With some careful shopping you can find one that suits your child’s needs, fits within your budget, and has the power to run all the newest applications. The first place you want to go are the online consumer reports sites - they will provide general feedback from consumers like you on trustworthy brands and models. Unfortunately, for the most part, the models listed on those sites will be a generation older than the current models. This is due to the fact that those sites rely on consumer feedback, and there is very little consumer feedback for the cutting edge technology that is emerging. However, they are a good place to start to get a general understanding of brands to look for and brands to avoid.

The next thing you want to do is weigh the options for the best type of laptop. From the most portable to least portable they are – netbook (such as Acer Aspire One) compact laptop (Apple AirBook, or Sony Z series), balanced laptop (Apple MacBook or HP G62t) or the “desk-top replacement” model (Apple MacBook Pro or HP Pavilion DV6z).

If the primary purpose of the laptop will be internet use I would suggest a netbook, however they are very limited when it comes to upgradability, and you will need an external DVD player since because of the size of the device it is impossible to put on in the netbook. You can get a good deal if you find one of these small laptops for sale. If the primary purpose will be some internet, some word processing and maybe some light gaming then the compact or so called “balanced” laptops are the way to go. The compact and the balanced models are slightly less powerful than the “desktop replacement” but they provide enough power to get most things done, usually all ship with a DVD burner and have relatively good upgradability. If the laptop is going to be used for graphic manipulation, video editing, gaming or other data intense projects then go with the “Desk top replacement” these laptops tend to be larger, but pack a big punch when it comes to what they can do, most have cutting edge processors as well as powerful graphics chips and great upgradability. A look at some gaming laptop reviews can get you started.

Now that you have decided which kind to buy, go to your local electronics store and play with them. Ignore most things the clerks tell you, nine times out of ten the people working at the stores will have a mandate to sell a certain model and that may not be the model you want to buy. Ask questions, look for their big sales on laptops, don’t be afraid to really test one of the floor models, and let you child play with it too. A thourough laptop comparison will save you money and time. Remember this is going to be a computer that travels with your child, make sure it feels sturdy, and has a good warranty. Most of all, make sure you like it, there is no sense in spending money on a laptop that may do everything you want, but you dislike the screen or feel of the keyboard. Have fun!

The first question a laptop shopper should ask is, what will this computer be used for? A laptop that will be used mostly for word processing and business work should have different specifications than one that will be used to play computer games. For ultra-portable word processing, netbooks are a good choice. These small cheap laptops are smaller and cheaper than their bigger cousins, and usually fit into a standard bag for easy transport. They make great cheap laptops for students. Asus, Lenovo, and MSI are established netbook makers whose computers average in the low $200s. A laptop that will be used for graphics-intensive computer games or design, however, should have a larger screen and more memory. Toshiba, Compaq, and Acer all make good computers for less money: a basic Compaq Presario with 2GB memory costs around $299, and similar offerings from Toshiba and Acer are under $400.

The next question to ask is, what specific model should this laptop be? There are only so many ways to build a computer, and many companies offer copies of what is essentially the same computer. To decide between similarly-priced versions of the same thing, consider each company’s reputation for the durability of its products. How long does each company’s laptops typically last? What kind of guarantees do they offer on their products? Can a customer send in their broken laptop for repairs, or are there repair shops conveniently located? Since even expensive computers inevitably have hardware trouble, the laptop you buy may be less important than the service you buy with it.

The third thing to consider is, can a laptop be tested before it is purchased? Even if a laptop is bought online, often the same or similar model can be tested in stores to make sure it will meet the customer’s expectations. Before you order any laptop online, write down the maker and model and then check with local electronics stores to see whether they carry it in stock. Even if you plan to buy it elsewhere, it is worth the time to go and examine a computer in person to see whether you like the design and its performance.

Finally, the last thing to consider when buying a cheap new laptop is how to make it yours! Personalization is important and can make a computer something special, not just a tool. Cheap laptops are often more standardized than more expensive ones, with fewer custom options, so taking advantage of what customization is available can make a huge difference. Don’t like the boring back of your laptop? Consider buying a “skin” or wrap for your computer. Skins come in many colors and designs, from many different companies–some will even allow you to create your own design and have it custom-made. Accessories like skins or wireless mice can make your laptop experience more fun, more productive, and an even better value for your money.

Update: The following review was posted by reader Brandon A.

