Your current laptop is getting old, slow and is very heavy. The time is now to buy a new laptop which is lighter, faster and up to date. That said, you need to do a little research before you buy, so check out all of the information below to learn more.

Determine the computer’s battery life based on how you will be using it. If you will be using the laptop away from home on a regular basis, you really need a longer battery life. Try to find a slim laptop that appeals to you that comes with a removable battery. Buy a spare battery and keep it charged.

Carefully consider the battery life of the laptop before buying. Laptops that will be used primarily on the go need a batter with a long life. Likewise, if you will be using your laptop in your home or office, you can opt for one that is lighter with less batter time.

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 are purchasing a used laptop from a private seller, you should inspect it thoroughly before going through with the deal. Inspect the outside first and make sure it is not damaged. Turn the computer on and make sure it connects to the Internet. You have no guarantees with a private sale, so make sure everything looks good first.

Don’t be isinformed when shopping or thinking about netbooks. Although a lot of people think that netbooks are smaller laptops, they are mistaken. Netbooks provide limited options, and are often only used for Internet and email. They do not have the many capabilities of a full laptop. If you truly need a laptop, then stay away from netbooks.

Be sure to ask what comes with your laptop, new or used. For example, a new laptop may come with a charging cord, but it may be slow, intended for European outlets, or too short. If you know what you’re getting, you won’t be surprised when you pull it out of the box.

Many laptops are no longer being sold with DVD drives. The content is moving towards Internet media streaming. If you plan on ripping discs or watching DVDs in your laptop, make sure it comes with a Blu-Ray/DVD drive.

To get to favorite programs easier, have shortcuts pinned in the Start menu. Just find the appropriate shortcut, use the mouse to right-click it and then select the option for pinning to the Start menu. This will pin the icon to your Start menu. You no longer need to search in “All Programs.”

Every time a new model of laptop is released, an older model will be reduced in price to clear the stock. If you are budget conscious the next time you need a new laptop, look for the previous model instead of the newest. There may not be a lot of difference except in the price.

If choosing between Mac and PC laptops, consider how easy it is to upgrade the system. If you are buying a laptop to use over the long term, you’ll want one which you can swap out the battery on, or even upgrade the hardware. This is next to impossible on a Mac system.

The time has come to replace your old brick of a laptop with something better. The latest models will make it appear like a dinosaur once you have your new laptop. Just use the great tricks you’ve read here and you’ll have no problem getting the perfect model to meet your needs.