Laptop Shopping List

A few things to keep in my mind...
By Key Yessaad - CFO / Web Trainer May 30, 2008
if you wish a PDF copy click here...

Real Estate Agents ask me this all the time… “What laptop should I get Key?” and I always tell them: the cheapest you can get your hands on – but let me explain. There are a few things that will make you a savvy laptop buyer - the good news competition is fierce…

1. Think of your laptop as a disposal tool and don’t expect it to last you more than 3 years. Buying an Extended Warranty is waste for the most part – ask the experts.
   
   
2. Shop around and avoid impulse buying – your budget should be between $600 and $800; and always give yourself 2 to 3 weeks (models go on sale all the time.) if you have a trusty IT in-house do consult with him. In fact take this list with you: he/she will have a nice chuckle!
   
   
3. Remember I write for Realtors: DO NOT GET A MAC!!! I can’t believe I wrote that. I am a Mac-Geek and I love Apple. But if you want to become the coolest complainer about why certain features don’t work properly with your MLS, your Forms Software, your GIS Software, etc… then get a Mac. PS: you will have to also increase your budget quite a bit – the cheapest acceptable MacBook is $1,300+ (the latest thin MacBook Air looks really cool!)
   
   
4. Base Memory is what you need the most of: 2GB of RAM is the minimum. Most systems are sold with base memory of 512MB or 1GB – make sure you are upgraded to 2GB and for FREE; most will throw it in to make the sale. Of course 3 to 4GB would be ideal but not necessary.
   
   
5. Storage 60, 80, 120GB – it’s all the same: You will not need more than that. Don’t spend any more money to get more storage – unlike RAM very few of you will ever fill an 80GB HardDrive.
   
   
6. A 15.4” Widescreen is the norm – I don’t recommend 14” screen unless you are going for a sub-notebook and you want the lightest laptop. 17” would be nice but they tend to be too bulky and not easy to carry around…
   
   
7. An Intel Celeron M or Intel Core 2 Duo of any flavor is fine – going for high speed in GHz will not make a difference in your day to day work. Buying Mhz will mean nothing in your day-today operations – but RAM does (see #4.)
   
   
8. CD/DVD Burner normally comes standard – Allows you to burn your documents to a CD or DVD on a monthly basis. (Remember backup your data regularly.)
   
   
9. All Laptops come with built-in Wireless Network Chip. You should not have to pay more for this. Make sure it is built-in!
   
   
10. Ask for Windows Vista Home Premium at a minimum – Vista Home Basic is absolutely NOT adequate.
    
    
11. You should not spend more than $800 for the aggregate. A good deal would be $600 or less; and yes you can find them.
    
    
12. What brand should you get is a different story – you decide. I usually look for deals from Dell, HP, Toshiba, & even Sony (expensive for the most part).
    
    
13. Don’t share your computer with other people. If you keep your laptop focused on your Real Estate business you will have a tendency to have fewer risks of viruses and less conflicts due to change of settings. The less hands the better… if you have kids it is best to have a home computer for them that you monitor and have Parental Software on. Trust me when I say this – don’t let your kids use your Real Estate Laptop – they will reconfigure the settings with their own tricks.
    
    
14. Spend an extra $50 and buy a Wireless Mouse – it will make your life easy.
    
    
15. Adjust the above criteria if you plan to use this laptop for other endeavors besides Real Estate.
    
    
    

But Wait Key my Tech friend says I should not buy a Vista-based Laptop.

If you don’t have to buy a laptop right away then wait… but if you are in the market most come pre-configured with Vista and so long as you don’t install legacy software you will be fine. I prefer XP, in fact Macs would be my preferred fantasy. Unfortunately we live in the real world and we must use the tools we have at the ready to do the best we can for our customers.

Always defer to your local Tech/IT guy – they really know a lot about this stuff. They sometimes get caught up in the Geeky Jargon – but forgive them; they really mean well!!!

PS: No Geek was harmed in the making of this Shopping List.

You are now ready – now let’s sell some Real Estate!!!

“Wake up Intentional – The Universe will notice…”

Copyright (c) 2008 - Written by Key Yessaad, CFO / Web Trainer of Exit Homeplace Realty for the benefit of our Realtors.

About the Author: Key Yessaad is the CFO / Web Trainer for Exit Realty in Wilmington North Carolina. Key, with the help of great colleagues, oversees 4 offices in the Cape Fear Region in Wilmington, Hampstead, Burgaw, and Jacksonville. Key works with over 100 agents and is dedicated to training them manage and enhance their transactions on the Web. Click here to visit one the websites he manages – Wilmington NC Real Estate.

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