In order to understand what laptop best fits your needs, you have to think about all the different specs and know what they mean. You need to consider the size, price and much more as well. Carefully read through these tips so that you can make a better decision about which laptop to buy.

Before you start shopping for a new laptop, decide how much money you can spend on it know what you will be using it for. If you simply need a laptop for business or school, you can get a great laptop for less than one thousand dollars. In this case, make sure Microsoft Office is already loaded onto your computer.

If you need to get something fixed on your computer, make sure you know how long a repair place will take to do it. You don’t want to have to send in a computer you need only for it to take forever to get back. Try finding some place that isn’t that busy and does good work in your area.

If you’re going to be traveling with your laptop, make sure you consider its weight. Most laptops are quite small, but they can still be pretty heavy. And if you’re going to be carrying it around at school or on trips, it can get quite tiring. So if you plan on taking it a lot of places, make sure you get one that’s not too heavy.

When looking at laptops, really consider battery power. Since this is an on-the-go machine, the amount of battery you have is very important. A laptop that only gets two to three hours of battery life may be of no real use to you if you’re constantly on the road. Weigh power against battery life very carefully.

Make sure that when you order a laptop online that you leave instructions for the delivery driver. If you’re not going to be at home, you don’t want your laptop just sitting on your porch for anyone to come by and steal. You may also be able to tell the person shipping it to require a signature for the package.

To keep your laptop from getting damaged, set drinks on a coaster instead of just on your desk. Glasses and cans can condense, and the water that runs down the side of the container can get on your working surface and then run under the laptop, damaging components. Water and your laptop are not compatible.

If you need to squeeze as much life as possible from your laptop and a recharge is far away, then set your screen to the dimmest setting possible. This will effectively double your battery life. It has been shown that the screen uses the majority of the laptop’s battery power.

To get the best deal on a laptop, start looking at the release cycles ahead of time. You can save a lot of money by purchasing last years model. Even a computer that is only a few months old can help you save. You may not get all the newest hardware but an older laptop may suit your needs.

Often times your laptop will have sensitive personal and/or business related material on it. You will want to get in the habit of backing up all data as soon as you get home from the office. In this way if your laptop is ever misplaced or stolen the personal contained therein will not fall into the wrong hands.

Write down the features you need before going to a retail outlet to buy! When you shop online, you can have a list next to you, making the process simpler. If you go to the store and forget your list, you may end up with a laptop which doesn’t meet every need.

A laptop can be an expensive investment, so protect it. If the store you are purchasing it from offers a warranty, purchase it. Components of laptops wear out faster and age faster than their desktop counterparts. Spending a few dollars up front will ensure the functionality of your laptop for a longer period of time.

Hopefully you now feel like you can make the best decision for yourself regarding which laptop to purchase. It’s an exciting thing because you can do so much with your new computer. Get ready to get out there using the tips you’ve just read so that you can buy your new machine.