In order for your laptop to improve your productivity, remember that it has to be with you at all times. So, the weight of the laptop is more important than any other feature, including speed or storage capacity. If you can’t carry it around all day, every day, then your laptop will not be a big help to your business. Keep these tips in mind:

• Watch the screen size! Larger 15-inch screens mean heavier, 7-pound or more laptops! Look for something in a 14-inch size to keep your laptop around 5 pounds.
• Laptops last two years on average; plan to spend $100 for every month you wish to keep it, or about $2000 on average for today’s business class models.
• Look for two year warranties, with on-site service. Also ask if your vendor offers a “loaner” program if your laptop needs serious repairs over an extended period of time.
• Laptops will take a beating on the road, so try to stick to vendors with a reputation for quality, rugged performance. Fortune 500 computer vendors design more sturdy models and have greater experience designing laptops with higher reliability than models designed for home users or occasional travelers.

Budget Models

Print this page and use the following table to compare the standard "budget" laptop features and "what to look for" specifications with the "what you've found" specifications while shopping for your new laptop.