Learn how to choose an inexpensive laptop that perfectly suits your budget. Read through our simple yet informative guide on how to choose a laptop based on your computing needs.
Author: Matthew Kerridge
Finding a cheap laptop is not necessarily an exercise in forbearance, but rather a combination of knowing what one wants and the fortitude it takes to shop around and do a little background research. It also helps if one is willing to accept a last generation model or a factory refurbished unit still under warranty by the manufacturer and/or vendor.
In order to determine what one wants out of a cheap laptop, they have to perform an honest analysis of their needs. Do they need to burn DVDs very often? If not, then forgo the DVD burning option. Do they need to play games? If no, then consider going with an integrated graphics solution instead of the latest and greatest discrete mobile graphics chipset. Does one really need an ultra-fast CPU, or would a lower grade CPU get the job done only a few seconds slower? How many gigabytes of RAM are really necessary for the applications the cheap laptop will be expected to run routinely?
It is easy to fall into the trap of cutting and slashing system specs to the point where a cheap laptop becomes virtually useless. Remember, this is an exercise in frugality, not an attempt to cobble together the crummiest system on the face of the planet. Don’t forgo something if it truly is important. Next Page
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