So You Want To Buy A Laptop?
Laptops are ubiquitous - they are affordable (mostly!) small, easy to carry around, and can let you work at home, at work, in a coffee shop, or (here in Seattle) anywhere in Colombia City, where there is City sponsored wireless access!
So - what should you get?
The Winston Salem Journal has a terrific write up on many of the moving pieces, and I recommend that article as a great starting spot. It has lots of great information that will help you understand hardware needs.
In addition - here are some things that I would add:
- If it is a personal laptop that you will use for work - make sure you get an operating system and a productivity suite that matches what you have at the office - but only if you don’t have to go backwards in software! For instance - I have Outlook 2007 at home and at work - and that means that I only have to get used to one interface for reviewing and sending mail.
- Back up your new laptop a lot! Perhaps daily! You are more at risk for data loss for the reasons I mentioned in the first paragraph!
- Buy from a name brand vendor with a national presence. You’ll pay a bit more than if you get a “white box” from a local agency that puts the box together in their shop - but you’ll know that you can return your laptop for service.
- Consider a strong warranty. My current laptop at work has traveled back to a name brand vendor twice - all on their dime!
Good luck - and enjoy!
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