Laptop Buying Guide 2013: 8 Essential Tips
Apr 15, 2013 11:30 AM EDT by 
While tablets get all the attention these days, there’s a reason why laptops continue to be the computing device of choice for most people. Laptops offer real keyboards for faster typing, they’re better at multitasking, and they offer a lot more power for everything from editing video and creating PowerPoints to playing the latest games. So what type of laptop should you get?
There’s a wide variety of sizes, features and prices, which makes choosing the right laptop a challenge. That’s why you need to figure out what your needs are. To make the right call, just follow these eight tips.
1. Mac or Windows?
This is not an easy question to answer, especially if you’ve never considered making the switch from Windows to Mac. But this quick overview of each platform’s strengths and weaknesses should help.
Windows 8
Windows notebooks are generally more affordable (starting under $400) and offer a much wider range of design choices from more than a dozen major vendors. Unlike Apple, Microsoft and its partners allow users to buy notebooks with touch screens, as well as convertible designs that let you easily transform from notebook to tablet mode.
If you’re used to the Windows interface, but haven’t tried Windows 8, you may be in for a jarring surprise. The new OS has replaced the Start menu with a tile-based start screen and a raft of new full-screen, touch-friendly apps. However, Windows 8 still has a desktop mode for running all your existing apps. Many vendors offer Windows 7 as an option if you custom configure your notebook online.
In general, Windows notebooks provide more business-friendly features such as biometric and smartcard verification and Intel vPro systems management.
MORE: Top 10 Ultrabooks
Apple OS X Mountain Lion
Apple’s MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros offer an easy-to-use operating system in OS X Mountain Lion. In fact, some say Mountain Lion is easier to navigate than the newer and bolder Windows 8. MacBooks offer iOS-like features such as Launch Pad for your apps, superior multitouch gestures, and Auto Save and Resume so you can pick up on your work right where you left off.
MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros also tend to outclass most Windows machines when it comes to industrial design, the touchpad and display quality. While Windows PCs offer more software choices, Apple makes it easier to find and install programs with the Mac App Store. However, Apple’s notebooks start at $999.
MORE: Windows 8 vs OS X Mountain Lion: Which OS is Best?
2. Choose the Right Size
Before you decide anything else, you need to figure out just how portable you need your laptop to be. Laptops are usually categorized by their display sizes:
11 to 12 inches: The thinnest and lightest systems around have 11- to 12-inch screens and typically weigh 3 to 3.5 pounds. However, at this size, the screen and keyboard will be a bit too cramped for some users.
11-inch Laptop Reviews and 12-inch Laptop Reviews
13 to 14 inches: Provides the best balance of portability and usability. Laptops with 13- or 14-inch screens usually weigh between 3.5 and 4.5 pounds and fit easily on your lap while still providing generously sized keyboards and screens. Shoot for a system with a total weight under 4 pounds, if possible.
13-inch Laptop Reviews
15 inches: The most popular size, 15-inch laptops are usually quite bulky and heavy at 5 to 6.5 pounds, but also cost the least. If you’re not planning to carry your notebook around often or use it on your lap, a 15-inch system could be a good deal for you. Some 15-inch models have DVD drives, but you’ll save weight if you skip it.
15-inch Laptop Reviews
17 to 18 inches: If your laptop stays on your desk all day every day, a 17- or 18-inch system could provide you with the kind of processing power you need to play high-end games or do workstation-level productivity. Because of their girth, laptops this size can pack in high-voltage quad-core CPUs, power-hungry graphics chips and multiple storage drives. Just don’t think about carrying these 7 pound-plus systems anywhere.
17-inch Laptop Reviews
3. Check That Keyboard and Touchpad
The most impressive specs in the world don’t mean diddly if the laptop you’re shopping for doesn’t have good ergonomics. Does the keyboard have solid tactile feedback and enough space between the keys? Is the touchpad smooth to operate or jumpy? Do the mouse buttons have a satisfying click, or do they feel mushy? How well do multitouch gestures work? You should be able to zoom in and out with ease, as well as select text with the touchpad without the cursor skipping around.
