Buying a new or used laptop can be quite the experience and should be an educated purchase to avoid disappointment. There are many factors to take consider when buying a laptop like screen size and battery, for example. Budget laptops can be enticing, but will they have the horsepower you need for daily computing tasks a year from now? What difference does having an AMD or Intel processor make? And how do you make sense of the alphabet soup that is Wi-Fi (802.11a, b, g, n)? LaptopCentre.com is here to help you wade through the spec lists you see on those Sunday circulars and help you make the best of your laptop money. Take a look at these things to consider when picking out your new portable.

Operating System

Go with what you know? If you're used to one OS it'll be 'easier' to continue with a familiar interface than give something new/fresh a chance. But don't let your first OS decide every subsequent OS and computer buy.

Choose an O/S (Operating System) that suites you.

Some programs you may need or want are only available for a certain OS but can be made to work through an emulator and some can't. One of the most popular O/S moves is from PC or Windows to the Mac platform. If you're planning on making this move and still need to the use of Windows from time to time you may want to consider a Bootcamp or Parallels. These features when installed on a MacBook will allow you to switch between the Mac OS X and Windows operating system.

Get Help from Family and Friends

 If you are inexperienced with computers and will need help, buy the type of computer that helpful family members or friends know and will help you with. Otherwise you'll have to rely on call-centre 'tech support' or expensive one on one tutorials.

Try before you buy

 Try out all three types in the store or friends computers. See what feels most natural to your way of using a computer.

Linux, Android, Mac O/S, Windows

It is really up to your personal preference, but these are some important considerations:

MacBooks

Macs cost more for relatively the same hardware/features. This is a big drawback if you're on a budget. On the plus side, they match well with iPhone,iPods, iPad, etc., they are also considered fairly easy to use for the less technically inclined, and have good support in Apple Stores. Read up the pros and cons of Mac ownership on relevant internet forums. Macs are also generally less prone to viruses, though they are not immune. Another thing about Macs is that if you still have Windows applications that you need, you can buy Windows emulation software and install it on your Mac, which will allow you to run Windows on your Mac. All recent Macs come with software like this, called BootCamp, but using it requires a restart to boot into Windows mode.  

Give Linux a Try

Some laptops can be purchased with Linux pre-installed. To try before making the purchase download a free live distro (distributed demo). It allows you to run your computer using a Linux operating system out without making any changes to the computer. Most Linux operating systems are free of charge as are thousands of programs and apps. A program named WINE lets you run many Windows software on Linux systems. You can install and run these applications just like you would in Windows. Wine is still under active development. Not every program works yet. However there are several million people using WINE to run their Windows software on Linux operating systems. Linux has virtually no threats from viruses. Linux is the perfect choice for children because the operating system is free, the programs are free, and there is virtually no threats of viruses. If the the kids mess the operating system up just reinstall the operating system and start over fresh. Linux Mint looks and works the most like Windows. Ubuntu Linux is the most popular.

Screen Size – Small ultra-portable or full-size

There are three different size/weight ranges for a laptop: netbooks & tablets, which are laptop, or desktop replacements. Although all of these fall into the broader concept of a "laptop", their end usability differs and can impact your choice. Here is a brief rundown of each:  

Netbooks, which in essence is a mini notebook with a portable small screen of 7"-12". This has a compact size, is light in weight, and is usually suitable for emailing and browsing or light internet usage as their processing power is limited. The maximum amount of RAM a Netbook can facilitate is usually about 2GB , therefore their ability to run sophisticated applications is limited.

Fully Functional Laptops- with a screen of 12"-15.6"/33.3cm-38.1cm. This is of medium weight, is still thin and light, and is able to hold a lot of memory. The decisions to make about a laptop's capacity really come down to your own preference as to screen size, and the amount of RAM you think you'll need.  

Desktop replacement - screen of 17"-18"/43.8cm-45cm. This is larger and heavier, has full features, and tends to be bound for the desk rather than being lugged around in your backpack. While not as portable as the other two, however, it's still very mobile when needed and the added weight when carrying it isn't really a big issue for many people. If you're not sure about this size, weigh up your desk and portable needs, noting that it is possible that the desktop replacement will eventually do away with desktop computers altogether.

