How To Buy The Best Laptop

There are a number of issues which can slow up your computer. Things like drive-by installations, fake system speed-up softwares and hardware issues are just some of the problems that slow up your machine. Your computer also requires spring cleaning, pretty much the same way your house does. Over a period of time, computers tend to get clogged up because of all sorts of debris such as unused softwares, useless applications and temporary internet files.

Check out our How To Speed Up A Slow Computer Guide before your next machine cleaning.

How to make the Computer run faster

As mentioned earlier, your machine tends to get clogged up with all sorts of digital debris such as temporary internet files, useless applications and unused softwares over a period of time. This debris can often lead to a sluggish performance. However, this doesn’t mean that you need to reinstall the entire system or purchase a new machine every time you want to make your computer run faster.

• Remove Unwanted Programs: Includes things like trial versions of software, out-of-date antivirus software and old games. Click on Start -> Control Panel -> Uninstall a program to keep a track of all the programs installed on your machine.
• Remove temporary files. Use the disk clean-up utility to boost the performance of your computer. This utility helps you to remove unnecessary system files and temporary files. Click on Start and type disk clean-up. Select the drives you wish to clean and then click on OK.
• Restart your machine. Restart your machine every once in a while. Routine restarts close all running programs, including the ones running in the background.
• Clean-up the machine using a cleansing tool like CCleanser. There are a number of cleansing tools that you can use to get rid of broken files, corrupted settings and useless data. Download and install the cleansing tool. Click on Start -> All Programs -> CCleanser. In the program window, click on Analyze and then click on Run Cleanser.
• Tidy the desktop. Most desktops are cluttered with all sorts of shortcuts and icons. Windows keeps refreshing these icons which causes things to slow down. Remove all useless icons from your desktop. Remove all other icons into a new folder from where they can be easily accessed whenever needed.
• Turn off the Windows Sidebar and the Windows Gadgets. Programs like Windows Gadgets offer you with instant information about things like the weather, local news, sports results, etc. These programs also sap a lot of PC power. So, if you’re experiencing sluggish performance, it makes sense to turn them off.
• Turn off Windows Visual Effects. Windows Visual Effects look really cool, but they can drain a lot of PC resources.
• Uninstall any extra web toolbars. Web toolbars are classic examples of bloatware. They often come pre-installed and they also get installed as you browse on the internet. This toolbar usually appears on the top of your browser window and offers you with a search box.
• Disable start-up software that is not required on a regular basis. If you rectify the errors with your system using this Guide, you should be able to free up a lot of hard disk space, make your computer run instead of having to bear its constant crawling and prevent future crashes.
• Disable them to give your machine a performance boost. Right Click on an empty area and click on Personalize from the popup menu. Select Windows 7 Basic or Windows Classic.
• Empty the Recycle Bin. The Recycle Bin is where your computer stores all your deleted files. Removing these files permanently on a regular basis can boost your PC performance. Simply delete files by opening the Recycle Bin folder and then clicking on Empty Recycle Bin.
• Change the Windows Indexing options. Windows Indexes lead to faster searches, but they can also slow down the machine. Disable Windows Indexes if your PC feels slow. Click on Start -> Computer -> Right click on Properties. In the General menu, uncheck the Allow Files box and then click on OK.
• Close programs that are not in use.

How to keep your computer healthy

This section of the How To Speed Up A Slow Computer Guide helps you to understand the various spring cleaning activities that you can perform to ensure that your computer stays fit and fine.

• Keep the software up-to-date (including applications, browsers, Windows and drivers).
• Defragment the hard drive at frequent intervals. Use the Windows Disk Defragmenter to reorganize data properly. Click on Start -> Disk Defragmenter -> Defragment disk (select the drive that you want to defragment).
• Repair errors on the hard disk using the Windows Error-Checking program. Click on Start -> Computer -> Right Click on Properties -> Tools -> Error-Checking -> Check Now.
• Run virus and spyware scan and fix any errors.
• Delete all browsing history for your web browser as well as your temporary internet files.
• Back up your files. Use the Backup and Restore feature to create a back-up of your system. Click on Start -> Control Panel -> System & Security -> Backup and Restore.

