With so many laptop choices today it can be confusing when trying to make the right selection. However, all you need in order to make a well-informed decision is a little more information. Read these tips to help ensure you get the right laptop to fit your special needs.

Know what kind of operating system you’re going to get before you get your laptop. This should be displayed where you get your computer, or you can ask someone working there. Some people like to get computers and change the operating system, or you can just get one that you already know that comes with your laptop.

Look online for both discounts and coupons you might use in buying a laptop cheaper. There could be none out there, but you should still search for them. It’s better to go in with a clear mind then to later out find out you lost the ability to save 15% more.

When purchasing a new laptop, ask if you have the option of trading in your old computer. Many manufacturers will allow this, and it can save you several hundred dollars on your new laptop purchase. The old laptop is often refurbished and resold, meaning less waste going into landfills as well.

The size of your laptop depends on how much you need to travel with it. If you travel frequently, your best option is a small, lightweight computer. The screen and keyboard are small on these computers, but it makes traveling much easier. If you are mostly planning to use your laptop at home, you can go larger.

If you are looking for a laptop, consider the flash cache size for future performance. Flash cache is not quite as fast as an SSD, but you will experience faster boot times and you will be able to store a lot of data on a large hard drive. Currently you can find flash cache sizes ranging from 8-32GB.

Before you buy from anyone, ask about any warranties, guarantees or return policies. If you end up with a computer which doesn’t work, you could have nothing more than a doorstop if the seller won’t take it back or fix it! Ask first, buy second to protect yourself down the road.

To save money, consider buying a laptop with limited hard drive space and instead storing your data in the cloud. Whether using Apple’s iCloud or a service like Amazon’s EC2, this gives you easy access to your data from any computer around the world, meaning you don’t need a huge hard drive any longer.

Make sure to always keep liquids away from your laptop. If any liquid gets on the keyboard of your laptop you could have more than just a mess on your hands. The liquid can fry your laptop’s components. You can protect your laptop from any spills with a plastic, custom-built laptop cover.

Size up the screen. Laptops are now available in sizes that range for more than a foot, to mere inches. You will want to pick a screen size that is comfortable for you to use. If you chose one that is too small, you may find yourself using the screen magnifier very often.

Try to purchase a laptop with a metal case, instead of purchasing one with a plastic case. Metal is more durable, and it will last you for a longer time period than plastic. This means your laptop is less likely to break or need to be replaced for some time into the future.

When you know what to look for, it’s easy to shop for laptops. Use the advice given here to get what you want easily. When you stick to the right tips, you are sure to get the most from your computer.