If you’re shopping for a Windows 8 notebook, test the touchpad to make sure that gestures don’t activate accidentally as you get close to the edges.
In general, Apple and Lenovo offer the best keyboards and touchpads. Dell and HP are generally pretty reliable in this category, too.
MORE: 5 Things Your Next Notebook Keyboard Should Have
4. Know Your Specs
Notebook specs such as CPU, hard drive, RAM and graphics chip can confuse even notebook aficionados, so don’t feel bad if spec sheets look like alphabet soup to you. What you need really depends on what you plan to do with your laptop. More intensive tasks such as 3D gaming and HD video-editing require more expensive components.
Here are the main components to keep an eye on.
- CPU: The least expensive laptops on the market have AMD E Series or Intel Pentium CPUs, which will struggle to handle serious productivity or media tasks but can handle Web surfing. Don’t settle for less than an Intel Core i3 CPU or AMD A Series. If you’re spending more than $500, demand at least an Intel Core i5 CPU, which is capable of increasing its clock speed dynamically when you need more performance. Power users and gamers should settle for no less than Core i7 system, preferably a quad-core chip.
- RAM: When it comes to memory, or RAM, even the cheapest notebooks have 4GB these days so don’t settle for less. If you can get a system with 6 or 8GB, you’ll be better prepared for high-end applications and lots of multitasking.
- Hard Drive: For most users, a fast drive is more important than a large one. If you have a choice, go for a 7,200-rpm hard drive over a 5,400-rpm unit. Even if you have several movies and games on your hard drive, a 320GB should provide more than enough space, but 500GB or 750GB drives usually don’t cost much more.
- Flash Cache: Any Ultrabook and some other notebooks come with 8, 16 or 32GB flash caches you can use to increase performance. While not as fast as an SSD, a flash cache will help boost load and boot times while allowing you to store all your data on a large hard drive.
- Solid State Drives (SSDs): These drives cost quite a bit more than traditional hard drives and come with less capacity (usually 128 to 256GB), but they dramatically improve performance. You’ll enjoy faster boot times, faster resume times, and faster application open times. Plus, because SSDs don’t have moving parts such as mechanical drives, failure is much less of an issue.
- Display: The more pixels you have, the more content you can fit on-screen, and the sharper it will look. Most budget and mainstream notebooks come with 1366 x 768-pixel resolutions. However, if you have the option, choose a laptop with a higher pixel count 1600 x 900 or 1920 x 1080 —always go for the highest res you can get. You’ll see more of your favorite Web pages, multitask better and have a better movie-watching experience. Full HD panels (1920 x 1080) cost about $150 more than your typical display, but are worth the splurge, especially on larger screens.
- Touch Screen: Windows 8 is simply more fun and immersive with a touch screen, but if your laptop is not a hybrid with a bendable or rotatable screen, you can probably live without it. Though you can get a touch-screen system for under $500 these days, the difference in price between similarly configured systems with and without touch is $100 to $150.
Graphics Chip: For the most part, an integrated graphics chip (one that shares system memory) will be fine for basic tasks, including surfing the Web, watching video and even playing some mainstream games. But a discrete graphics processor from AMD or Nvidia (which has dedicated video memory) will provide better performance when it comes to the most-demanding games. Plus, a good GPU can accelerate video playback on sites such as Hulu, as well as speed up video editing.
As with CPUs there are both high- and low-end graphics chips. Nvidia maintains a list of its graphics chips from low to high end as does AMD. In general, workstations and gaming notebooks will have the best GPUs, including dual graphics on the most expensive systems.
- DVD/Blu-ray Drives. Fewer and fewer laptops these days come with optical drives. That’s because you can download most software and download or stream video from the Web. Unless you burn discs or want to watch Blu-ray movies, you don’t need one of these drives and can save as much as half a pound of weight by avoiding them. At this point, DVD drives are a safety blanket.