Recently, I purchased a HP G60-610CA Notebook for around $550 (although, it was on sale for a limited time), and thus far, I have been nothing but 100% pleased with it. It has a sleek and stylish design, great specs (250gb HD, 4gb RAM, 15.6? monitor, built-in webcam, microphone, and other features), and it runs better than I could have ever imagine. The 4 GB of RAM allows me to work on multiple tasks or run several programs all at once without sacrificing any speed or performance. The screen is just the right size (not too big and not too small), the mouse and keyboard both feel natural and are very easy to use, and it’s lightweight enough to have it with you on the go.

You really can’t go wrong with this model. No matter what you plan to do with your notebook, as far as I’m concerned, there’s no better choice than the HP G60-610CA Notebook. I needed a laptop that’s good for basic gaming, browsing the internet, communicating with friends, doing homework, and running high-intensity software, and to date, this one has delivered on all fronts with flying colors. There are other great laptops on the market, but I see no real reason to look any further than this one. Don’t miss out on this fantastic product!

Reader Question: What laptop would you recommend for someone who wanted to buy a cheap laptop?

One of the most popular laptops on sale for students is the Toshiba Satellite. You will find several great features such as the 15.6 inch screen that will help you to have everything that you need for typing notes and doing research. This laptop comes with the latest version of Windows which is Windows 7 and has all of the storage you need for saving your documents that will be important for your classes. You will have 500 Gigabytes of storage which means that you will be able to store four years worth of notes. You will also get a DVD drive, an Intel Core processor, and a great graphics package making this one of the best cheap laptops to study for finals on.

Another great laptop for sale that college students like is the Compaq Presario. You will get many similar features that you will get with the above Toshiba including Windows 7 and a 15.6 inch display, but this laptop has a few different features. One thing you may notice is that it has half of the storage capacity of the Toshiba with a 250 Gigabyte hard drive, but that is still more than enough space to store your notes for the four years you will be in college. Also, instead of just having a DVD player you will get a DVD +/- R burner. That means you can make backup copies of your favorite movies or make presentations for your classes on a DVD disc.

There are a lot of other very cheap laptops that are perfect for college students that you may want to check out, but these two will give you plenty to make it through all of your classes and perform all of the tasks and assignments that you will have. If you are going to be attending college you will need to have a good laptop with you at all times.

Update: One of our long time readers, ‘Rick TLA’ gave us his suggestions for five of the cheapest laptops currently on the market.

1. 7” laptop by Ubisurfer: This 7” screen laptop is a product from Ubisurfer, a UK based company. They are offering free internet with the laptop. School students normally needs laptops for writing, painting and for doing internet browsing. So they don’t need any high quality laptops. The ubisurfer laptop can be used for all the purposes. There is no in built CD/DVD optical drive with the laptop. The specifications are, it comes out with 128MB RAM and 1GB hard drive. The cost of the laptop is just $180.

2. Laptop from Champion brand: This is one of the most cheapest mini laptop. Its been on the store with a one year warranty. Laptop has got a wider screen about 10.2”. the specifications are, N270 Intel Atom processor with 1GB RAM and 250 GB hard disk.Its cost is $328

3. ASUS Eee Pc 1005HA: This laptop has got lot of advanced techniques than the above ones. It has got 6 cell battery, used for playing videos. This laptop also has got 1 year warranty. The specifications are , a N280 processor with 1 GB Ram and 160nGB hard disk space.Its cost is about $383

4. Aspire One Laptop-AOD250: this laptop has got an in built multiple card reader and a wide display 10.1”. The laptop also got a web camera. The specifications are, a N280 Atom processor with a speed of 1.66 GHz and 1 GB RAM and 160GB hard disk space. It costs $428

5. Lenovo Ideapad S10 Laptop: This laptop is available in two colors, black and grey. The major advantage is that it has got 6hrs of battery power. The screen size is 10.1”. The specifications are, a N280 Atom processor, 1Gb RAM and 160GB hard disk space. The operating system installed is windows Vista, which can change according to the user need. The cost of the product is $437.

Reader Question: What is the most inexpensive laptop (brand and model) that you’re bought and were you satisfied with it?  

Naturally I think the best place to start is online. Why is that exactly? Well, it’s simple. You can often get the best deals online due to the fact that these online stores have very little overhead. They don’t have a building they have to pay for every month, they simply have hosting. They don’t have scads of employees to work cash registers and stock the shelves, either. They can make a profit while offering drastically better deals than the stores, allowing them to offer you some really outstanding deals.

