What to keep in mind when buying a laptop!

Different people use laptops and PCs for different things, for social purposes, for business purposes, for gaming, for education, the list goes on! So it's understandable that certain things will be more important to remember when buying a laptop depending on what you plan to use it for. Here is a pretty general overview of what everyone should keep in mind when making that important purchase.
Processor. The processor plays a huge role in the performance of a laptop computer. If needed for mundane tasks, a lower spec processor might be the wiser choice as it will use up less battery power. Apparently, the processor that will balance performance and battery life the best comes from Intel's Centrino Technology or later versions. These included Intel Celeron-M and Pentium-M units.
RAM (Random Access Memory). RAM also plays a role in the performance of your laptop. If you need a laptop for some heavy gaming or multimedia work, it's advised you look at models with 1GB or more. If the laptop wont be used for much more than some word processing, presentation work or internet surfing, then the standard 256MB of RAM is adequate. I must mention that for a desktop computer howvever, 512MB should be the minimum and ideally 1GB. But for portable laptops, 256MB is fine. If money isn't a concern for you though, there'll be a noticeable performance increase with 512MB of RAM on a laptop!
Harddrive. You can get laptop harddrives that spin at 4,200rpm and 5,400rpm. Again, for serious gamers or people who need to do intensive multimedia work, 5,400rpm is the best option to go for. The capacity of the harddrive really depends on what you what you want to do with it. Simple, office type work wouldn't need more than 20GB, but you can opt for 40GB for not too much dearer. Those gamers and multimedia folk may need 80GB though and it wont cost a massive amount for that.
Graphics Cards. Most laptops rely on the graphics technology that's fully integrated in the laptop's motherboard. This is perfectly fine for office applications, internet surfing and DVD playback but for detailed games, a little extra help is needed. For powerful graphics, ensure you have at least 128MB of RAM behind your graphics card.
CD / DVD Drive. Again, this all depends on what you want your laptop for. Most laptop computers have a DVD writer as standard but if you're looking at the less expensive models, CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo is the norm. This will read and write CDs but only read DVDs. Bare in mind that a DVD writer wont cost too much more anyway and will enable you to do DVD burning.
Screen. This all down to personal preference really. The LCD screen of a laptop can be 12.1 inches diagonally up to 17 inches. So it all depends on what you're comfortable using!
Battery. Battery life can be anywhere from 1 hour to 5 hours depending on the laptop. This is also a personal preference issue really. If you want your laptop to survive perhaps a long train journey or a few hours out and about, longer life will be needed. But if someone just needs their laptop around the house or work place where power outlets are plentiful, there's no need to be hugely concerned about it. It all depends on your needs. Bare in mind, proper charging of the battery is essential for maximising the battery life! Charge fully, un-plug and use until it's running on fumes! Then charge again. Sticking it on charge when the battery is still half full (of half empty, depending on your perspective on life! ;) ) will do more harm than good in the long run.
Weight. Most manufacturers will now quote the weight of a laptop in the specifications. This is important if you want your laptop to get out and see the world with you.
Price. Of course this is massively important, price and value for money. You know your own budget and hopefully you'll know what you're looking for. If you've never bought a laptop before, it will be hard to judge what is good value for money. The best thing to do is ask around. Ask friends or family who have laptops how much theirs were and how satisfied they are with their laptop. Internet reviews will be helpful too. These methods are also useful for finding out the brand you should opt for and of course the brands you should avoid.
Software. The software of a machine is important for everyone and what you need will differ depending on what you plan to use the laptop for. The operating system is an important factor, most will use a Microsoft Windows version eg. XP, Vista. Some maunfacturers will throw in some nice bonuses: anti-virus software, Microsoft Office, DVD playback software. It's worth knowing which are included in one laptop and which are included in another as they can be very expensive to buy seperately.
After you've discovered exactly what specifications you need from you laptop, it's also worth finding out about the warranty service. Laptops can be expensive to repair so it's handy to have. If the retailer is offering a warranty service that isn't included in the price and you have to pay extra, there's no harm in shopping around for third party warranty services because you may save a bit of money in doing so.