Need Help Buying a Laptop?
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A typical question we get is this:
What laptop should I buy?
That really depends on a number of things:
- What will you use it for - will it be your desktop substitute or just a play thing?
- Does it need lots of processing power?
- Do you want very long battery life? Will you use it on the go a lot?
- How large a screen do you need?
- What is your budget?
- Does this laptop need to be
sexy?
If you consider these questions before heading for the store, you will have a much more productive buying process
with the sales associate and will probably make a better decision.
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I recommend making a list of your
non–negotiables
.
I absolutely need these features.
And then there are the
optionals
. (I just made up these words ... but you know what I mean) I find that often, once I get to the store and uder the spell of a salesman, especially if he is
a bit manipulative and tricky, I can end up with something which meets only 70% of my needs, but – miraculously – 130% of my budget.
Sometimes salespeople are more interested in selling you what they have in the
store, than what you really need. So do your homework first, do some research online beforehand. Sit down for a few minutes and thinks about the features
or functionality you are really missing right now. And don't let anyone steer you in the direction of a laptop that doesn't offer all of your
non–negotiables
.
Looking for hosting?
With so many hosting companies out there, how do you know which one to choose?
What's the most important criteria
when deciding where to host your website? Uptime, of course. Is the host going to ensure that your website will be
on line 24/7, possibly with minimal, if any, interruptions in service?
A hosting company will not stay in business very long, if it cannot provide reliable service.
Another very important criteria is their technical support. When things go smoothly, you may never even need to contact them,
but I assure you that the quality of their customer service will quickly become a key factor to you, if you run into problems with your website.
Also, you may be new to the world of the web and need some hand holding. In any case, you want them to be available, responsive, competent and courteous.
You can always read the reviews about the different hosting companies. There are many online and offline sources of this information. But, like
with everything else, you never know if the person you are listening to is impartial. Many reviewers get paid for writing their opinions. Also, for any positive experience there is someone
who had just the opposite experience with the same provider.
One way to test the waters, if you don't want to rely on what others say, is to sign up on a month–to–month
basis with a hosting company and see for yourself.
Some hosting companies have earned a stelar reputation while others are still trying to reach the top. Give them a chance and
keep your options open. It's not a big deal to switch if you choose to later on.
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