What Type of Laptop Should You Buy?

If you're in the market for a new laptop, you know there are a lot of choices out there. It can be hard to decide which type of laptop you want to buy. Here's a breakdown of all the different types and some advice on which one to pick. There are basically four different types of laptops on the market today.

The first type of laptop you might be considering is the ultraportable. These laptops are characterized by their light weight, usually under 4 pounds, and their small size, usually under 1 inch thick. They also tend to have small screen sizes, usually under 14 inches diagonally. These laptops are best for people always on the move. If you'll be traveling with your laptop a lot, these laptops offer you the light weight and small size you're looking for. In an effort to lighten and shrink the laptop, however, you'll have to give up a lot. Ultraportable laptops simply don't perform as well as their larger cousins. Some don't come with internal optical drives, so you might not be able to play CDs or DVDs. You'll also pay for the convenience. Ultraportable laptops tend to cost more than larger, similarly performing laptops. Lastly, ultraportable laptops usually have smaller keyboards and mouses, making them less comfortable than larger laptops.

The second type of laptop is the thin and light laptop. Thin and light laptops are slighter larger and heavier than ultraportables, but not by much. About 5 pounds and an inch thick is the norm with screen sizes under 15 inches. Thin and light laptops are almost as portable as ultraportables but tend to be more powerful than similarly priced ultraportables. These are great for people who travel a lot but don't mind sacrificing a little portability for power, comfort, and value. You'll still be paying a premium for portability though.

The third type of laptop is the mainstream laptop. It's called that because it is the more popular type of laptop. The mainstream laptop usually weighs between 6 and 8 pounds and is over an inch thick. They usually have screen sizes around 15.4 inches. Mainstream laptops will have all the power you need and they'll come at the best value. Since their not built for absolute performance nor absolute portability, they're the most inexpensive laptops out there. This is great for most people who'll only need the laptop at home or at work, maybe the occasional vacation. If you don't need to move around with your laptop, this is probably the best pick.

The last type of laptop is the desktop replacement. It is exactly what it sounds like, a desktop replacement. These are the largest, heaviest laptops out there, usually weighing 7.5 pounds or more with screen sizes of 17 inches or more. With their great size comes great power. These are some of the best performing laptops there are, on par with many desktops. They do come at a price and are more expensive than their mainstream brethren. This is due to their high performance parts. These are best for people who probably won't be moving their laptop a lot but appreciate the fact that they can move it around easier than a desktop and want the extra performance.

In the end, unless you need performance or portability, a mainstream laptop is probably your best bet. They'll give you the performance you'll need for basic computing and even some gaming, be comfortable, and give you the best value. Hope this helps a little.