When you're in the market for a laptop, price can be a big concern. Laptops tend to be quite a bit more expensive than desktop computers, but their portability and versatility are usually seen as more than making up for the higher cost. Which is not to say by any means that one can't get a great deal on a laptop computer. Even the cheapest laptop out there may in fact be plenty enough computer for your needs, and be quite a good deal for the money.

This of course all depends what you need your laptop to do. Evaluate your needs before making that purchase; the cheapest laptop for you is the one that balances the features and specifications you're looking for with the lowest cost. Not everyone needs the exact same computer, what works best for say, a traveling salesman may be entirely wrong for you.

Battery life is one factor to consider. Will you be taking your laptop on the road with you frequently? For instance, are you often called upon to give presentations for work or do you need to take your laptop with you for a class? Outlets may not always be available where you are; good battery life can make all the difference between a successful business trip and an embarrassing failure. If your computer will be a desktop replacement and spend most of its time at home, battery life won't be so much of a concern and can be largely disregarded, which can save you some money in your laptop search.

When you're looking for the cheapest laptop, features you don't need should be avoided. Also in the "will I be taking this laptop out and about often" department, think about weight. Lighter models are generally more expensive - so unless you really can't bear to carry an extra two or three pounds, a heavier laptop is probably ok for you, and certainly cheaper than the ultralight models. Large screens are another factor to consider. If you plan on using your laptop for gaming or watching movies frequently, then you may require a larger screen. Otherwise, you can probably do without that extra wide, super high resolution screen.

There are a lot of different brands of laptops, and many different models to choose from among these. Each have different features, strengths and drawbacks as well as (more pertinently) price levels. You should carefully consider all of these strengths and weaknesses when looking for the cheapest laptop that fulfills your requirements. Each brand specializes its offerings in the interest of marketing to different end users, one of the manufacturers might have the right computer at a price you can be happy about. Be sure to have a look through the listings of reconditioned and off-lease laptops many manufacturers maintain on their websites. Armed with a little research along with the helpful hints contained in this article, you're sure to find the cheapest laptop that works for you. Happy hunting!