5. Hybrid or Traditional Notebook?
Since the launch of Windows 8, we’ve seen a number of hybrid laptop designs that double as tablets. These include the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga, which has a screen that bends back 360 degrees to turn into a slate, tablets that pop off of their keyboards like the HP Envy x2 and notebooks with slide-out keyboards like the Sony VAIO Duo 11.
In most cases, these devices don’t provide as good of a slate experience as dedicated tablets or as strong of a notebook experience as clamshell-only devices. If you like the idea of occasionally using your laptop in slate mode, a convertible like the Yoga is a versatile choice. But if you want the flexibility of using your device as standalone tablet, a detachable design is best.
MORE: 8 Great Windows 8 Laptop-Tablet Hybrids
6. Don’t Skimp on Battery Life
Even if you only plan to move your laptop from the desk to the couch and the bed or from your cubicle to the conference room, battery life matters. Nobody wants to be chained to a power outlet, even if there’s a socket within reach. If you’re buying a 15-inch notebook, look for at least 4 hours of endurance. Those who plan to be fairly mobile should shop for notebooks that offer more than 5 hours of battery life, with 6-plus hours being ideal.
If given the choice, pay extra for an extended battery; you won’t regret it. Keep in mind that some notebooks (such as the MacBook Air) feature sealed batteries that you can’t easily upgrade yourself.
To determine a notebook’s expected battery life, read third-party results from objective sources — LAPTOP notebook reviews, for example — rather than taking the manufacturer’s word for it. Your actual battery life will vary depending on your screen brightness and what tasks you perform (video eats more juice than Web surfing).
MORE: 10 Laptops with the Longest Battery Life
7. How Much Can You Get for Your Money?
These days, you can buy a usable laptop for under $500, but if you can budget more, you’ll get a system with better build quality, longer battery life, a sharper screen and stronger performance. Here’s what you can get for each price point.
- $400 to $600: For well under $600, you can get a notebook with an Intel Core i5 or AMD A8 CPU, 4 to 8GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive, all respectable specs. However, at this price point, most notebooks have cheap plastic chassis, low-res screens and weak battery life. However, at this price point, most notebooks have cheap plastic chassis, low-res screens and weak battery life, but you can occasionally find a touch screen.
- $600 to $800: As you get above $600, you’ll start to see more premium designs, such as metal finishes. Manufacturers also start to add in other features as you climb the price ladder, including better audio and backlit keyboards. You may also be able to get a screen with a resolution that’s 1600 x 900 or higher and a flash cache.
- Above $800: At this price range, expect notebooks that are more portable, more powerful or both. Expect higher resolution screens, faster processors and possibly discrete graphics. The lightest, longest-lasting ultraportables like the MacBook Air and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 carbon tend to cost more than $1,000. High-end gaming systems and mobile workstations usually cost upward of $1,500 or even as much as $2,500 or $3,000.
MORE: 6 Best Laptops Under $500
8. The Brand Matters
Your laptop is only as good as the company that stands behind it. Accurate and timely technical support is paramount, which is why LAPTOP evaluates every major brand in our annual Tech Support Showdown. This past year Sony came in first place, followed by Apple and Samsung.
Support is only part of what makes a notebook brand worth your money. You also have to consider how the manufacturer stacks up to the competition in terms of design, value and selection, review performance, and other criteria. In our 2013 Best and Worst Laptop Brands report, Apple placed first, followed by Lenovo and ASUS.
MORE: Best and Worst Notebook Brands 2013
- 10 Ultrabooks to Buy Now
- Worst Battery Life-Guzzling Gadgets
- 7 Ways to Reboot to the Crashing PC Market
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March 10th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
I feel that having a DVD drive is important. You need to be able to run the repair disc if necessary, and it is nice to be able to make system backup and restore discs, although you could back up to other forms of storage. And I enjoy being able to watch DVDs I borrow from the library. My local library system offers an option to download movies online, but it’s rather complicated and their selection is very limited. When cost is a consideration it’s nice to have a computer and DVD player in one.
