In this Laptop Buying Guide, we are going to help you identify what kind of Laptop user you are so you get on the right track to looking for the features and functions you need; and avoid spending money on things you simply aren’t going to use.

First up, you should decide if you are looking for a PC or a Mac. PCs are typically less expensive; give you more hardware and game selections and are extremely user-friendly. Macs are known for their great customer service and the fact that they don’t get viruses as often. No matter which you pick, what we will talk about next is something to think about as well.

Portability and weight are two very important things to think about. How often are you going to be carrying your laptop around? Is it going to be home most the time or on the go; back and forth from school or work with you? If you are going to be taking your laptop everywhere with you, you should try to find something lightweight so you don’t strain your back. 13” displays are typically only about 3-5 pounds, and are great for mobile individuals. Keep in mind, the smaller the laptop, the smaller the screen is going to be and the keyboard will be smaller as well. Check out a few in person and see what feels most comfortable to you. If you work a lot with numbers, you may want to look for a keyboard that has a number pad on the side. This is great for accountants.

Battery life is also something to think about. If you’re away from home a lot, you may need a computer that has a longer lasting batter life (such as 10 hours) instead of going with a shorter battery life (some have a mere 4 hours). Many laptops have settings that allow you to minimize battery use when you are completing tasks that you don’t need to run super fast. Such an action would be typing in a word document, for example.

Next up, you should think about the CPU, which is how fast your computer can process. If you are going to be doing just the basics such as checking your email or a bit of surfing the web; a small CPU will be fine but if you are big on gaming or editing videos you want a really good processor. A great gaming CPU would be anything in the i5 series.

Memory and storage are very important to think about as well. RAM is your computer’s short term memory and the Hard Drive is the long term memory. If you are going to be storing photos, documents, and/or music, you need more Hard Drive space. The better your computer’s RAM, the quicker it’s going to be able to complete tasks, so if you are going to be doing a lot of multitasking; the more RAM, the better.

The Operating System you decide to go with is extremely important. We would recommend going with at least Windows XP Home Edition or Vista. Windows XP Pro or Vista Ultimate would be best. These are very user-friendly operating systems that are going to make your computer run smoothly.

Many computer speakers these days aren’t all that great; if this is the case for the laptop you’ve selected, you may want to invest in external speakers. These can be found just about anywhere and are decently priced. If you decide to stick with the speakers your laptop has, make sure they are stereo speakers; as these will give you the best sound quality for your buck.

When purchasing a new laptop, it’s important to take a look at the mouse. How easy is it to move? If it seems a bit awkward, it’s worth investing in a wireless mouse. All you have to do is plug the USB adapter into your computer and you’re ready to go. A wireless mouse gives you much easier navigation and it’s very comfortable. This gives you the feel of a desktop computer.

What devices are you going to be hooking up to your computer? If you have an HD TV, you may want to make sure you have an HDMI port on your laptop so you can watch what you’re doing on your laptop on your television. If you want to hook up a wireless mouse, be sure your computer has a USB port. Many digital cameras need a USB port to transfer photos to your computer as well.

Typically, 15-16” laptops have the best deals. You have the option of cheaper models or those with much more memory and space. On the other hand, 17” or 18” displays are great for gamers; but are going to be a bit more on the spendy side.

It’s very important to think long and hard about what warranty you want to purchase. We highly recommend that you get at least 3 year coverage, because typically things start to go wrong with laptops after about a year. Having 3 years gives you the peace of mind that you will be able to get things fixed much cheaper than you would without a warranty.

The best thing you can do is write out a list of all the things you do on a day to day basis on your computer. This way, you can have an idea what features you need to have and which you can do without. I always advise going to multiple stores and comparing different laptops. If you’re able to test them out in store, that’s even better. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions because this is one of the most important purchases you’ll make.