Buying a new laptop is an investment for sure, and you can make the best possible choice only by thoroughly assessing your requirements. Whether you're buying a laptop for the first time or have been using one for ages, before venturing on a new purchase, there are several factors that need to be considered. To make things easier for you, we've listed here the most important factors:

Processor (CPU)

The first bullet point in all those "specification" handouts that a laptop salesperson will show you would most likely mention the processor in the system. The processor is one of the main components in a laptop and directly affects performance as well as battery life. Over the past years, laptop processors were comparatively slower when pitted against desktop alternatives, but not anymore.

Today, faster multi-core processors are common in laptops. The processor type differs depending on size, purpose or area of application of the laptop. Most laptops come with Intel or AMD processors, with either single- or multi-core architectures. Considering average applications such as MS Office or other applications like Photoshop, a processor with a minimum clock speed of 1.6 GHz is essential. Unlike desktops, laptops cannot conveniently be upgraded, and so it’s always better to choose a faster processor with the future in mind.

Memory (RAM)

Once you’ve decided on the processor you require, you need to do justice to it by letting it perform to its full potential by providing adequate system memory. RAM, the random memory needed for your operating system, running programs and their data, contributes to the overall system response time. Consider a situation where you have one of the fastest computers around, but not enough memory to hold the programs and their data that you wish to run. Much of the program code and the data will have to be held on disk and brought into memory when needed. At the same time, data that is not currently being worked on will be stored temporarily on disk. As the time taken to move data to and from a disk is much greater than moving from memory to the processor, this will slow the system down considerably.

In case this stretches your budget, find out if it will be possible to upgrade later, or if it has to be done by a technician. These days, with resource hungry applications, we advise a minimum of 2 GB RAM as standard.

Display

The display abilities of a laptop are determined by the screen itself, as well as the graphics processor.

Screens come in standard sizes and resolutions. Typically, larger displays have a higher resolution, but then this impacts the portability of a laptop. Wide screen displays are also gaining popularity as they help with better viewing and comfortable working.

The graphics processor, on the other hand, determines performance that is visible when it comes to 3D graphics and gaming. Laptops come with onboard as well as dedicated graphics solutions. The difference between the two is that while onboard solutions provide low end or very basic performance, dedicated graphics solutions from NVIDIA and ATI significantly enhance performance and allow hi-end applications (newer generation games) and other 3D-intensive applications to run more smoothly.

Ports

Every now and then, we have to connect additional peripherals to our laptops. These may be wireless cards, USB drives, printers, mice or other gadgets. An adequate pool of available ports is very useful both for desktops as well as laptops. Most modern day devices are designed to connect to USB ports. If you have devices which use FireWire or other connections such as Bluetooth or infrared, like many mobile phones, PMPs or video cameras do these days, make sure your laptop supports them by having the right connectors.

An expansion slot for PC cards is also a good idea. This comes in handy to accommodate an internal modem, wireless card, additional Ethernet ports or a better sound card. With high definition video and audio coming to laptops, an HDMI port is also becoming common these days. HDMI replaces the old S-Video port and gives advantages such as single cable connection for both audio and video. Headphone and microphone jacks are common, but some laptops come with dual headphone jacks that can be used to connect your laptop to different devices or even to utilise its multi-channel output.

Drives

Hard drives can be broadly classified into two different categories:

1. HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
2. ODD (Optical Disk Drive)

Your storage requirement entirely depends on your usage. A hard drive’s configuration is fairly straight forward in terms of size. These days, laptops come with 250 GB storage on a single HDD, but still you have to decide whether you really need all that space. Another critical factor that determines your overall system speed is the drive’s rotation speed — a drive with a higher spin rate yields faster data access times. However, these are more prone to damage as well. This is one factor you must keep in mind while arriving at your decision. Try and assess how much space you will need in your system, and then multiply by three.

Optical drives have evolved considerably over the years. You can either have a simple CD-ROM drive for installing software, all the way up to the latest high definition Blu-ray DVD burners as part of your configuration. In most cases, laptops now come standard with a dual layer DVD burner. Blu-ray drives are starting to show up, but are extremely expensive.

Networking

One of the basic reasons to have a laptop is to be able to carry out all your tasks while on the move. This involves your work for which you need to send/receive emails. Connecting to the internet or a local network is a crucial function that you need to have f6r your laptop. Most laptops today include a built-in 56 kbps modem and Fast Ethernet (RJ45) port that handle data rates up to 1,000 Mbps. WiFi has now become a common feature in laptops. There are several standards for wireless connectivity, but a very basic connection would require 802.11b/g support having a data rate of up to 54 Mbps.

Size and Weight

You can add up the best of everything and arrive at a monster of a laptop! But then, that’s what portability is all about — balancing your configuration for optimal performance and capacity on the one hand, and portability on the other.

Although ultra portable laptops offer light weight solutions and a smaller size, they also sacrifice on processing speeds, ODDs, expansion slots, etc. Therefore, when looking for a laptop, consider these factors before making a final decision. Also consider the weight of the accessories, especially the AC adapter, because at times, laptops are light but after bundling accessories, the whole package can become quite heavy to carry. If you travel frequently, or carry a lot of heavy things while on the move, a lightweight laptop with a small form factor is what you need.

Battery Life

The best looking laptop is no good if it doesn’t offer you adequate battery time. This holds true even if the product you are considering is an Apple Macbook Air. Try to find the listed battery life for the standard battery, and see if it suits your needs. It would be wise to look for a system with at least two hours of battery life under normal conditions. If you need extended battery life, then look for larger battery packs or media bays that can double as extra battery slots when required.

Warranty Plans

Laptops are more prone to breakdowns due to their portability. When buying a system, make sure to get at least a year’s warranty from the OEM. If you’ll be using the system heavily, a system that comes with a three year warranty is ideal.

Consider several models while you are out there shopping. Consider all models that meet your buying criteria, and compare them on features and prices. Your decision should not depend on someone else’s preferences, but on your own. After all, it’s you who is going to use the laptop — don’t be shy to call dealers and customer support of the OEMs to find out more about their equipment. Check out the model physically whenever possible. Ask your friends who may have bought laptops recently or are currently using the one you wish to buy. Narrow your choices down to a few models, and then seek the best deal before finally buying your dream laptop!