Decide what you'll use the laptop for to help determine which features you might need. Some common features on a laptop are a web-cam, DVD players and burners, etc. You can get a faster processor or more storage space on the laptop depending on what you plan to do with it.

Go window shopping. Many stores have fully functioning laptops on display and you can even try out some of the features in places such as the Apple Computer stores.

You can also look online at websites such as www.dell.com or consumer websites that rate different laptops.

Select your laptop. Once you've looked around and have done your research, you should pick a model you like. There are several things that factor into which model you select, such as: screen size, weight, etc. Only you can determine which will work best for you.

Customize the features. You can add on more features to your laptop to customize it for the things you'll be using it for. If you like to play computer video games, you might need to add a graphics card and if you like burning DVDs, you'll need to add a DVD burner if it doesn't come with one. The sales person or website you purchase from will have more information about the available features on certain models.

Finalize your purchase. Some laptops come with an automatic warranty and others offer additional protection and insurance for a price. Once you've picked a model with all the features you want, it's time to finalize your purchase and check out.