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If I find out that I need a new laptop, should I get one with higher memory GB's or higher hard drive GB's? Is 2 GB's enough or should I get up to 4 GB's? There are ones with 250 GB's hard drives or 340 GB's or up to 500 GB's. I don't really know what any of that means. I don't play DVD's or games on my computer, but mostly just e-mail, surf the internet, and post photos (most are on photobucket tho). The past two laptops I've had including this one, has 1 GB memory and 250 GB harddrive and it gets too slow for me sometimes. I really am clueless when it comes to computers and technical things

Forgive any spelling errors on here. I can't see the left side of my screen to see what I've typed!

decisions decisions
I'm not a computer expert either and just like you I don't know a whole lot about what that stuff means so I went with
the one that fit what I had in my bank account It has the 2GB memory and a 250 GB HDD. I do use it to play
games and it works fine for the type of games I play. It does well at downloading pictures onto photobucket and to
me thats more important, (the download or upload speed) But I'm not sure what makes a computer fast, perhaps
the processor has something to do with it I don't know. Have fun shopping and I hope you get some answers that
make sense.

You normally judge based on how you use it. I'd say that you would be best served, based on what you just said, in having a minimum of 2 GB RAM and at least 350 GB hard drive.

Your photos that reside on your hard drive and the programs on your hard drive will use the most space on the hard drive. The RAM is what the machine uses to access space on your hard drive as well as upload your photos to photobucket.

If you have the money go all the way (4 GB) with the RAM and then get an extra hard drive to back up your laptop hard drive. That config would cost close to $750 to 850. Otherwise go with the 2GB and pray about backing up your hard drive.

This is my opinion only.

You might want to look at your current hard drive and see how much of the space is currently being used. (You can do this by clicking on My Computer and then right clicking on the C Drive and Properties.) For example, my current laptop is using 95% of the 140 Gig hard drive, mostly from photos, so I know I need to get a bigger one for my next computer, which is going to have to be soon.

RAM is what gives you surfing and downloading speed. I am a heavy internet user, so speed is important to me, especially since I have to view student videos online. Right now i have 4 Gig of RAM, and it is not enough, so my next computer will have at least 8.

However, 4 Gig may be more than enough for you. As websites include more flashing things and animations, you need more RAM. You can find out how much RAM you currently have by right clicking on My COmputer and looking down at Memory (RAM).

The other thing that controls speed is the processor. The same screen that shows you RAM will also tell you what kind of a processor you currently have. Mine says it is a 2.10 GHz. All I know about that is the higher the GHz, the better.

Based on how you said you use your computer, I would opt for more RAM than the bigger hard drive, if you can't afford both.

Judy - some of your problems may not be the 4GB RAM but the speed of your ISP service, your internet provider. I have a 450 GB hard drive and I have 112 GB free at this point. Most of it's pics although I do have some memory hog software such as the Office Suite and genealogy software. Oh, I have a bunch of pdf files from my school work - journal articles - that will be removed when I finish my coursework.

I solve the hard drive issue by saving all my photos to an external hd. Yes, an additional expense, but one that comes with me from computer to computer. And you can get the samll ones - not much bigger than a cell phone for not a ton of money.

Judy gave you the detailed info on what the different things mean. Get the biggest you can easily afford - so that it will last the longest - is my thought.

Judy, you would probably need a Quad Processor to be able to utilize 8 GB of RAM. Maggie is correct in that your ISP impacts your ability to move data up and down 'internet pike'. On the road, you will be very hampered by bandwidth.

Barbie, being on a restricted budget, as you have indicated, I'd go for (1) as high a ghz (2) as much RAM (3) as large a hard drive, as I could afford. Your internet connection governs much of your data speed up and down the internet turnpike and if your drive is dirty, it will slow you down.

I'd say everyone should check their maintenance schedule for their system. It is possible that if you put most of your data on an external drive and keep your C drive defragged and clean that will help your system find and keep track of all of your programs and that in turn will keep your system running faster. If you only connect your external drive when you need to "get" and "put" your system will normally run faster. If you utilize an external hard drive you don' t fragment your hard drive very much and it moves much faster. If you store on your hard drive and depend on speed then you need to consider nothing less than weekly maintenance.

Hard drive maintenance is difficult to define for other people unless you are in a work environment. When I was in IT, my definition of maintenance was quite severe, especially for individuals who were power users. They normally didn't build, repair, install, uninstall or troubleshoot. They just did some gigantic things and whined if their systems didn't do what they wanted it to do. I performed daily maintenace on their systems. So for those of us who are casual users, we normally crap up our systems and they bog down....then we perform maintenance and swear we won't be lax again.

Okay, that's my 2 cents worth.

Thanks. Unfortunately, my computer is slow when hooked up to other internet providers as well, and I do perform disc maintenance. I also use an external hard drive, but only as a backup that I store at my son's in a gun safe. Since I got what i wanted for my condo, I am going to use some of the money to get a new laptop and use this one as a backup. I need a larger screen for some uses and will get more RAM and memory, as well as a fast processor. I will continue to "work" part-time with my teaching, so I still need a business-type machine, unfortunately.

If I get a new computer now, it will last me another 3-4 years, hopefully, and by then I will be done teaching.

that was a lot of great information, I feel a little empowered to analyze what I have I've been meaning to get myself
an external hard drive, although I do put stuff on my sd card and also flash drives. Son recommends I get a terrabyte so
I can store tons of movies on it and always have a movie to watch while camping. Its on my shopping list for christmas

Would you consider an Apple product? Sounds like you are in education and Apple, at one time, gave teachers a considerable discount on their products. Don't know if that is still the case though. I had to use Windows based computers as long as I was working but as soon as I retired I bought an Apple iMac and love it. The Apple store online usually has a number of refurbished laptops in various configurations offered at a good price. I bought a refurbished iPad and it looked new and came with the same warranty a new one has. Just a thought. And I agree with the other responses, buy as much RAM as you can afford.