The huge array of laptop computers available can make selecting the right one seem overwhelming at first. The choice becomes simpler once users decide how they intend to use their laptops.
Typical costs:
Students and other budget users can expect to find an inexpensive laptop for $300 to $700. Expect a midsize laptop weighing between 6 to 8 pounds with mediocre battery life. An example is the Toshiba Satellite L305-S5912[1] available for about $470. Those prepared to sacrifice performance and features for portability and price should look at netbooks available for as little as $300. See: How Much Do Netbooks Cost.
Home users who need the freedom to move no further than from room to room, should look at desktop replacement models, heavier and bulkier laptops that are packed with features and offer the largest screens, making them ideal laptops to replace a home desktop computer. Expect to pay $700 to $1,500 for a midrange desktop replacement laptop with dual core processor and 2GB of memory but only average battery life. An example of this type of laptop is the HP Pavilion dv6z[2] which costs about $580 to $1,200 depending on how it's customized.
For frequent travelers, ultraportable laptops cost from $1,100 to $2,200. Expect a slim unit that weighs less than 4 pounds and offers superior battery life for all those hours spent on the road or in airports. An example of an ultraportable is the Lenovo Elite ThinkPad X200s[3] that manages up to 10 hours of battery life and retails for about $1,500.
Thin and light laptops are designed for business users who need to combine portability with performance and features. Expect to pay $800 to $2,000 for a laptop that weighs 4 to 6 pounds but is less than an inch thick. These include tablet laptops that offer touchscreen displays that swivel 180 degrees. An example of a tablet laptop is the HP TouchSmart 2x2z[4] available well-equipped for about $1,000. An example of a thin and light laptop is the MacBook Air[5] starting at about $1,800. See: How Much Do Macs Cost.
Multimedia users and video gamers need a high-end desktop replacement laptop with a powerful processor such as an Intel Core 2 Extreme and at least 2GB of memory, rather than one built for maximum portability. Expect to pay $1,500 to $3,000 and up. An example of a multimedia laptop is the Sony Vaio AW290[6] starting at about $2,100. This laptop offers an18.4-inch display, Blu-ray recorder and pre-installed Photoshop software. An example of a gaming laptop is the Alienware Area 51 m15x Ultimate Gamer[7] available at about $3,300 with a powerful Intel Core 2 Extreme processor.
A laptop should include a rechargeable battery, power adapter and built-in wireless capability (802.11 or Wi-Fi.)
Inexpensive laptops usually include a DVD/CD-RW drive built in to the unit. Ultraportables instead use an external drive connected via a USB or FireWire cable. Some laptops offer swappable DVD-ROM drives for greater flexibility.
Additional costs:
Frequent travelers may want an extra laptop battery, which costs from $50 to $300.
A carrying case will protect a laptop during transport. These cost from $10 to over $100.
A docking station offers additional ports and drive bays. The cost ranges from $50 to over $300. An external mouse and keyboard can also be attached to the laptop or docking station, making it as comfortable to use as a desktop computer.
PC Cards and ExpressCards offer additional networking options, including HDTV tuners to convert a laptop to a TV or video recorder. Expect to pay $20 to $200.
Discounts:
Manufacturers such as Hewlett-Packard[8] offer closeout, overstock and refurbished models at discounted prices. Similarly, Sony[9] also offers discounts for students.
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Posted by: Sangerspyro Hokpopolis in Centurion, Other.
Posted: February 21st, 2010 05:02AM
Model: HP550
Store: Don't remember
I spend that much for a laptop with Intel 2.6GHz Dual 2 Core, 4GB DDR2 memory, 320GB SATA HDD, Nvidia GeForce 8800T 1GB Graphics Card, 19" LED SAMSUNG Monitor. Thats a rip-off!!!!!
For laptops, I always get Thinkpads because they are pretty reliable. My last one had only one problem (a noisy disk drive) over four years. I got the T2300 512MB 80GB XPP 14.1 SXGA Combo because I wanted the optical fingerprint reader (faster to login) and I wanted a 1400x1050 display (to do more work). So far, the machine has been great. I did run out of the 512MB memory it ships with, so I ordered another 1GB of memory for $183 from ANTOnline. I saved a couple hundred over ordering directly from Lenovo by using PCSuperStore.com. I was a little worried about the warranty/return policies ordering, but there were no problems.
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