may be necessary to look for a suitably portable laptop.
Battery Life
Again, the significance of this factor will mostly depend on personal circumstances. If you are planning on using your laptop on the go then this is a crucial factor. (Nothing is more frustrating than being interrupted in your work by “insufficient battery”) A relatively low budget laptop’s battery will last 2.5 to 3 hours, a more expensive one may last well over 4. However this will vary from model to model and from different brands, so it’s best to request in the shop a specification of battery life. Always remember that extra features on any given laptop will decrease battery life.
Operating Systems
There are a variety of operating systems available to users. Widely accepted as the best OS is Windows Vista. This is an excellent operating environment but will come at a higher price. This is largely because it will require the latest hardware. Other operating systems include Windows XP, Mac OS X. There are many differences between Mac and Windows operating systems and different users will have different preferences. In my opinion it’s important to stick with whichever you find simpler to use, there is very little point in wasting time figuring out a system you are not used to or do not fully comprehend.
Brands
It can be difficult in figuring out the differences in the different brands of laptops but is always necessary to research. Reading reviews and questioning in shops should help you get an idea of what would best suit you, component and price wise. Apparently it is actually possible to purchase an unbranded laptop but personally I feel this may be an unadvisable move. Unbranded laptops may have lower prices but also may have unreliable warranties or unusual / unstable configurations.
Warranty
This is an easily forgettable factor when you are caught up in purchasing a laptop but is hugely important. A warranty usually covers any non-physical damage done to the laptop and the average warranty lasts about a year. This means that the damaged laptop will be repaired or replaced free of cost. International warranties apply this to any country. However for most of us college students this will probably be irrelevant.
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