subject: Buying A Laptop For Christmas? Avoid Common Mistakes [print this page] As the holidays quickly approach, people turn their attention to shopping for gifts for friends and family. Retailers know this fact well, and do everything in their power to attract as much business as possible in the days leading up to Christmas. Often, if you are in the market for a large or expensive item, you can find the best deal during this time. For example, many people purchase laptop computers during the holiday season, either for themselves or as gifts for others. It is true that the prices on notebooks cannot be beat around Christmas, as huge markdowns are usually the norm. When you see a laptop computer that has been discounted by $200 or more, it can be hard to resist the deal. However, as with any major purchase, you should do some research and make sure you really are getting the deal you think you are before going through with the purchase. Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking at laptops this holiday season.
First, check the specs carefully and try to find out what kinds of upgrades you could be looking at in the future. Most retailers sell the low-end models at extremely low prices to lure in people who have not researched such things. These people usually discover later that they need to spend almost the same amount of money as they spent on the computer to keep it from quickly becoming obsolete. If you opt for some higher specifications, even at a higher price, you can effectively future-proof your computer for several years.
Next, make sure that, if you do ever need to purchase parts for the computer, you will be able to do so with relative ease. Check around for prices and availability on such items as the laptop battery, the AC adapter, etc. If the computer is not in wide circulation, you may find it difficult to find these items anywhere besides with the computer manufacturer. Or, the items may be very expensive. Make sure you will be able to find batteries and adapters with little hassle and at a reasonable price.
Speaking of batteries, you may also want to read the fine print about the battery that comes with the notebook. To save manufacturing costs, companies will usually include an underpowered battery in the box and pass the savings along to the customer. This may be an ideal situation for someone only concerned with price and willing to keep the laptop plugged in to the AC adapter most of the time. However, for someone concerned about power and portability, it is necessary to do some estimating. When a laptop claims a battery life of up to 5 hours, for example, that may seem like a good amount of battery power at first. But keep in mind that the manufacturers test the computer under very controlled conditions where the battery is put under little stress for those five hours. If you are using the computer in real-world situations, doing things like listening to music, surfing the web wirelessly, and typing up a report will reduce the battery life considerably. A good rule of thumb is to look at the maximum battery life (5 hours in our example) and subtract about a third of the time it says. So if the battery is rated at 5 hours, expect a little over 3 when using the computer moderately.
Don't forget that many laptops, even with small batteries in the box, can be upgraded with an extended life battery fairly inexpensively. Or, if you don't need an extra battery, you may want to look into an extra AC adapter for your home or office. You could even opt for an adapter for the car to keep the notebook running on long trips. Keep these things in mind and you can come through this holiday shopping season with a product and a deal you can brag about.
by: Bobby George
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