LAPTOP BUYER'S GUIDE FAQ

How much will I pay for a new laptop today?
Should I buy a laptop or a desktop PC?
How do I use the guide?

How much will I pay for a new laptop today?

Expect to pay between US$1,000 to $2,500 for a new laptop with decent features. Laptops are cheaper than ever, and used laptops can be quite a bargain if you're looking for something to write your papers on in college. A big piece of what you are paying for is the LCD screen that comes built in. As LCD prices drop, so will laptop prices. What is a laptop? When we say laptop we're talking about a computer that weighs between four and eight pounds and can be carried in your briefcase. There are really only two types of laptops: larger, bulkier laptop units weighing in at around seven or eight pounds, or smaller, fully powered notebooks that weigh in at about four pounds and that may lack a built-in CD and floppy drive. A laptop is about the size of a ream of paper and folds open to allow you to view the screen and access the keyboard. Lately, there's been a trend in high-end notebooks to increase the form factor beyond the normal 8.5" x 11" size. This has been spurred on by the availability of larger 15" and 16" diagonal screens. There are smaller computers like the growing subnotebook market, and PDAs but we're not going to include them in this article. Subnotebooks are smaller than notebooks, weighing in at only a couple of pounds without a full VGA or SVGA screen but with a full keyboard. Of course, it's not a full-sized keyboard, it just has all the keys. PDAs are even smaller than subnotebooks and often don't even have a keyboard. Most interface with a touch screen and stylus that allows for OCR and gets used to your writing style.

Should I buy a laptop or a desktop PC?

If you need portability, you want a laptop. If you like to write papers or do your work in a library, the beach, or sipping Margarita's on your porch on a warm summer's day, think about getting a laptop. If you travel a lot, and do work on airplanes, get a laptop. If you don't have a lot of desk space, get a laptop. If you need a very high-powered workstation, don't want to pay a premium, or play a lot of 3D games, consider a desktop system instead. Laptops are always a step behind desktop computers in speed due to the necessity of fitting everything into such a small case and keeping heat levels and power consumption to a minimum. If you like the idea of upgrading your computer piece by piece, get a desktop system. Laptops are much less upgradeable than desktop systems.

How do I use the guide?

You can simply follow the recommended or minimum components, or you can dig deeper and click on the components in the left hand column to get a detailed analysis of each component. Also, on the recommendations page, there are best pricing links to different laptops and laptop accessories so you can shop or compare prices.