March 12th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
These are five very important questions, but it almost seems oversimplified in some areas. The “netbook or notebook?” section doesn’t mention ultraportable CULV notebooks. They usually range from 11.6″ up to 15.6″ displays and are somewhere between a netbook and budget notebook in terms of performance. For someone needing 8hrs of battery life but more power than the Atom can provide, these are a great compromise. The trade-off for longer battery life and a thinner/lighter design is that most lack an optical (CD/DVD) drive.
I’m also surprised that you didn’t include graphics in the “specs needed” section! Most buyers that will NEED dedicated graphics (for 3D gaming and other GPU-intensive tasks) are well aware of that prior to reading an article like this one. But so many buyers seem to think they will need a dedicated GPU to watch HD video or edit photographs, etc. A lot of people buy a laptop with a dedicated GPU that they will never utilize beyond the capability of an integrated one. They are usually not aware of the impact that the dedicated GPU is having on battery life, heat dissipation and the additional cost!
March 12th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Hi JasonR. We were trying to keep things simple but you raise some good points. I’ve updated the post and you’ll see that we cover both CULV systems and graphics in the specs section.
May 15th, 2010 at 9:00 am
I can’t agree more with Jasons points,
Many new buyers lack this kind of general knowledge.
This article should be more popular and read among many many new buyers!
May 26th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
All I can think about in laptop is
a) Keyboard, what you will mainly be using
b) Screen Resolution – I hope to see a comeback of the UWXGA+ screens on a 14″ it gave so much workpace
c) Quiet – Who can work when there is a constant fan noise?
June 25th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
I need a laptop with the most memory and fast loading processor.
July 10th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
It should be pointed out that more and more people can create a dual display option, using the ultra-light notebook on the road with a small 11 inch to 14 inch screen for light weight, but on returning home, can plug the HDMI port into their home video setup for a large screen. This makes the need to buy a bigger screen size in a laptop unnecessary and provides a smaller, lighter laptop for travel. THis changes the equation some what and makes SMALL and LIGHT more important. Acer seems to be one vender that is recognizing this changing marketplace.
August 9th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
With reference to replacing a notebook because of sluggish performance, the best test to determine if your old computer can be revived is to reinstall the OS (operating system) using the clean installation method. This is true for both PC and Mac computers. The other key is to reinstall only the programs you routinely use and uninstall all the “crapware” that may lurk on the restore media, if any, afterward. Computers commonly slow down over time due to left over fragments of previous programs not fully uninstalled, other downloads, etc. If clean re-installation of the OS restores your computer to its perky state, you are set! Otherwise, you can then troubleshoot hardware or just buy a new machine. I just re-installed the OS on my 2008 Mac Mini and HP 17″ laptop and they are now both good as new (for the basic tasks I ask of them). I will begin work on my workhorse, a 2008 15″ MacBook Pro in the next couple of weeks. Just plan to set aside about 3 hours for the full re-installation process for each machine.
September 22nd, 2010 at 5:25 pm
I am in the market for a Notebook/laptop to replace my aging home PC. All that I use my computer for is email, massive digital photo storage and Photoshop Elements S/W, and iPod digital music, and occasional Word/Excel for work at home.
I have my eye on the new Dell Vostro 3700 for about $718. I am willing to spend up to $900. Am I on the right track? I noticed thru reading various blogs that I should request 64bit Windows 7 to get maximum performance.
Do you have any other suggestions?
Thanks,
November 18th, 2010 at 7:09 am
Can anyone recommend me a laptop with soft keyboard , fast , suitable for gaming ?
