Budget Laptop Buying Guide
May 28, 2009 at 12:05:59 PM, by Jesper Berg
If you’re looking for a cheap laptop that will deliver as much value for money as possible, you shouldn’t look for the cheapest of the cheap, but rather a step or two above the cheapest.
The very cheapest laptops usually ship with low-end hardware that is barely capable of running the operating system properly.
Look for Cheap Dual Core Laptops
Just $50 or so on top of the cheapest configuration might get you a laptop that will feel reasonably fast for much longer. The reason for this is that basic models come with single-core Intel Celeron or AMD Sempron processors, which are a lot slower than the more modern dual-core processors from the same vendors. The pricings on laptops with these CPUs are just not low enough to justify the big performance gap.
A budget laptop with an Intel Core/Core 2 Duo, Pentium Dual Core or an AMD Turion dual-core processor doesn’t necessarily add much to the price tag, but it will drastically improve performance. Also, the laptop doesn’t have to work that hard when multitasking, meaning that it will run cooler and make less noise.
Likewise is cutting back too much on the RAM (memory) a bad idea – especially if the laptop comes with Windows Vista, which uses up quite a lot of memory as soon as you turn it on. Although RAM is very cheap right now and you can always upgrade it later, so it’s less of a problem. In some cases it will actually save you money to install the extra memory yourself instead of ordering it as an upgrade from the manufacturer.
Buying Refurbished
An alternative to getting a new budget laptop is to look at refurbished models. Refurbished laptops are used, returned or previously defective laptops that have been repaired and tuned up. If you find the right vendor, it’s even possible to find laptops from “premium” brands like Apple or Sony at reasonable prices. The positive aspect of buying refurbished from a manufacturer or professional vendor is that you get a warranty with your purchase. It’s usually a shorter warranty (3-6 months) but still safeguards your investment from hidden defects.
If you’re a student, it could also be worth looking into any special student discounts that some manufacturers offer. Also read our full reviews of good, cheap laptops before making a decision.
Recommended Specifications:
- CPU: Intel Pentium Dual Core, Core 2 Duo or AMD Turion X2
- Memory: 1-2GB (2GB with Vista)
- Hard Drive: At least 80GB
- Screen Size: 14-15 inches
- Operating System: Windows XP, Vista Basic or Linux
Return to the main Laptop Buying Guide.
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Comments
manikandan at 09:35, July 09, 2009
low budjet lap top