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Buying Guide

We keep telling those who approach us for laptop buying suggestions the same thing : enter the market only if armed with atleast one of two things - a budget or a spec list. A budget is the max that the buyer is willing to spend on the laptop and a spec list is the list of components that the laptop should contain.

Without either, a buyer is bound to get lost in the maze of options and end up with a device that is not optimal. Since it is easy to check one's wallet, fixing a budget is a definite prerequisite to entering the market for those who are not tech savvy to decide on the spec list. The answer to the question "What do I want to do with the laptop?" needs to be boiled down to either of the aforementioned criteria.

If you have finalised a budget, check the local and online stores for the laptops that squeeze into the constraint. Then go online and compare the configurations of the laptops offered to find which one is the beefiest.
If it is a specification list that you have settled on, first go online and find the laptop that packs in all that you need. Then check prices from the local /online dealers for those shortlisted laptops.
Since the dealer has little or no impact on the quality of the laptop and its service, it doesn't matter much from where the laptop is purchased. So go to the cheapest seller. But, it is highly recommended to get a first hand experience of the laptop before putting down the money and here the local dealer scores over online shops.

Of course one critical question needs to be considered before you even begin.

Is a Laptop what I need?

Price wise, Repairability wise, Simplicity wise, Expandability wise and ergonomically the desktop scores over a laptop. The laptop gains an upperhand with respect to portability, power economy, space economy, battery backup, and looks. And, now, with the advent of economically priced Tablets offering most of these features, laptops are being squeezed into a narrowing niche which will soon be non existent.

We strongly recommend a laptop only for those who need to carry the machine around, and also need some features that Tablets are, so far, unable to provide for cheap  - like, a 14 inch ( or larger) screen, and allowing USB devices to be plugged in. For other reasons, a desktop or Tablet is easily a much better alternative. Consider the following :
1. At the lower end (pricewise), for the price of the cheapest laptop a desktop with a more powerful configuration, a larger screen and ergonomically designed keyboard and mouse can be had. The large screen makes a huge difference, since with multitasking becoming the norm, a 15.6" screen seems microscopic compared to a 22" screen (at the same price, 8000 approx). Additionally, because components are standardised, it is easier and cheaper to upgrade and repair desktops.
2. At the higher end, Tablets come with most of the features necessary to do the important jobs. They offer significantly better battery life and lower weight which are quite important for people on the move. The minor drawbacks of the Tablet, vis a vis the laptop, namely smaller screen, limited expansion options, and no optical drive, should get resolved in the near future if the past is anything to go by. Ofcourse, Tablets that are cheaper than Laptops are also available. The Akash, though cheap at Rs.4000, may not have enough juice for most of today's tasks, but that is just a sign of things to come.

Atleast between a Desktop and a Laptop, energy conservation is a strong reason to get a laptop, since the components used are always less power consuming than their desktop counterparts. If the budget is not a constraint, getting a laptop just to be GREEN is a commendable decision. This is more the case as it is becoming a fashion to set one's computer to download round the clock over an unlimited broadband connection. In such situations, a laptop which consumes close to 50% of the desktop's energy intake will make a difference. (Check these links : http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000562.html http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000353.html for a rough idea.) For such situations, we also recommend picking up dirt cheap second hand laptops that have defective parts including display, keyboard, speakers etc  since they do the job just fine.

Once the existential question has been considered, next step would be evaluating important laptop features. It is easy to be swayed by the glossy adwork and jargon blitzkrieg utilised by some manufacturers to sell their wares. Most times a laptop buyer is overwhelmed by all this and ignores the viewing a laptop holistically.

Here are a few points that merit attention :

a. More is not always better

More GHz, More Cores, More GB, More Inches etc are enticing. But there are some caveats :
i. Cores and GHz : If boasting rights do not matter, neither do GHz and the number of cores, in most cases. We find it amusing when people who have no interest in playing games come over asking for the laptop with the fastest multi cored CPU. When we explain that given their workload (the usual : browsing, chatting, documents), there would be no difference experienced between an entry level laptop with a much slower and single cored CPU, they are downright shocked. A fast, multicored CPU will make a difference only if the application to be used is CPU intensive, and compatible with multi core processing. Most games, though CPU intensive are not multicore compatible. And most delays that are caused while using video/graphics editing software are a result of less RAM than less GHz.
ii. Memory sizes : More RAM need not be effectual beyond a certain threshold. 2 GB RAM seems to be the norm, but the opportunity for all that RAM to be ever utilised will be rare, if all that the user will do is watch movies, browse the net or type a few memos. With 2 GB of RAM, a user should be playing 3D games or do a lot of video/photo editing to do justice to the device. So a system with 1 GB of RAM need not be crippled in the memory department with regard to a system with 2 GB of RAM.
iii. Screen Size/Resolution : A larger screen that does not support higher resolutions need not be a boon : a 14.1" screen and a 15.6" screen supporting 1280 X 800 wide screen resolution show the same amount of data (though the larger screen will show screen elements a bit bigger.). But the larger screen will weigh more and drain the battery faster.
LCDs unlike CRTs do not perform well at all resolutions. The quoted resolution is the LCD's"native" resolution and the images will appear a bit blurred if the screen is not used at this resolution. This would be of interest to those who intend to use the laptop for gaming. Unless the hardware can handle the native resolution, the graphics will appear air brushed.
iv. Portability v/s Features : The bigger the feature list the heavier the laptop. Laptop weight is usually overlooked when the other features are glossed over. As a rule of thumb, if you are looking for a laptop that has "everything", don't expect it to be lightweight as well.

