aptops are convenient.
A great asset to have if always on the go. Living as a paying guest with your residence changing every 11 months. Or, even if space is a constraint at home.

But this lighter, mobile computer comes at a substantial price tag.

Here is how to get a laptop within your budget.

For suggestions on what to look for when buying a laptop read, 12 tips when buying a laptop.

Broadly, you will have to focus on these five factors when deciding how much you are willing to spend.

i. Configuration
ii. Weight
iii. Price
iv. Upgradeability
v. Battery life

Hey I am broke!

You can get low-end laptops in the Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 range. ACI,  Acer and Compaq Presario are some examples.

They are the heaviest among the laptops and also quite depleted in their configuration which do not support certain software and are non-upgradeable.

These laptops generally function on a Linux operating system, as compared to better laptops that use Windows XP Professional or Home.

Though Linux is an extremely efficient operating system, it is not as user friendly as Windows. Moreover, the most popular and widely prevalent software and systems are still compliant with Windows.

Windows XP Professional is currently the best operating system in terms of office software and ease of use.

As a rule, the companies manufacturing these laptops offer no great service support, which could leave you in a tight spot.

While you may find that they fit the budget, they are not good investments and one should, as far as possible, not opt for them.

• 3 questions to ask before you buy a computer

Alright, I can spare some cash!

You can get yourself a fairly decent laptop ranging from Rs 45,000 to Rs 60,000.

The leading brands in this segment are Toshiba, Acer and Hewlett Packard. Toshiba and Acer provide the best deals in this segment as far as features and configurations go.

But the HP Presario series, similar in most features, is formidable competition. Though priced towards the steep end at Rs 60,000. 

• What to look for in an assembled PC

Money is no issue!

Well, money here would mean around Rs 75,000 to Rs 90,000.

Quite simply put, these laptops are your best investment. Their superior configuration leaves you worriless for at least the next three to five years.

Another aspect where they leave the previous models behind is the weight factor. Most of these laptops weigh about 2.3 to 2.5 kg, as compared to the cheaper variants that generally weigh around 3.5 kg.

Since you are spending so much on your laptop, ensure that it has a good battery life of at least 6 hours working time.

Sony makes an entry mainly in this segment. All models are equipped with Wi-fi (wireless fidelity). Any products tested and approved as "Wi-Fi Certified" by the Wi-Fi Alliance are certified as interoperable with each other, even if they are from different manufacturers.

A user with a "Wi-Fi Certified" product can use any brand of access point with any other brand of client hardware that also is certified. In short, it is a medium for wireless data transfer over short distances.

The Sony laptop is the lightest model featured here but for those willing to shell out a little more, HP is the preferred model as it offers features almost matching Toshiba and a three-year warranty.

Also, HP is a preferred option to most others when it comes to graphics and resolution and reliability.

I want the best toy!

Why not? If you are willing to dish out anywhere from Rs 90,000 to Rs 1,60,000.

Since pricing does not seem like a constraint, insist on a laptop that would weigh around the 1.5 kg.

Choose a Centrino processor, complimenting with at least 512 MB DDR SD RAM, Bluetooth and a 60 GB hard disk.

You could otherwise opt for the 'Tablet laptop' where the screen is 15" or 17" and swivels 360 degrees folding even into a scratch pad with a stylus. Yes, quite the dream machine, unfortunately at an even dreamier price of around Rs 1,00,000- 1,80,000.  

* All the prices mentioned are indicative showroom prices. They are generally flexible and can be brought down by up to 15% to 20% depending on the dealer, the brand, the model and the number of laptops purchased.

Note: The recommendations and suggestions are purely at the author's discretion.