Best Laptops
The best laptops for many uses are the standard size laptop computers you see most often. Before mini laptop computers gained popularity, about 75% of the laptop computers shipped were 5 to 8 pound, 14 to 16 inch diagonal notebook computers. These computers are the middle of the mainstream. I'm going to break this type of computer into subsets. - The best prices are on Low Entry Level laptops-- These computers may come with hardware that really isn't being produced anymore. That doesn't mean that they can't do what you want them to do, though. You don't buy a new car because they don't sell something that is identical to the one you have anymore, do you? These laptops sometimes are better equipped than the newer models.
- Barebones doesn't mean bad to me. -- What I call a bare bones laptop isn't what you might think. It isn't the bottom of the line inexpensive notebook computer you might imagine. It is a solid performing machine that should give you three to five years of good performance doing what you're doing now, and most of the things you'll probably want to do over those five years with just a battery replacement. If you go to the Dell or Hewlitt-Packard website, its generally not their cheapest model. Usually there is a significant upgrade to the memory, processor and hard drive. It is designed to keep up with the bloat in files and programming for at least a few years. For many people these are the best laptops.
- Entry Level laptops are the best laptop for most people who really need a laptop.--What I'm calling Entry Level is the minimum laptop I'd choose for myself. The processor, memory, and graphics card are upgraded. The audio and display might be upgraded also, but those are cost/portability/benefits choices that are up to the user/buyer.
- The best quality laptop is what I call an Upper End laptop.--You hit a point, just above my entry level notebook computer where the cost of the upgrades exceeds the immediate performance gains for most people. If you have special needs, you may have to go here. In the work area by special needs, I mean high end statistical work or graphical applications. If you can do it in Microsoft Office, you don't need to go here. Your other special needs might be in the entertainment area. It is false economy to buy this kind of laptop computer thinking it will increase the useful life of the machine. The way things have been going, you can buy a bare bones or entry level notebook now, and another one two years from now that will probably be faster than this upper end machine for less than the upper end laptop computer currently costs. Some makers label these machines as gaming laptops.
- A 17" computer notebook is heavier but easier to see.-- 17 inch laptops are distinguished by the larger display. They come in the same groups as their 14 and 15 (and 16) inch brothers. You will pay a premium for the larger screen. If you are ready to do that, go for the entry level laptop. With the larger screen you want good graphics. The processor, memory and graphics card all will affect what you see. When you move to the upper end laptops, the manufacturers start calling them desktop replacements or gaming laptops.
You still need to remember that no matter what you buy, the chip manufacturers and the computer manufacturers will tell you it is obsolete in 3 to 5 years maximum. They can't sell you a new laptop computer if you have a perfectly functional one already. Remember, I'm doing this on a seven year old desktop. I followed the strategy I recommended against above. I overbought. Its a desktop though. Everything in it is user upgradeable. Even the best laptops won't be.
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