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If you’re in the market for a brand new laptop, you’ll definitely want to scout around and find the best computer hardware for your needs. Although laptops  come in all shapes and sizes, the following tips should guide you well enough to make a smart purchase.

The first thing you need to be sure of is your laptops’s technical specifications. You should get exactly what you need to match your activities, not more, and not less. For example, you need totally different machine if you’re just planning to use it for work purposes, as opposed to letting your notebooks be the center of your home entertainment system.

Different applications need different type of laptops, and getting more than what you need generally is a waste of savings. Getting less than what you need on the other hand, will just waste your time and cause frustation.

The first thing you need to consider is the Central Processing Unit or CPU; it is the “brains” of your notebook. Generally speaking a faster CPU is better as it will cut down on loading and processing time, but there is a choice between Intel processors, or the rest.

The overall size, weight and dimension of your future laptop is just as important as anything else. If you’re a woman or just prefer lighter loads, go for thinner ones than weight less than 1.2kg - these are usually on the higher price range but it will be worth the money, and the lack of tired nights!

Thirdly, and most importantly, the warranty period and service terms for your laptop. Generally speaking most laptops come with standard one-year warranty, but manufacturers like Dell also offer “extended” three-year upgrades and on-site repairs. If you get this as an option, it means that when your laptop breaks down you get someone come over to repair it at your place. Expect a premium for the “on-site” repairs, but extended warranties are quickly becoming standard items and you should scout around for laptop models that offer them at no additional cost.

As for personal choice, I prefer Lenovo laptops, especially the Lenovo Thinkpad model that is both affordable and sufficient for high-end processing. Ideally, your laptop should be powerful enough that you’ll never need a new one for at least 4 years. Not many laptops live up to that promise though, so shop for your laptop wisely!