The gist is that a balance must be sought. Getting the fastest CPU for the buck need not create the biggest bang.

b. The Chipset

This is almost never a part of the discussion. Everyone wants to know the CPU and the RAM but not what brings them together as a team. In our view, a chipset plays a greater role than the CPU is defining the usage experience. While many aspects of the laptop are defined by the chipset, like power management, connectivity options etc , it is the graphics part that requires greater consideration. A weak graphics component can result in significant deterioration in multimedia performance. Opting for a laptop that has better onboard graphics is recommended, even if the CPU is weaker, since the overall experience will be better (this does not apply to those laptops that have a dedicated graphics card). In this regard, it is better to opt for chipsets made by Intel, AMD/ATI or nVidia over those made by SiS and Via. It is recommended to check online sources about overheating issues with chipsets - nVidia chipsets seem most prone to failures in this regard.

c. Connectivity/Expandability options

Unlike a desktop where it is easy to expand the capablities of a system by adding expansion cards, a Laptop offers severely limited upgrade paths. So it is best to get a laptop offering most connectivity options. USB ports are crucial, and atleast 3 ports are highly recommended. Memory card readers are gaining importance, since digital cameras are becoming popular (though it is easy to get USB based memory card readers). Bluetooth also would be an advantage since this would go well with similarly capable mobile phones (here too, USB based solutions are available). Default connectivity options like Wireless LAN, Wired LAN and dial up modem are almost standard, with broadband getting popular, the dial up modem may be on its way out, so those still using this service should select appropriately. VGA out ports that allow connecting to an external monitor is a must, and is available in most laptops, but not so in the case with HDMI port which can be used to plug the laptop to a HD TV.

d. Laptop design

The laptop's layout with regard to the ports, switches, locks etc should not be ignored.
i. While 3 USB ports are desirable, the location of the ports is also an important issue. For right handers, it is more convenient to have majority of the ports on the right side.
ii. Having audion ports on either side in the front can be undesirable since the hand could press down on the connected plugs then typing. Centrally placed ports are better.
iii. The area below the keypad where the wrist rests can get hot if the hard disk is located under that area. This will make typing over long periods a painful affair.
iv. Backlit keypad goes a long way in making typing in the dark a pleasant affair.
v. Quick access buttons to control different subsystems are better, only if they will be used. Touch sensitive buttons are a headache since they tend to get activated at the slightest touch, in some cases this usually powers up the system as well.
vi. Having hard locks with latches that keep the lid closed is better than spring shut lids since the latter will allow things to make their way in, potentially damaging the screen.
vii.15.6 inch screens are quite popular, unfortunately most of these laptops also have a keypad with a discrete numeric section. Such keypads are a pain, since typing requires placing the wrists towards one side of the laptop, and not the center. While this position is not a major issue when the laptop is placed on a table, the same cannot be said when using the laptop on one's lap. Ergonomically, it is better to opt for laptops that do not have a distinct numeric section.
Laptops that have two locks to retain the battery are better if the laptop will go through lot of vibration.

e. Warranty/Service Conditions

Warranty durations are easy to understand, the more the better. Onsite and offsite conditions need to be clarified. Onsite warranty is always better, though unlike a desktop, carrying the laptop to some place is not a big hassle. Still, especially, if there are no authorised service centers in town, onsite is preferable but many laptops do come with a "within city limits" fine print. Same business day service would be useful for those who rely extensively on their laptops. If an upgrade is offered to extend warranty or increase priority of service, the former is better since, laptops tend to break down more with the passage of time, due to the mobility and compactness factors. Additionally, laptop service is an expensive and time consuming affair, with the cheapest replaceable component costing upwards of Rs. 1000.

Recommended reading

Notebookcheck.net's buying tips
A good article at Notebookreview
PCMag's tips on buying a business laptop.
Notebookreview.com's Netbook buying tips
Notebookcheck.net's page on mobile CPUs

If you are planning to get a Used Laptop also read the Used Laptop Buying Guide for pointers.