November 27th, 2010 at 3:48 am
I’d like to point out that too high resolution on a small screen can make some applications a pain to use — especially web browsers. I have a 1900×1080 screen on 15.6″ monitor. I have to keep my browser permanently zoomed at 130% to make standard font sizes readable. I don’t have 20/20 vision, but I’m not a geezer and don’t normally need reading glasses. High res can be overkill. 1600×900 is the most you’ll need on even the largest laptop screens.
December 17th, 2010 at 10:04 am
Forgive my ignorance but I’m behind the times & this is new to me. I would like to buy a notebook to use to check/reply to emails, internet & watch DVD’s. Is it possible to get a WiFi signal from my 3G cell phone if I’m not near a hot spot? I really don’t want to add to my expenses with a subcription enabling me to access the internet anywhere. Also, is my credit card # safe if order something on line? I should have asked here first rather than leaving a store frustrated & confused. I trust all of you. Thank you very much!
January 22nd, 2011 at 1:18 am
I want to buy a laptop with very fast processor, large memory & high definition graphic quality. I’m so much confuse which laptop is best for me? please suggest me which laptop should i buy?
June 26th, 2011 at 10:41 am
I am in need of purchasing a laptop in order to continue with the Web Development program that I am enrolled in at school. However, I have very little money, not enough knowledge on what I am in need of, and I have to do all of my research online. I am supposed to take some multi-media classes in the fall and I need more information on what exactly I should be looking for in a computer. At the moment, I am working with a seven-year-old MacBook that works great for the basic Web Development things, just not with movies, music, and things of that nature. Thank You for all of your assistance.
August 14th, 2011 at 11:13 pm
i think the most important thing before you buy a laptop was the technical specs, you must understand about the specs too. like the processor, if the processor was outdated or low spec like Celeron, Centrino, Atom or i3 u better don’t choose it. because if you are using your laptop for quite a time you will experience lagg or freeze.
for me the first thing i look is the processor (recommend i7 or QuadCore), GPU like nVidia G400 series or above, or ATI graphic card. the next thing was the RAM (recommended 2gb and above). and the last thing is the slots, i mean the USB port, etc
August 16th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Hi… I love my laptop (Dell 700m) but it is VERY old, so it is time to get a new one, but I’m having a problem finding one that is the same size 11.7″ and the same weight or less 4.2lbs with an internal DVD drive… I understand that they aren’t as needed as they once were but I do use mine occasionally and don’t want to lug around an external one… Does anyone know of a lightweight smaller laptop that has one?
Thank You!
August 21st, 2011 at 1:43 am
I am looking for a laptop which can edit DSLR video, that would help me go to film festivals.
I am also looking to write scripts in that laptop by the side of a lake, and carry it around. Good battery backup, and a fast one at that. And i am from Nepal, a third world country, very little money to spare. So help me out if you want to see movies from my side of the world.
August 22nd, 2011 at 6:42 am
Hi…..i want to buy a laptop…..can u please suggest me what are the features i have to see before buying a laptop….can u say whether acer or dell is good for cost,size,life etc…..also pls tell the latest versions……..
thank you……
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:26 am
i7 snb 2330qm combined with 1gig ati graphics 5870 or nvidia gt 540m for mid high end laptops.on a laptop is great. I’d recommend hp dv6t quad edition. Quite affordable imo. A lenovo laptop has great keyboard/touchpad, acer for affordability but quite less on it’s software features. Macbook air 13 i5+256gb flash 2011 5stars ftw!
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:40 am
To Laptop, I mainly focus the appearance and keyboard, haha
September 23rd, 2011 at 12:30 am
I am gonna buy a new laptop and I prefer the one that produce least heat (actually is the most important) because I use it for almost all the time.
