How to Buy a Better Notebook

Notebooks are hot, very hot. On the one side prices are going down by the day even as specs are improving. Buying a notebook is way different from buying a regular PC. For starters, the notebook is supposed to travel with us, and so considerations such as form factor and weight get added to the purchase decision-making. Accessories for notebooks are also different from those for PCs. So, how do you go about choosing the notebook that is right for you?

	Notebook Management And Recovery When you buy a notebook, in most cases, you buy not just the hardware. It is the whole package that matters. The package includes software-recovery tools, management software and other utilities Accessories for Laptops Upgrade options for Laptops How we tested How we put to the grind 26 of the lowest priced and the most feature rich laptops in the market The Winner: Lowest-priced Notebook The Winners: Most expensive and feature-rich notebooks Other lowest-priced notebooks Other Most Expensive and Feature-Rich Notebooks More Notebooks Notebooks’ Specs: The Lowest Priced Laptops Notebooks’ Specs: The Most Expensive and Feature Rich Laptops Notebooks' Test Result

First of all spend some time to prioritize what is it that you need from the notebook. Is performance more important or is style more important? Thin and light notebooks look great, but cost a bomb, and often do not perform as well as some of the larger ones. Is more battery charge important? Do you really need those four hours or would two do? A lot of money can be saved or spend based on your answers.

Even in the case of organization wide purchases, it is worth the effort to get this prioritization done, much like you would do for PCs.

In the shoot-out, which is a part of this story, we have compared some of the hottest models in today’s market. Use that as a ready reckoner for performance and features. The tables give you all the necessary details.

Half of what makes your notebook better than your neighbor’s is the fact that you paid less than what he did, for even better specs! How can you do that? Read on to find out. Most of this guide to price negotiations is useable for nearly all IT products and not just notebooks.

The shootout uses MRP (Maximum Retail Price) for determining the winner. But there are prices and there are prices, and no sane buyer should buy his notebook at MRP. MRP is where negotiation starts. If only you are willing to negotiate a bit, the price that you will end up paying finally could be a lot lower than what gets advertised. So, before you buy, read the rest of this piece on how to get the best price.

MRP is not the full price



The MRP that is advertised is not the final price you will have to pay. You will have to shell out extra for taxes, transport, installation, etc. These vary from vendor to vendor. Some vendors charge you extra for Windows. So, the first thing to do is to read the fine print and determine exactly how much they are asking you to pay.

Don’t believe that price



That is what it is: what they are asking you to pay, and not what you have to pay. That price is not carved in stone. Negotiate like mad, pitch one vendor against other, one reseller against other; and you will be surprised at what freebies and discounts you could end up getting, even if you are buying just one notebook. Even if you don’t, what is the harm in trying?






Do not believe Web promos



The Web, they say, offers better discounts. It does not happen, at least not yet, in India, for IT products. You can negotiate all Web promo prices downwards by a good margin. The way to do this is to check the Web for the latest promo and then pick up a phone and talk to some one either at the vendor or at a reseller. While on Web promos, look out for special conditions. For example, Dell offers reduced warranty on some of its Web promos. And while on the subject of Dell, even its Web prices are open to negotiation. Just call their toll free number.






Don’t compare apples to oranges



There is nothing easier than quoting some one else’s price to a vendor while negotiating. But often you will find that he can shut you up by stating how his specs are superior. Moral of the story: Do your homework well. All vendors keep minor variations from each other in their specs. If necessary prepare elaborate spec comparisons before you sit down to negotiate.






Seek out employee friends



All vendors offer separate employee discounts. Some of the big ones even encourage employees to identify friends who want to buy their machines. So, if you have a friend working with an IT vendor it might be worth your while to put in a call to him and find out if you can get a better discount.






Seconds sales offer better prices



Yes, there are seconds sales in IT hardware. Only they are not as publicized as the ones in clothing. Vendors have to dispose off notebooks that have gone for demonstrations, got scratched or got other superficial damages in transit. These are usually sold at heavy discounts. The trick is to seek out employee friends and ask them to spot such sales for you. Similar deals can also be made with slightly older models that are no longer in demand, but where the vendor has stocks.






Don’t buy branded upgrades



If you like a basic model and ask for upgrades like say more memory, or a better carrying case, the price is likely to go up dramatically. If you really want those upgrades, then there are two ways. The first is to buy from a notebook parts vendor, who will give compatible parts, at a lower price. Even when upgrading the notebook later on, for parts like memory, battery, etc, this is the cheaper option.






Upgrades are easier than discounts



The other way is to ask for a discount on the price and then offer to swap for an upgrade like more RAM or DVD cum CD writer combo in place of a writer. The upgrade is cheaper for the seller to give you than an equivalent cash discount.






Buy during the last days of the quarter



IT sales guys have their targets fixed by the quarter. And a significant portion of their salaries could be determined by how much they have achieved. As the quarter nears completion, the pressure to meet the target gets higher.

Naturally, they would be more open to giving you more discounts during the last few days of the quarter, provided they can bill you during the quarter itself. For the completely uninitiated, the first quarter in the calendar year starts on January for most companies. If you are in the market for just one unit, then talk to someone who is familiar with the local market. Each market has its price swings through the week. Friday evening may just save you a few hundred rupees over Monday morning.






Stick and carrot



Do not keep using the stick at all times, particularly if you are buying for an organization and have to do repeat business. The guy sitting across you and selling has to look good at his work place as well. Having a better understanding of his needs and being sympathetic to them will also get you a better

deal.