If you've been on the fence about buying a notebook PC, now is the time to do it. Prices have dropped substantially, and you no longer have to sacrifice speed or data storage space when buying a notebook. If you're really on a budget, I'll share some nice tricks with you that will help you find a great notebook for even less than the price of a desktop.

Choosing Your Notebook Computer

The first decision you need to make is which platform you're going to choose for your notebook computer. PCs are cheaper and easier to find software for, but Apple laptops are incredibly well made and easy to use. I would suggest trying both and seeing which platform you feel more comfortable with.

Once you've decided on a platform, it is time to shop around. The best way to save money on a notebook is to look for models that are not the newest on the shelf. I am a computer "power" user, and I find that PC models built two and three years ago are sufficient even for my heavy usage. Most stores will have a few discontinued models on their shelves, and as long as they're still under warranty they can really be a great buy.

If you want to save a lot of money on your notebook, buying a used one is the best thing you can do. Many notebooks come with two or three year warranties, so buying a used machine doesn't mean you're going to get stuck if it breaks down. Ask the person you're buying it from if the computer is still under warranty and if that warranty can be transferred to you.