Notebook Computer Buying Tips
There are a lot of notebook computer buying guides designed to help an inexperienced user to buy the right notebook. Some of these guides are good, some of them are not. Here is a notebook buying guide I like because it’s written on people’s language and not designed to sell you anything. This guide explains the difference between a budget notebook, a mainstream notebook and a gaming notebook and what you should expect from your laptop.
Here’s another helpful laptop buying guide.
From myself I would like to add some hardware related details you should think of before you buy a notebook computer.
Laptop AC Adapter.
Make sure to check the size of the AC adapter before you buy a laptop. Usually, you do not see the AC adapter before you buy the laptop and open the box at home. You’ll be very surprised to see that your AC adapter is half-size of your computer. I did this mistake when I bought Sony Vaio PCG-FRV26. The AC adapter wasn’t designed for a portable computer at all.
Volume Control.
If you like listen music a lot then you have to choose a laptop with some kind of a hardware sound volume control (sound volume buttons or sound volume wheel located on the laptop). I prefer a volume wheel like on most Toshiba laptops. The volume wheel gives you almost instant access to the sound level. If you do not have a hardware control, then the only way to change the sound volume is through the software settings; it takes some time.
Sound System.
This is again for music lovers. Make sure to find a laptop with a good sound system. In my opinion, Harman/Kardon system is one of the best. I have Harman/Kardon speakers on my HP Pavilion zv5430us and the sound is awesome. 
Sound on my Sony Vaio laptop sucks! 
Laptop Memory Location.
The system board is one of the most important and most expensive parts of a notebook computer and you will get an advantage if you know what kind of the system board installed into the laptop. Some modern notebooks have memory integrated on the system board and offer only one extra memory slot to expand the memory size in the future. If onboard memory goes bad, you have to replace the entire system board. It’s OK if your laptop is still under warranty, but what if you have to pay cash for the repair? Also you cannot upgrade onboard memory. Other type of system boards do not have onboard memory, instead offer to you two memory slots on the system board. You will have to replace only the memory stick if it goes bad. System board with 2 memory slots usually can accept up to 2 GB of memory (1GB memory stick in each slot). So, if you plat to upgrade your laptop in the future, make sure that your laptop has both memory slots available for upgrade. Ask a sales person for details.
USB Port Location.
Check how USB ports are located on the laptop. If you plan to use USB devices like a wireless mouse, a flash drive or an external USB hard drive, then it would be nice to have couple USB ports on the side of your laptop not only on the back. Some laptops do not have USB ports on sides and to connect an USB device you have to turn the laptop.
Make sure that USB ports are not located too close to each other. Some older USB devices are big and when you plug it into one USB port, the second USB port becomes unusable.
Keyboard.
If you are a network administrator or have a job related to networking, then probably you use Windows run box a lot. To access the run box in Windows you use a shortcut (Windowd Key + R button). On some keyboards the Windows Key is located in the lower left corner, so you can use one hand to start it. On some keyboards the Windows Key is located in the upper right corner and to start the run box you have to use both hands. Choose the right keyboard for you. For some people it’s not a problem at all, but what if you use this shortcut hundreds times a day?
Parallel Port.
Very often this option is overlooked. If you plan to connect a printer to your laptop via a parallel port then you have to find a laptop with this option. Many modern laptops are designed for modern USB printers and they do not have the parallel port at all.
Laptop Warranty.
If you think that notebook computers do not fail or they fail only during the first year of exploitation, think again. In my opinion, an extended 3or 4 years warranty is a must for any notebook computer. For example I’ll give you approximate prices for some Toshiba Satellite A75 laptop parts if you decide to repair it in Toshiba Repair Center.
System board – from $400
LCD screen – from $550
Pentium CPU – from$300
CPU cooling fan – from $80
Keyboard- from $70
Do not forget to add labor charges – from $60/hour
Laptop hardware is very specific and you cannot just buy it in any computer store. I am a laptop repair technician and I have 2 laptops at home. I bought an extended warranty for both my computers.
I would prefer to buy $800 laptop and pay $300 for extra 3 years warranty than to buy $1100 laptop with a standard 1 year warranty. Think about it.
Entry Filed under: Notebook Buying Tips
August 25th, 2006 at 3:59 am
wow! i’ve learned so much from reading your site! it’s great finding documentation of the nit picky things that can go wrong. I have a question about the volume control… it just doesn’t work! from what I’ve read I gather it’s a driver problem, but after extensive researching, I still haven’t found the right keywords to find the driver. could you possibly point me in the right direction? thank you so much Mr. Laptop Repair Guy!
September 9th, 2006 at 10:39 pm
After having to replace the brake hinges on 2 A25 Toshiba laptops at just a little over 2 years ($200 plus a pop — other quotes went to $350 a pop), I now buy as long a warranty AND accident warranty as possible, even though the chances are that I will not keep the laptop much over 2 years (development machines get a lot of wear and quickly become obsolete).
September 16th, 2006 at 5:52 am
Thnx. a lot for providing such information, I want to become laptop repair technician, hope your site will guide me in future as well.
