If you're in the market for a brand new laptop, you'll definitely want to scout around and find the best laptop for your needs. Although notebooks come in all shapes and sizes, the following tips should guide you well enough to find the ideal laptops all the time.
Firstly, you want to make sure that the technical specs of your laptop is exactly what you need. You should get exactly what you need to match your activities, not more, and not less. For example, you need totally different system if you're just planning to use it for work related purposes, as opposed to letting your laptops be your entire home entertainment system.
Different applications need different type of notebooks, and getting more than what you need is literally a waste of funds. On the other hand, getting less than what you need will just frustrate you and waste your time.
The first thing you need to consider is the Central Processing Unit or CPU; it is the "brains" of your notebook. Generally speaking a faster CPU is better as it will reduce loading and processing time, but there is a choice between Intel processors, or other manufacturers.
You should also think about the overall weight and size of your laptop. If you like to keep it light and portable choose thinner ones that weight less than 1.2kg – these are usually on the higher price range but it will be worth the money, and the lack of aching backs!
Equally important is the warranty length, and additional service details. Generally speaking most laptops come with standard one-year warranty, but manufacturers like Fujitsu also offer "extended" three-year upgrades and on-site repairs. Expect a premium for the "on-site" repairs, but extended warranties are quickly becoming standard items and you should look out for for current models that include them at no extra cost.
As for personal choice, I prefer Toshiba laptops, especially the Toshiba Satellite series that is both affordable and sufficient for high-end processing. Ideally, any laptop you get should be good enough to get you through the next four years without needing an upgrade or replacement. Not every laptops can do that though, so shop for your laptop wisely!