Laptop buying guide, part 3: Final things to consider (see also part 1 and part 2).

Operating System: Windows Vista is loved by many, but hated by even more people. I think it has been a failure and I believe that many Vista users can’t wait to switch to the new Windows 7 system, which is coming out later this year. I suggest that you wait for the release of Windows 7 as it will be much better than Vista. I still use Windows XP and I’ll do so at least until Vista is replaced by Windows 7. It may be 7-8 years old but it’s stable and it doesn’t use as many resources as Vista; in other words, it doesn’t demand the latest hardware and excessive amounts of RAM.

Finally, the old PC or Mac question. I left it deliberatly until the end, as I don’t have much experience with Macs and I wouldn’t be able to review Apple parts and features. However, I want to list a few points to consider:

• If you are looking for a more affordable laptop, then you should buy a laptop with a Windows system.
• If you can afford both, then you should review pros and cons of both PC and Mac. For example:
• Macs are great for photo and video editing, movie and music making, they have some beautiful new designs and are quite light. Also, they are more secure on the Internet as most viruses are made for Windows systems. On the other hand, if you’re not familiar with the Macs, you may not like them as some features are completely different from PCs – but you can get used to them. In addition, warranty and support service for Macs is costly and harder to obtain and the repairs are very expensive.
• Windows is better for gaming performance, general affordability and software compatibility (not all applications can run on Mac’s operating system).

Price: I cannot advise you how much you should spend, but I suggest not to buy the cheapest or a used laptop. Buy a nice, new and affordable laptop that will get the job done and always request extra warranty, so that you are covered for at least 3 years. You’ll most likely need it. I have been lucky but I know many people whose laptops needed repairs only months after they bought them.

Brands: I can highly recommend Toshiba, Dell and Lenovo (IBM), but I wouldn’t recommend Acer.