10 Tips to Buy a New Laptop

INTRODUCTION

Laptops have become the most common choice of computers in recent years, and their popularity shows no signs of slowing down.

Buying a new laptop can be both exciting and daunting, however, if you’re not sure what to look for or where to start. 

To make sure your money goes toward the right hardware when buying a new laptop, pay attention to these 10 tips that will help you buy the best computer you can afford today and well into the future.

1) Know what you want

Buying a laptop is kind of like buying an outfit. If you don’t know what you want, finding it will be difficult.

Do you prefer Windows or Mac?.

Touchscreen or traditional keyboard? How much do you want to spend? Knowing your needs before stepping into a store will make your shopping experience easier and help ensure that when you find the one, it’s really the one.

2) Features vs Budget

You might be planning on buying an expensive laptop, but when you start comparing models and specs, it’s easy to get carried away by all of those ultra high end specs. 

To avoid overspending, consider your personal needs and budget. In most cases, it’s better to buy for features rather than for high performance the latter will always cost you more in terms of price and maintenance fees. You can always upgrade later on if needed.

3) Customer Reviews and Experts' Advice

When you’re in your 20s, it may seem like there are all sorts of brand new laptops coming out every year. 

However, there are only two types of laptops on sale cheap ones and expensive ones. So when deciding which type of laptop to buy, customer reviews and expert advice are your key weapon.

These reviews will let you know which features you should be paying for and also help you determine whether or not what you’re buying is up-to-date.

4) Don't Get Too Attached

If you’re eyeing a specific model of laptop, there’s no need to get too attached. 

Technology is constantly improving, so it’s more likely than not that an updated version of your dream laptop will be available in just a few months.

So, my personal advice to buy a new laptop is don't get too attached into some specific brand or processor or company etc...

5) Test, Test, Test forever

Before you spend thousands of dollars on a laptop, make sure it’s what you want. Don’t just buy it because it looks cool and because your friends have one. 

You don’t need that much memory or that powerful of a processor, especially if you aren’t going to be editing video or doing some heavy-duty work. 

If you plan on using it for homework, entertainment purposes, and web browsing only, then there are plenty of cheaper options out there.

6) Research All Options Available to You

The first thing you should do when deciding to buy a new laptop is research all options available to you.

For instance, you may have never considered getting one of those ultra cheap Windows laptops that are loaded with bloat ware, but doing some research on them might reveal an option that meets your needs for less than what you would spend elsewhere. 

The point is, look at all your options before making any buying decisions. You don’t want to regret not doing enough homework upfront and end up wasting money.

7) Consider Upgrading Certain Components Later On

If you plan on using your laptop for several years, you might want to consider upgrading certain components (such as memory and storage) later on.

You may need to buy more memory or storage capacity in 2022 than you think. And then, it will be hard if not impossible to find what you need. That’s why it’s important that these components are upgradeable when purchasing your laptop.

8) Change up how you use your laptop - get more value out of it!

It's been 6 years since you've bought your laptop. You've relied on it more than you ever thought possible and have put up with it's irritating flaws like when it crashes, lags or runs out of battery even faster than normal. 

Rather than run out and buy a new one right away, why not change how you use your laptop first? Start small: try plugging in your laptop when running errands instead of relying on its own battery.

9) Don't Upgrade Constantly (But be ready if you need to!)

Upgrading your laptop every couple of years might be one of those things that sounds good, but isn’t.

You’ll likely end up spending more money than you have to, especially if you can't sell your old machine. However, in some cases (laptops with long battery life, laptops that don’t need to be constantly updated), buying an outdated model might not be such a bad thing. 

In 2022, Chromebooks should still be pretty useful for basic browsing and word processing needs. Just make sure to keep on top of upgrades so that when you do get a new device, it doesn’t feel like too much has changed since your last upgrade.

10) Take care of your device

It’s no secret that laptops are fragile. The screens break, keys snap off and ports detach sometimes you don’t even need to drop them. 

Just taking care of your laptop will prevent accidents, but if it does happen, we recommend replacing it ASAP. If you have insurance on your laptop, check out our guide on how to file a claim; otherwise, pay attention while opening or moving your device and try not to bang it around too much.

Small drops can lead over time to cracked hinges and busted screws which may cause issues with charging or working properly later on down the line. Other than that, as far as maintenance goes: Keep all software up-to-date. 

Your operating system might include security fixes for viruses and other bugs you didn’t know existed (like Heart Bleed) but only get patched if your software is up-to-date. Schedule regular backups and think about using encryption tools like Vera Crypt to protect files against theft or loss. 

Get an antivirus program like Avast Free Antivirus Home Edition in case malware takes hold of your machine during browsing or via email attachments.

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