The first step when choosing a laptop is focusing on a specific range of prices. There are models available from 1600 USD to more than 10,000 USD which have lots of different specification. That is why we have to get an answer to the following question: What do we expect from our future laptop? In order to get a proper answer, we will definitely have to think of the two basic categories, hardware and appearance. Appearance is a more subjective criteria which involves things such as design, operating system, color, etc.

So it is that the first thing you should take into account regarding the performance is the screen, which has 2 important parameters: size and resolution. There is misconception regarding the fact that as on a large screen you can see more stuff than on a smaller one. There is nothing more false than this idea. A small screen with better resolution will display more pixels than a big screen with poor resolution. For example: 15.4 inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels will display, logic, 1280 x 800 pixels. A14.1-inch screen with a resolution of 1440 × 900 pixels will display more information on the smaller diagonal.

Moreso, depending on the expectations we have regarding the laptop, we can decide of the power of its processor. There are many models using processors made by AMD (Turion, Sempron) and also models using Intel processors. Available processors range from Dual Core to Core 2 Duo and Quad Core soon. If you often work with applications that require high processing power it is better to choose a Core 2 Duo. Otherwise you can please yourself with a Dual Core. Each category of processors has different models with different frequency. Taking into account that a laptop should first mean mobility and computing power, processor can be seen as a secondary element.

Furthermore, in terms of RAM or virtual memory, things are not so troubling nowadays . RAM is one of the cheapest components and is usually plenty of it installed on new laptops enough. A limit of 2GB  would be enough for a normal use of your laptop. Still, you should take into account the operating system you use  because it involves the RAM capacity. A system with Windows Vista will need more RAM than a system with Windows XP.

Finally, regarding the video graphics, I must say that I have a personal preference: nVidia.  It exposes the best video quality and it also makes the games you play look fabulous. There are also other video graphics such as Intel, which is most often used on laptops as an integrated video graphics. It assures the basic needs of the  video display and it offers a good performance in gaming. All these elements help you make a decision when deciding to buy a laptop because performance is the first thing you should think about, and also, the aspect that must require most of your attention!