Loseva Y., Khoroshilova Y.O.

(Kharkiv Institute of Trade and Economics of KNUTE)

BASIC CRITERIA OF CHOICE LAPTOP

When buying a laptop for institute, there are many factors you should consider to ensure you’re purchasing the right computer for your needs and budget. I think that this topic is very relevant for today. Buying a notebook computer is a serious decision and should be done after proper needs analysis, research and consultation. Here with a synopsis of nine criteria to assist new buyers to make an informed decision to achieve maximum return on their investment.

1. Where to Shop.

To ensure you get the best deal, you should shop around with multiple companies. If you’re using a modern web browser that supports tabs, you can open up multiple websites in different tabs and comparison-shop at multiple sites simultaneously.

In general, there are two categories of places where you can buy a laptop:

- directly from the company. Here are several computer manufacturers that let you customize and purchase a laptop from their site: Apple, Dell, HP, Sony and Toshiba;

- From a reseller. Here are some examples of online and offline companies that sell laptops made by various computer manufacturers: Amazon (online only), Best Buy, Newegg (online only).

As you’re shopping, you’ll come across many different brands of laptops. Every year PC World magazine does a reliability/service survey to determine the tech brands that its readers have had the best experience with. Here are the top 5 laptop brands for 2010: Apple, Asus, Toshiba, MSI, Sony.

2. Screen Size.

As you’re shopping, one of the first options you’ll likely be presented with is the laptop’s screen size. A laptop’s screen size is measured diagonally and can range from 5″ to 18″+. The screen size affects a variety of factors, such as:

- how much the screen can show at a time;

- how heavy the laptop is;

- what it can do;

- how expensive it is.

Knowing how screen size is related to price can help you with your buying decision. For example, if you’re on a tight budget, you may want to lean toward 10″ laptops, as these are much cheaper (due to having less functionality, as explained above). In the all-purpose category, 15″ tends to be a “sweet spot,” as 15″ laptops can be $100 cheaper than a similar 14″ or 16″ laptop.

Picture 1. Relation between screen size & starting price (prices as of June 2011)

3. Operating System.

Practically all laptops will have one of these 3 operating systems: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux (including variants like Chrome OS and Android).

Windows is the world’s most popular operating system and is used on more than 80% of computers. If you buy a Windows laptop, the best edition of Windows for a student is Windows 7 Home Premium.

Mac OS X and Linux are less popular than Windows. This is both good and bad news. The good news is that hackers don’t write as many viruses for these operating systems because fewer people use them. The bad news is that you may run into software that you’d like to use but only works on Windows.

Chrome OS is a brand-new Linux variant introduced summer 2011. Before you buy a laptop with Chrome OS, you need to realize that “Chromebooks,” as they’re called, are Internet-only machines. They’re designed for accessing the Internet only, nothing else. Instead of using traditional software, Chromebooks use “web apps” for tasks like writing documents. While Chromebooks may work for some students, I’d personally prefer a laptop that can access the Internet but also run regular software if I need it to.

4. Processor.

The processor is the brains of the computer. A faster processor lets the computer process data faster, which often translates into a faster computer.

5. Memory.

A computer’s memory (or RAM) is its “short-term memory” that stores what you’re currently working on. The more memory your college laptop has, the more data it can handle at a time.

6. Battery.

The more “cells” a battery has, the more power the battery can hold. When you’re shopping for your college laptop, you may have the option of upgrading your battery.

7. Office Software.

Office software is crucial for the college student. It lets students create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

8. Ethernet & Wireless

Here are the 4 primary connectivity technologies that come with laptops today: Ethernet, Wi-Fi, 3G and Bluetooth.

9. One extra feature you shouldn’t forget: all laptops for students should have a webcam and microphone so you can Skype your family back home.

So, when buying a laptop student must decide what features, size, price, weight it should have.