I am able to spend up to $1300 for it. The screen size is about 13~14″ is ok for me, also I would like to buy a laptop that has long term battery. Besides, I need the processor to be i5 (first or second gen. is ok). Mac or Window, either of them is not really bother me. Please help me out here… I am stuck with a lot of options of different brand, style and series
February 3rd, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Thank you, thank you, thank you…
February 18th, 2012 at 3:24 am
Does Dell Company have any laptop product that works with final cut pro software?. I am looking for afforable Dell laptop product that is very good for editing of movies. Thanks FC
February 21st, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Thank you for sharing this info., in additional to your blog, before purchasing a laptop you must first know the technical specs that you are needing, then if your to budgeted with your laptop atleast make some comparisons with the other laptops that is cheaper yet do have the same quality.
February 24th, 2012 at 6:11 pm
Regarding Question 5:
I would ask: Ubuntu, Mac or Windows?
My answer would be Ubuntu – imo by far the best OS for laptops.
However, nice article.
March 25th, 2012 at 10:26 pm
As long as there’s no 10key, HDMI port, and a long battery…I’m set!
April 26th, 2012 at 8:13 am
I want to buy a laptop which has a good storage space, is fast for playing mainstream games like battlefield, call on duty, etc., fast in surfing the net, has a good memory and has the graphics card for the smoothness of the mentioned applications. I have Lenovo in my mind, but am willing to go for other brands as well. I am confused which one i should go for.
May 28th, 2012 at 6:21 pm
I use my laptop mainly for gaming, which I don’t think a tablet is able to do as well. Mine has a full keyboard and a mouse, with a 17″ screen.
September 8th, 2012 at 3:25 am
I know this may be a little off-topic, but: I am just really bothered by the design of the laptop keyboards nowadays. Call me conservative if you must, but i prefer my rounded edges and not those sharp ones that every new laptop has had for the last 2-3 years. I still buy used computers just so i can keep using a sensible keyboard
October 4th, 2012 at 6:05 am
I am in need of a computer for general use in computer science but do not know which to go for as a new bee. I will really appreciate all your efforts in helping me get one. I am taking programming/soft dev as a major. I am willing to send $1000. Thank you.
October 23rd, 2012 at 3:50 pm
I am a gamer, so I definitely had to go with a 17″ screen myself. I have a Toshiba Satellite and it’s been running good for about 4 years now, no problems.
December 2nd, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Why do you ignore the Linux Operating System? I’ve been a KDE + Linux user for years, and I’m currently on the Kubuntu distribution. I wish more websites offered information on laptops that let you avoid the Windows tax (you have to pay for the price of the OS, it is included – even if you won’t use it).
April 22nd, 2013 at 12:41 am
Which laptop shall u prefer
SVE14125
SVE15135
SVE15126
which will give me good perfomance
May 5th, 2013 at 7:28 am
I am in need of a computer for general use in computer science but do not know which to go for as a new bee. I will really appreciate all your efforts in helping me get one.
May 6th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Mark,
Great article with very helpful information. Easy and most useful tips I have ever read.
Thanks for keeping it simple,
Chris
May 13th, 2013 at 5:12 am
i am ok with spending $800 which brand will perfect please tell me the ram hard drive ….,… for general purpose
May 15th, 2013 at 2:15 pm
Worst experience with LENOVO.
My Ringgit 3800 ($ 1300) laptop (Y560p) lasts for only 1 year and 3 months. The most interesting / DISTURBING thing is ‘LENOVO DON’T KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND THEY CANT’T REPAIR IT’. On the basis of their idea about the problem they need JUST 72 DAYS to replace the mainboard worth ONLY and ONLY 1000 Ringgit. Further, according to them, if there is also the need of replacing the processor then it will cost me another very SMALL amount of ONLY Ringgit 1000 (that is Ringgit 2000 / $ 700 in total). “HOW LUCKY I AM.”
In short this was my first purchase of Lenovo laptop and I am really regretful on my that stupid decision.
May 24th, 2013 at 9:21 am
Dell XPS 15 ultra book is a great item core i73632qm 12gig ram 750gig hdd 32gig msata 9cell battery and the looks.its just awesome
May 27th, 2013 at 4:35 am
please i want a review for the hp probook 4540s specially about the display
THANKS