How to boost PC performance

Improve the computer’s horsepower with these advanced solutions.

• Adjust power options. Click on Start -> Control Panel -> Hardware -> Power Options. Choose the high performance option.
• Increase your computer’s RAM.
• Switch Windows services from automatic to manual.
• Update your Operating System.

How to remove bloatware from your computer

There are all sorts of unnecessary programs that are preloaded onto your machines. We commonly refer to these programs as bloatware. Learn how to get rid of the most common types of bloatware to boost PC performance.

• Get rid of the useless software that comes pre-loaded on the machine.
• Remove all trials and demo software that you don’t need.

Laptop Features where you can save money:

There are a number of laptop features where you can save a lot of money, depending on your requirements. BigPage lists down some of the main features that you should watch out for and budget wherever necessary.

Graphics:

Most budget models offer you built-in graphics along with the processor, but the graphics are something that you can really splurge on as well, particularly if you go for custom graphic cards.

High Resolution Displays:

Most budget laptops offer resolutions of 1366 x 768 pixels. You don’t need to go higher as long as the quality seems good to you.

Touchscreens:

Touchscreens are the latest things in laptops. But, touchscreens also adds onto the price. Add this feature only if you think you need it.

Branded Speakers:

Many laptops offer branded speakers as an add-on, but we advise you to purchase speakers separately. Don’t pay more for a big name. Pay more only if it guarantees quality.

Premium Designs:

Budget laptops won’t give you apple-like designs and premium designs won’t come cheap. You need to find a balance between the two.

Main Advantage – Larger screen size that also allows you to cope with advanced computing work such as playing games, editing photos, performing office tasks or watching the odd movie.

Suitable For – People looking for a powerful performance.

Biggest Disadvantage – Least portable of all laptops.

Ultraportable Laptop:

Ultraportable laptops are ideal thin and portable laptops that have been designed with their portability as the main priority. These laptops are the most travel friendly laptops available.

Main Advantage – These laptops are thin as well as light and they can also be designed to offer you with a powerful performance.

Suitable For – Frequent travelers, people who work on the go, people who need proper performance along with portability.

Biggest Disadvantage – Ultraportable laptops cannot act as your main laptop or computer, but only as a secondary machine that can be used on the go.

Multimedia Laptop:

Multimedia laptops are the ideal destination for full-out games and entertainment. If watching movies, playing games and listening to songs are your main requirements, then this laptop is perfect for you.

Main Advantage – This laptop offers a powerful performance along with basic levels of compatibility and portability.

Suitable For – Gamers, Movie enthusiasts.

Biggest Disadvantage – These laptops are not portable enough. They are powerful, but they cannot deal with tasks that require high level graphics.

How To Choose a Laptop:

Where to Start – With the various models and brands available, choosing the right laptop can be extremely daunting and excruciating.

Budgeting – Laptops can range from a couple hundred pounds to several thousand pounds, depending on whether you chose cheap laptops or powerful machines. A typical home laptop should cost anywhere around 450 pounds.

Specs – It is easy to go overboard while buying a laptop. Work out your requirements and make sure that you stick with what you need. For example, if you need to carry your laptop around a lot, you need to ensure that you choose a laptop that offers you with excellent portability.

Identifying your laptop type

Surfing and E-mails – BigPage recommends something light and portable like a low-priced notebook or a tablet.

Typing for long hours – BigPage recommends a basic entry-level laptop that offers you with the basic features and is suitable for your most basic tasks. It also helps to look for a bigger screen size.

Everyday routine tasks – BigPage recommends an ultraportable that is both small in size and light to carry around.

Photo editing – BigPage recommends a multimedia laptop with top-end specifications that can handle all your needs and requirements.

Desktop replacements – BigPage recommends a desktop replacement laptop that provides a powerful performance, has big screens, big keyboards and decent specs.

Gaming – BigPage recommends a gaming laptop that is high on graphics, memory and hard disk storage space. Most gaming laptops have extra memory to support the higher graphics.