Compare Laptop Prices
When it’s time to buy a laptop, you might be overwhelmed with the options currently available. The first step is to figure out what you are looking to get out of your laptop experience. Are you a dedicated gamer? A business executive who needs to be able to access work while traveling? Or do you just want to be able to browse the web and check the occasional email? Once you answer these basic questions, then you can start to compare laptop prices.
In general, there are four major factors that influence laptop prices. To most effectively compare laptop prices, you need to have a basic understanding of these factors:
• Processor speed: With a more powerful processor, you can navigate quicker and applications will run faster. But are you really going to use all of that power? If you’re not, you might think about saving the extra cash for features that you will enjoy more.
• Screen size: Obviously screen size affects laptop size, and many times also the total weight of the laptop. Screen size can also have a big effect on your final cost.
• Battery life: Be honest. Do you really need to have 8-10 hours of battery life for your laptop? If so, great. But if you’re going to be using your laptop at home or work, and you have access to a standard outlet, you can save money with a shorter life battery. Extended life batteries are heavier, too, so this can add total weight to your laptop.
• Total weight: While it seems in contradiction to the above, weight does play a role in the price of your laptop. As a rule of thumb, if it’s lighter, it will cost more. So if you want a bigger screen, a long battery life, but you still want to be able to comfortably carry it wherever you go, be prepared to pay a little more.
A laptop is not just a laptop anymore. There are so many choices that unless you’ve got a degree, it seems like a very daunting task to decide what to invest in. We’ve done some homework for you to help you start thinking in the right direction when you start comparing laptops, so that you can determine what you really need.
• Netbooks: These are basically mini-laptops. Extremely portable, they typically have smaller screens, and the keyboards are not generally full-sized. Netbooks don’t have internal CD/DVD drives, and normally don’t have as much RAM (memory). But they do boast wireless capability, making them perfect for surfing the web and keeping up via email.
• Entertainment Laptops: For those that are looking for a high-definition music, video or photo editing experience, entertainment laptops offer more memory, higher processor speed, and specialty software applications.
• Gaming Laptops: A true gamer knows that performance is key. To make the most of your gaming, these laptops have stronger processors, increased RAM, and most come standard with high-end video cards. If you’re looking for a spectacular gaming machine, you should be prepared to pay a higher price.
• Business Laptops: These computers range from the ultra-lightweight to the extremely durable and powerful. Designed with the business end-user in mind, they generally have the best operating systems, excellent power, and come pre-loaded with a plethora of business-oriented software applications.
Now that you’ve narrowed your search down based on your specific needs, you can start to compare laptop prices. Again, the options seem endless and overwhelming. You probably receive endless flyers and magazines from retailers who say they have the best prices. It’s hard to know where to turn. If you are more technically savvy, you can probably build your own system. For most of us, though, we need a little guidance as to what we need. Whether you order online, from a catalog, or at a retail store, be sure to do some homework before your buy, so that you can get the best price.
The best place to start is probably on the internet. Any search engine can direct you to sites that allow you to compare laptop prices, apples to apples. You can read user reviews, compare processor speeds, memory and other features. Even if you’re not comfortable ordering online, you can then take this information to a retailer so that you can ask intelligent questions make an informed decision when you buy your laptop.
We have compared laptop prices to give you a general idea as to what you can expect to pay:
• Netbooks: $250-500 and up
• Entertainment laptops: $600-1000
• Gaming laptops: $1000-1800 and up
• Business application laptops: $750-2500 (although we did find one for over $7000!)
Before you make an investment in a laptop, consider what you need and do some research. Compare laptop prices, because you can certainly find some great deals. This isn’t an impulse buy, so be sure you’re getting what you want, for a price you can afford.