Tablets – These are ultra-portable touch screen devices with no keyboards. A tablet is the most convenient choice when doing any computer related tasks while on the go. Think of them as a cross between a netbook and a smartphone. These new generation tablets have almost replaced the netbook market because they offer the same functionality (except for the lack of a physical keyboard) and are much more easier to use when on a bus or train. Not to mention a lot more chic and sexy. Tablet models I would recommend are Samsung Galaxy Tab, Asus Eee Pad Transformer and Apple's iPad Touch. When choosing an O/S to run on your tablet I recommend the latest andriod.

Screen Type – Glossy or Anti-glare – Standard or High Resolution

Look for the right screen resolution. While not impossible, it's difficult and expensive to change the screen that comes with your laptop once purchased, so get the right amount of pixels from the start. More pixels increases the cost but if the resolution is important for your activities, it is worth getting this part right.

Ask how the laptop screen performs under sunlight; cheaper screens will often be "invisible" in outdoor light, making their "portability" a little less useful for you. Because glossy screens have a mirror finish they reflect, therefore are much better suited for low light situations like in a home. If you plan to use your laptop out of the home in an office environment or any location out of the home an anti-glare screen will be much more useful and easier on the eyes.

Performance Capabilities – How much processing power RAM and Hard Drive Space do you need to perform certain tasks and for future storage

Processor (CPU)

Check the CPU or central processing unit. Higher end, faster processing laptops will have a multi-core CPU such as Intel, AMD, and now ARM. This won't usually be found in netbooks or lower-end laptops. The difference impacts the speed of your laptop's performance.

Hard Drive (Storage)

The size of the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is virtually unimportant, as long as it can hold your OS and programs, which even the smallest drives today probably can. To store your media (e.g. pictures, music) no amount is enough and since you can't put an extra HDD in most laptops, external/network storage becomes almost a must. What does matter for performance is the speed of the HDD. Of course, more speed = less battery life.

Alternatively, Solid State Drives (SSDs) offer much higher performance, no noise and extended battery life, but have much smaller capacities (usually 30GB to 256GB at the time of writing) and cost more. If you are looking for the best possible performance, an SSD is a must, but you'll probably need to purchase an external hard drive for things like music, photo and video libraries.

Memory RAM

Consider how much RAM you actually will need in your new unit. While it may be tempting to get a whole ton of RAM when you purchase the laptop, often retailers will put massive amounts of RAM in a unit to disguise the fact that the rest of the components are sub-par (slower processor, etc). Since it is quite easy to upgrade RAM (even in a laptop), this should not be a huge consideration for a specific laptop. The amount of RAM memory can be an important spec to consider. Often the amount of memory can limit the applications that you can run. Large applications will require more memory to run. In general, the more memory you have, the faster the laptop will run. The typical memory numbers come in amounts like 1 GB, 2 GB, 3 GB, and 4 GB, where GB means gigabytes. Try to get at least 3 GB. Laptops with 4 GB are ideal but make sure that your operating system is 64 bit for anything 4GB and over, as a 32 bit operating system cannot recognize more than 4GB. Most manufacturers will not sell you a laptop with a 32 bit operating system if you choose 4 or more gigabytes of RAM, though.

Video Card

If you play a lot of games, check the graphics memory. You must have a graphics card with discrete video memory for 3D games, though this is not necessary for most casual games. A discrete graphics card will consume more battery power as well.

How many USB ports are in place for adding your peripherals (memory sticks, iPod,Firewire, etc.).

DVD,Blu-Ray

Check the laptop's optical drives. If you want to be able to burn CDs and install software from discs, you will need a DVD drive. If your laptop does not have one, you can always purchase an external DVD drive to plug in when needed. Blu-Ray drives are also options now in many laptops. If you want to be able to play blu-ray movies, make sure you choose a blu-ray drive instead of a DVD drive.

Comfort

Test the keyboard. It should feel right to your way of typing or tapping. Same for the track pad. Even within the same make, keyboards, track pads, etc., can feel very different under your personal touch.

Battery Life

 How much time spent unplugged? If you need to spend extended amounts of time running on battery like 4 or more hours per day then you should consider upgrading to a high capacity battery. Most laptops and MacBooks by default come with a standard capacity 6-cell battery but with some laptop models you can upgrade to a higher capacity 9-cell or in some cased 12-cell battery. If your laptop does not have a high capacity battery ask what the estimated hours of battery use for the models you're interested in.