The versatility provided by laptop computers is among the features that have made them so popular in recent years. However, unless you have spent sufficient time familiarizing yourself with various models and features, you may be nervous about actually purchasing one. Follow the advice found below, and you should be able to move ahead with confidence.

Before beginning laptop shopping, get an idea of the kind of work that you expect to get out of it. You may find that you really don't need the super-expensive top of the line model for the work you really need to do. This can save you a lot of money.

If you expect to do a lot of video production on your laptop, make sure you buy one with enough processing power and storage to fit the need. Budget laptops typically don't fit the bill here. You'll need to pony up some additional money to get a laptop that can deliver.

If you're going to be traveling with your laptop, make sure you consider its weight. Most laptops are quite small, but they can still be pretty heavy. And if you're going to be carrying it around at school or on trips, it can get quite tiring. So if you plan on taking it a lot of places, make sure you get one that's not too heavy.

A can of compressed air can be your laptop computer's best friend. You can prolong the life of your laptop by blowing out dust and debris from your computer's fan and heat sink at least once a month. Make sure that the compressed air that you purchase is static neutral.

Upgrade your RAM storage whenever possible. Random access memory is being used by the operating system and any software running on your computer. Increasing the RAM will help your computer run more quickly. If you plan to save a lot of media to your computer, you will need to increase your data storage capability.

Avoid using your laptop computer on a soft surface, such as a pillow or bed. Setting your laptop on a soft surface blocks air flow that is supposed to flow through the ventilation holes on the bottom. This can cause your laptop to overheat. When using your laptop in bed, rest it on a book or other hard surface to allow for ventilation.

Check out the specifications of a laptop before you buy it. You might be excited that a laptop is affordable, but when you do a little investigation, you may find that it comes with fewer programs, less storage and less memory than you want. Before you buy a laptop, make sure that you look at and understand the specifications of the machines that you're interested in.

You may not actually need a disk drive. Consider a computer that simply comes with a CD/DVD combination drive. Flash drives, external hard drives and cloud storage available on the Internet make it easier for you to save vital files without cluttering your computer's hard drive. This can save you money and decrease the weight of your laptop.

Brands do matter when you are buying a laptop. Some have better service than others, while others are noted for their ruggedness. The reputation for certain companies change over time. It is usually a good idea to stick with a reasonably well-known brand and to check online reviews by buyers before making a final decision.

Find out what programs will come pre-installed on your laptop. This can be a great thing to do, particularly because sometimes the Microsoft suite of products are included, which can mean a substantial savings for you. Get a list of all the programs that will already be on your laptop before you buy it.

When purchasing your laptop, do not let the salesman talk you into every upgrade under the sun. Upgraded memory, a huge hard drive and the best graphics card available are important to some, but consider if they will be important to you. If you're not using your laptop in a way that requires these features, you are only wasting your money buying them.

The first step in buying a laptop is always to set up a budget. You need to know exactly how much money you can spend without causing yourself to be unable to pay bills next month. If you set an exact limit, you'll be sure not to have financial issues down the road.

To keep your hands and fingers from cramping up while you are typing on a laptop, use a wireless keyboard that is the same size as a desktop. That way you have the comfort of a full size set of keys without having to cart around a desktop computer with you.

Be sure to get a case for your new laptop. The fact is that dropping it, having someone bump into it or watching helplessly as someone's coffee spills all over it will all break your heart. If you protect your laptop, it will last longer, so the investment in a case is worth it.

If you are looking to reduce the weight of your laptop, consider skipping the optical drive. You don't need a DVD or Blu-Ray drive because most content can be downloaded from the Internet, including movies, games and software. You can save about a half pound of weight by losing the optical drive.

It is always nice to have spare parts and accessories. When it comes to laptops, the best spare part you can have around is a charged battery. a place to charge your laptop, or plug it may not always be available, so having a spare battery can possibly be a life saver!

Laptops are among the most convenient and flexible computing options available, and that is why so many folks love them. It can, though, be hard to sift through the available choices when it comes time to buy. With any luck, the piece above has cleared up any confusion and pointed you in the right direction.