Buying a new laptop is not a small purchase. You will need to take a lot of information into consideration. Thankfully, the following article is packed with informative tips that will guide you towards making a wise laptop decision. Keep reading for more tips.

If you're a gamer, you'll want to make sure that your laptop has a dedicated graphics processing unit. If it's a standard (built-in) GPU, it may not perform well in the wild with the games you like to play. Look for an ATI or NVidia GPU. Both will deliver on graphics and speed.

Always get a case to put your laptop in if you're going to be taking it out of the home. Whether you're going to school with it or taking it on a vacation, you're going to want that protection. Just tossing your laptop into your backpack is a great way to have it get damaged pretty easily.

If you just do light gaming, do not succumb to the notion that you require a high-end computer. Most mid-level games perform just fine on medium-range laptops. A gaming machine is very expensive and should only be purchased if you play graphics-intensive type games. Save money.

Avoid using your laptop computer on a soft surface, such as a pillow or bed. Setting your laptop on a soft surface blocks air flow that is supposed to flow through the ventilation holes on the bottom. This can cause your laptop to overheat. When using your laptop in bed, rest it on a book or other hard surface to allow for ventilation.

When looking for a laptop, don't get more computer than you need. It may sound impressive to say you have a lot of memory on your machine, but if you don't need that much memory, you're wasting money. Stick with a laptop that works for your lifestyle, and you'll pay less.

If you don't understand something in the description of a laptop, give the company a call. This will get you the answer to your question, and you'll also be able to get in touch with customer service. The company's customer service may help you determine whether that is a company you want to do business with.

Know what operating system you would like on your new laptop. In order to cut costs, some of the bargain brands do not put Windows on their new laptops. Know what operating system will be installed on your laptop, and know whether that is acceptable for what you plan to use the laptop for.

Test drive any laptop you are considering before you purchase it. A lot of people don't think about things like ergonomics when they try to buy a newer laptop because they're concentrating on the battery life and memory. It is important to consider all of these options when purchasing a laptop.

You may want a cheaper laptop, but buy as much battery life as you can afford. Prematurely running out of juice is the most common complaint about cheaper laptops. Shop for at least four hours of battery life, but try to snag a model that lasts six hours or more if possible. Look for power saving features.

Before you buy your laptop computer, try it out first. Many large retail stores carry a large selection of makes and models that you can take for a test drive before you buy. You can see if the keyboard feels comfortable and check out how fast you can work before you make your decision.

Be sure to get a case for your new laptop. The fact is that dropping it, having someone bump into it or watching helplessly as someone's coffee spills all over it will all break your heart. If you protect your laptop, it will last longer, so the investment in a case is worth it.

Try out your keyboard before buying a laptop. You will be doing a lot of typing on your new computer, and if you are not comfortable using the keyboard it can cause quite a problem. Make sure it is comfortable, with keys spaced adequately and easy to use. Try a few different laptops out before making a final decision on which keyboard is best.

Before you buy from anyone, ask about any warranties, guarantees or return policies. If you end up with a computer which doesn't work, you could have nothing more than a doorstop if the seller won't take it back or fix it! Ask first, buy second to protect yourself down the road.

Think about the weight of the laptop. Weight corresponds to portability. If you plan on traveling, you should try looking at lighter models. Carrying around a heavy laptop will cause you to get tired and strained. However, weighty laptops tend to have more functionality, so this is something to consider depending on what you plan to use it for.

Understand what your hardware needs will be. If you are a gamer, sound and video cards will be important to you. This will also mean a faster processor and more RAM. If you are a more casual user, avoid the latest, greatest sound and video hardware. However, if you are watching movies regularly, they become a consideration again.

You should ask yourself if you are gong to use your laptop as the primary computing device. Many people have replaced their PCs with smaller devices. If you want to do this, you'll likely require a bigger screen, more RAM than a budget laptop typically comes installed with and a faster processor.

When you are planning to buy a laptop, go to a brick-and-mortar store to figure out what you want before you shop online. You want to know that the laptop you are buying is going to be a good fit, and the only way to know this is to try it out in person.

There are quite a few things to think over before you get yourself a laptop. Whether you're getting a new one or upgrading the one you have, you now should know what to do. Utilize the advice in this piece to get where you want to be.