April 11th, 2007 at 5:50 am
thanks Mr.Laptop Repair guy , i am a laptop tech guy also in KSA and i can tell that your such a very nice person on helping people to become aware of Technical and picking the right choice of laptop! I also learned a lot of things!
Thanks Again!
April 21st, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Thanks for the advice. The value of extended warranties is a hotly debated issue. There is an argument that hardware defects usually show up within the first year. If you’ve got a “defect only” extended warranty, the question of defect or damage becomes an issue. There is a greater probability of a problem being seen as a result of conditions of use as the unit becomes older. This has led to a lot of frustration on the part of people trying to redeem their extended warranties. It’s not necessarily a matter of the manufacturer dodging the warranty, it’s a really gray area. Bottom line is, you’re not really covered with an extended warranty unless it includes damage protection. And hey, accidents happen, even to the best of us! Unfortunately, not all manufacturers offer damage protection under their extended care plans. That would be a deal breaker for me.
If the extended warranty clock starts on the date you purchase the extended warranty, it might be best to delay purchasing it until near the end of the standard warranty period (unless you are operating your equipment in a hazardous environment).
May 25th, 2007 at 9:34 am
Dear Laptop Repair guy,
Thanks for your very informative website. I actually stumbled upon your website because just the day before my 4.5 years old Toshiba Satellite 5205-S503 broke down suddenly out of blue. Until now I had been very lucky with my laptop that this is the first time I have encountered any problem with me. Unfortunately warrantly on my notebook is way past due (Dec 2003). I am looking for some suggestion from you regarding the diagnosis for my notebook.
When I try to turn on the power, theh LCD lights up and the battery, power switch, power symbol and the CD/hard-drive symbols light up. But I don’t hear the buzzing sound of the fan. And no “welcome” sign comes on the LCD. So I guessed it might be of heat related problem. Hence I wondered what would happen if I cooled down the notebook. I left the computer in the fridge for 2 hours and tried powering it up again. This time the welcome sign came on, and the usual Toshiba sign on the screen, but soon the screen again went blank. All this time, no buzzing sound from the fan. Do you have any suggestion?
Thanks.
May 28th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
Reena,
I wouldn’t put the laptop in the fridge because you can damage the LCD screen. Just in case if you want to try your experiment again.
I’m pretty sure it’s not a heat related issue. Even if you have a 100% clogged heatsink or a failed cooling fan, the laptop still should start, at least for a short time.
I think your laptop might have a memory related issue. Try reseating the memory module, I believe you can access both memory slots from the bottom. Try installing the memory module into a different slot. If you have two modules installed, remove them one by one and test the laptop with each RAM module in each slot. If reseating or installing the memory module into a different slot doesn’t help, find a known good memory and test the laptop again.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:43 am
Hi Reena,
Did you ever find a solution for your Toshiba? I have the exact same model and the exact same problem. I have not tried “chilling” the laptop in the fridge though. I have however explored power supply, memory, hard drive, dvd drive and external monitors to no avail. Mine will power into music mode, but the dvd will not work in that mode either. Hopefully you found a solution other then using it as a door stop. Thanks in advance.
May 25th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
At Toshiba there is several listings for “Blank Screen” I think there is more reasons than they have listed. There is several reasons for this to happen, bad components - LCD, Invertor, Motherboard, or Power Settings(when to turn off), Software Problem, BIOS Settings, Virus, and etc. I assume my Motherboard is good, that my LCD is good, Invertor is good, Memory tested good, DirectX tested good. I guess my problem is my BIOS Setting or BIOS Bug or a Software Bug or Virus. If I check everything it tests as no problem found, I noticed in the BIOS Setting if LCD is set to Auto, it will prefer the monitor and not the notebook LCD, if the Monitor is connected, or the other setting, LCD + RGB in this setting it allows both - I have now set it too this, maybe the problem will go away and the screen will not go blank at random or whilel typing,.because everything has been tested.and checked.
June 10th, 2008 at 7:43 am
This guide makes lots of sense, I’ve been telling the same to everybody else now, but my last laptop purchase (Sony Vaio SZ1M/B) is a disaster. It is a blind decision, my colleague thought it was a great machine and we ordered two for the work without actually seeing the actual machine. Then I ended up with problems like:
- huge and heavy power adapter (yup, I counted grams when comparing the actual laptop weights with competitors when I looked up the market)
- horrible keyboard, it flexes a lot and by design spacebar doesn’t work on right end (I have to use external keyboards most of the time).
- no hardware volume control (lots of embarrassments at must-be-quiet situations, awful windows log-in sound inevitable since I can’t mute it without logging in first)
- 1 year warranty (if this one fails, I don’t think I’ll be able to find parts for it on ebay, it is a rare machine)
I miss my Thinkpad, it had none of the above.
K.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Hello great guide on every aspect.I would like to thank you and to get your e-mail if possible. I want to buy a new keyboard for my vaio, but i dont have the model nor want to dissasemble the notebook before i get it. Would you have any info on the part number of a keyboard for a AR520?. More info on the hardware (meaning part numbers for all of them) would be highly apreciated also.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I never thought about the importance of buying an extended warranty. but my recent experience with HP really make me thinking it hard. Your article just made it even more clear.
Thanks