The thing nobody tells you about working as a professional laptop reviewer is that everyone in your life who you are even somewhat acquainted with will, at some point, ask you what laptop they should buy. <\/p>\n

There are variations, of course. There\u2019s \u201cWhich laptop should I buy for my son?\u201d or \u201cWhich laptop should I buy for my sister?\u201d or \u201cWhich laptop should I buy to start my podcast?\u201d I\u2019ve heard them all. I imagine most laptop reviewers on the internet can say the same. <\/p>\n

My answers are very often disappointing. I think people often expect that because I use these things for my job, I\u2019ll be able to give them the perfect recommendation immediately. But \u2014 as I imagine many gadget reviewers will tell you \u2014 that\u2019s much harder than you think. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the reality: I spend all day thinking about what the best laptops are for most people<\/em>. But the laptop that\u2019s best for most people is not necessarily going to be the best laptop for you. That recommendation is going to depend on a ton of questions to which you know the answers much better than I do. <\/p>\n

Below, I\u2019m going to give you an idea of how to approach the laptop-buying process. I really believe that if you\u2019ve thought through all the variables I\u2019ve outlined here, you shouldn\u2019t have too much trouble finding a good product on your own. But if you are going to come to me (or a laptop reviewer you know, or an IT worker you know, or a tech-savvy person you know) asking what laptop you should buy, you must <\/em>have definitive answers to these questions ready. Otherwise, we will not be able to help you. (Or, at least, not as well as we\u2019d like to.)<\/p>\n