Did you know that the global laptop market is expected to hit a monumental $86,670 million by 2027?
There are so many laptop brands, types, and specs that without proper research, you might make some common errors with choosing laptops. How do you choose the right one when you get to the store and look at all the nice machines on display?
In this guide, we’re going to be addressing some of the most common mistakes people make when buying laptops. We’ll also discuss how to avoid these mistakes and help you make an informed decision. Keep reading to find 12 common errors with choosing laptops.
- Choosing a Laptop Based on Specs Alone
When most people go to purchase a laptop, the first thing they do is look for the best spec sheets possible. They’ll see what processor, RAM, and hard drive come with what system, and then just buy that one. When someone is just looking at the specs of a machine, that does not concern itself with how it fits into their lifestyle or needs.
For example, many gamers have no problem spending incredible money on top-of-the-line processors and graphics cards, because they know they will use this computer for gaming. However, if you are buying your computer primarily for school or business purposes, having these high-end components might be unnecessary.
- Getting the Cheapest Laptop You Can Find for the Specs You Want
Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean you should get it. This is one of the most common errors when choosing laptops, since there are so many options available at varying price points. Consumers often mistakenly think that all cheap laptops aren’t good at performing their tasks because they don’t cost as much as others.
That is not true! There may be some cheaper machines out there that still come equipped with features you need, such as a great processor, memory, and storage space, all while meeting your budget. You may also save more money in the long run by choosing a more affordable laptop, since it may be easier to repair and replace if something goes wrong down the line.
- Making a Purchase Decision Based On Brand Name Alone
If you’re planning to purchase your next laptop from a particular manufacturer, then great. However, it is important that you don’t make this decision solely based on what computer brand each company makes. You might go into the store with the intention of purchasing an Acer laptop only because everyone in your office has one.
However, after looking at all the available options, you might find out that HP or MAC have similar models for half the price with more memory options. Even better, you may find Lenovo has some of the fastest-paced, sleeked, and high-performance laptops.
Case in point, in-depth research into brands is required if you want to avoid making some of the worst mistakes when choosing a laptop.
- Not Understanding Your Needs
One of the most common errors with choosing laptops is not knowing your needs before buying one. This problem often comes from people who are upgrading their laptops or have never owned one before. They don’t know what to look for when buying one or aligning it with their specific needs.
You might think that you want an advanced gaming laptop, when in reality, all you’ll be using it for is writing papers and browsing the internet. Or maybe you need a workstation laptop, because you do video editing and image creation for a living. Without knowing these facts, purchasing the wrong type of laptop can lead to expensive mistakes.
You might have to upgrade sooner than intended when you find that it doesn’t meet your needs. Make sure that your budget aligns with what you’re buying, and that you fully understand the specs of any machine to avoid common errors like this one.
- Not Sticking to Your Budget
When you go into a retail store to buy your next laptop, they might automatically show you their most expensive laptops first before showing any cheaper ones. It’s important to know what you want and how much you are willing to spend. Comparing laptop prices is vital, so you don’t settle for a high price just because they made it seem like the only option available.
Another thing to keep in mind when buying a laptop is to ask if it comes with any “extras” that are not included in the price. For example, you can easily spend $50 or more on something like an extended warranty. Make sure you know what additional costs could be added on top of the purchase price, before agreeing to anything.
- Not Checking Online Customer Reviews
Another common error is not checking online customer reviews about the laptop you’re about to buy. You may have a good plan on buying one laptop, but upon reading reviews, you find out that it only has an average battery life of 2 hours.
This can save you money down the road if you were planning on using the laptop outdoors or on long car trips without access to an outlet.
Make sure to read up on what other people are saying about your potential purchase before making any decisions. Sometimes even if you know exactly what specs and features you need, there could be something small, like a bad battery, which will make your experience much less enjoyable. Beyond that, check what consumers have to say about the brand-customer support.
- Buying a Laptop “As-is” Without Checking It Out First
You should always test drive your next laptop when purchasing it. You wouldn’t buy a car without taking it for a test ride, so don’t do this with laptops either. Many retailers have demo models available for people to try out and play with, so make sure you use this opportunity to search for any possible defects or problems.
It’s also a good idea to charge the battery beforehand and put it through its paces before making your final decision. This way, you can ensure that everything works as intended out of the box, but you are still open to buying something else if issues arise after using it for a few hours.
- Forgetting to Think About Upgrades When Buying a New Laptop
Most people don’t think far ahead, and it’s one of the most common errors when choosing laptops. Do you plan on using your computer for more than browsing the internet and checking email every now? If so, you should buy one that can be upgraded whenever you need extra memory or storage space.
For example, if you need more room for music files, photos, or movies, make sure there is at least an empty hard drive slot available inside the unit. This way, it’ll be easier to increase your total storage by adding a second hard drive later down the road.
People often forget about this important aspect when looking to buy a new laptop, so it is always wise to double-check everything before you make that purchase.
- Not Bringing a USB Flash Drive When Shopping for Laptops
This might sound like an odd tip, but it’s actually good advice! Before visiting any stores, make sure you bring a USB drive with you so that you can test the ports on the laptop you like. How many ports do you need to use simultaneously, and how spaced out are they?
For instance, if your new laptop has four USB ports and they aren’t spaced out far enough, then using them at the same time could be problematic. Alternatively, an easy solution would be investing in a cheap hub that can connect all your devices into one convenient location.
- Forgetting About Weight and Size
This is definitely one of the most common errors with choosing laptops. Most people compare laptop prices and check for the latest laptop features, but forget about the size and, more importantly, the machine’s weight. It could mean the difference between regular use and non-existent use.
If you plan to carry your laptop very often, then you should make sure it isn’t bigger than what you can handle. Otherwise, you’ll be lugging around a heavy and bulky machine all the time, which could leave you with a bad backache.
There are smaller models out there that offer great performance, so make sure you don’t overlook these options when shopping for a new laptop.
- Buying a New Laptop Without Checking the Battery Life
It might not be an issue for you right now, but battery life plays a huge role in how you enjoy your laptop. If you plan to use your machine to watch movies or play games, you should look for high battery performance. Many laptop batteries last between 1.5 and 4 hours while watching movies or listening to music, so this is essential to keep in mind when making a final decision.
Try to find one with at least 6 hours of juice before thinking about leaving the house. If something unexpected happens and your laptop dies halfway through your trip, then it most likely will end up being worthless instead.
You can always purchase extra batteries to make sure you are covered in the future, but this is often one of the most common errors with choosing laptops.
- Not Thinking About How You’ll Be Using the Laptop in the Future
It is also important to think about your needs in the months or even years after buying a laptop. A certain machine might meet all of your current requirements, but you may have to add peripherals in the future (like an external monitor, keyboard/mouse combo, etc.). In this case, it could cause problems when they don’t work properly with each other.
For example, even though most laptops have Ethernet ports nowadays, some still have WiFi only. This means you will need to invest in a wireless WiFi adapter if you plan on using the laptop in a place where a wired connection isn’t available.
Most Common Errors With Choosing Laptops: Dire Mistakes to Avoid
There you have it! These are some of the most common errors with choosing laptops. Go through them and ensure you check out each one when finalizing your decisions.
A laptop is an investment that will help you with your job, school work, or recreational activities. It’s of absolute importance that you choose the right one with all factors considered. Now that you know what mistakes to avoid, please head over to our blog for more excellent tips.