Naturally I don’t think that you should just go off to the first site you find online. You need to be careful whenever dealing with anything online, particularly when you’re giving out your credit card information. Certainly most are honest businesses looking to do good by their customers, but even then, I think you should stick to the sites that are already well established when buying cheap laptops and notebooks on sale. Those would typically be sites such as Tiger Direct, New Egg, and any of the large manufacturer’s sites (such as Dell, Apple, HP, Toshiba, etc.). I’m certain that there are some other great sites, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!

In my humble opinion, Tiger Direct has always been the best online store for finding laptops on sale. It’s a store that’s been around since before the internet became popular; in fact, the store itself has been around for 20 whole years. That’s even pre-AOL if you can believe that! Their customer service has always been top-notch, and you can be assured of getting a good product. They also sell some very cheap refurbished laptops, many of which offer savings of up to 50%. New Egg also offers some great products, so definitely search both before you run off to the store.

Should you not find what you need online (not likely!), you might try going to a normal store for your laptop needs. The best brick and mortar store in my opinion is Fry’s Electronics. This store doesn’t exist everywhere; it’s mostly a west coast USA establishment, but if you can find one near you, it’s almost as good as going online. Their selection and prices are unbeatable compared to stores such as Best Buy, Staples, etc. They don’t even compare.

So, there you have it everyone! Today was admittedly a basic overview of where to find laptops on sale, but it should have been a solid primer for you whenever you decide to buy a laptop for yourself. Thanks for reading!

Brent is the author of http://www.refurbishedlaptopsguide.com.

First, the amount of RAM that the system has is very crucial for its performance. Depending on your needs, RAM can make you or break you. For example, if you plan on loading some games on there or doing things that require precision timing, RAM is a big factor. If you do not have enough of it, it can slow your computer down and even cause it to freeze up. Most software requires that you now have at least one gigabyte of RAM. I would recommend getting at least two to three gigabytes, and most good laptops come with that, or at least have the capabilities for more.

Another key part of buying laptops and notebooks on sale is the processor speed. Many laptops will give you great deals, but have poor processing speeds. Processors do all the computing on your computer. These small chips pack a ton of power. Most are over two gigahertz, but the more the better. You also want to get the newest chips out there since they have the most transistors and work the fastest. This is important to make sure your laptop runs at its peak performance.

Hard drives are also important in your purchase of laptops. Software is becoming extremely large, and many people run tons of programs on their computer at different times. This causes them to need humongous hard drives, many over three hundred gigabytes. Many of them come with this, but many do not, and the price will reflect that.

Of course, if you want the best, laptops on sale might not be the best. However, Newegg has a bunch of laptops on sale that are great and very consumer friendly. The best bang for your buck is the Acer laptop. They are cheap, but very well put together. Asus are not well known by many consumers, but they put the best laptop together for under one thousand dollars.

If you really want to buy a laptop but don’t have a lot of money to spend, search for the best deals on cheap new laptops before you buy the first one you see.

1. Free up disk space
You may not realize it it, but many little files and other things are saved in different areas of your hard drive that you can easily remove by running Disk Clean up. This tools will help you free up space on your hard drive. The program identifies all the files that you can safely delete, along with you having the choice to delete any or all of the identified files.

Use Disk Cleanup to:

Remove temporary Internet files.
Remove Windows temporary files.
Remove downloaded program files that you no longer use
Remove optional Windows components that you don’t use.

2. Defragment the hard Drive
When files are stored in you hard drive, it causes your system to take longer to gather the information since your computer will typically fragment them. When you use the utility, it consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer’s hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. The computer will have an easier time located and reading the files. I typically run this program once a month.

3. Detect and repair disk errors

After running the two utilities, to optimize your computer or laptop’s performance, check the integrity of you files by running the Error Checking utility. Over time the computer can and will develop bad sectors, causing the slow down of the hard drive as well as making data writing (file saving) difficult, if not impossible. The utility will scan the drive for any bad sectors and searches for any files or folders are misplaced.

Taking these few steps can save you a world of grief. If you’re like me and you use your computer or laptop on a daily basis, you should run these utilities once a month, especially if you own one of the very cheap laptops that are being sold online.