So you're in the market for a new laptop. Before heading to the store (whether online or offline) you better do a bit of research and find out what type of laptop is best for you. Once you've identified a short list of laptops that meet you needs and preferences, only then start the search for the best place to purchase (aka buy) one of them.

One common mistake is to assume brands & models don’t matter and simply select a laptop by the price & specs. Much like your cellphone, the laptop you're going to buy will most likely be your daily companion for the next couple of years. You want to make sure it will address your needs and will keep you effective/happy. And you don't want to spend on it more than you should.

So here are 3 simple steps for you to follow:

1. Find out what type of laptop is right for you? 

Whether you are going to use your laptop for business or personal use, here are the 5 most common types you should consider:

All-Purpose Laptops 

These laptops can do it all and are the most popular choice for both consumers and business notebook users.

Desktop-Replacements 

These laptops are big, powerful and heavy. Their screens are larger than 16" and they are great for gaming and multimedia.

Top Ultra-Portable Laptops 

These small and light-weight (2-5 LB) laptops typically offer long battery life and are a great choice for frequent travelers.

Netbooks 

Netbooks are inexpensive alternative to the full-featured Ultra-Portable Laptops. You can only use them for basic word processing, email, and web applications.

Tablets 

Tablet PCs are arguably the most versatile machines in the laptop genus. Their screens react to input from a finger or stylus, letting you enter notes and drawings freehand. Light weight and long battery life make them suitable for life on the go.

2. Identify a short list of laptop models that meet your needs and budget

This is where ProCompare.com becomes a truly valuable source. If you simply search for a laptop that falls in your budget and has the right specs, you will most likely end up with a very long list of options. Some of the laptops in the list would indeed be good for you, but others may become a huge disappointment. In ProCompare, we're constantly monitoring all major tech publishing sites and the most popular laptop retail sites. We read hundreds of reviews by both experts and regular users, and we normalize the essence of these reviews into our criteria-based ranking. So all that you have to do is move the Personalization Slider in a way that reflects what's important for you, and get a short list of top laptops that best meet your preferences.

3. Find a reliable store that would sell these laptops for the lowest price 

The first thing you should consider is whether you should buy online or at a physical store. The advantage of a physical store is that you can have your new laptop today. But if you have a few days, you can most likely get a much better deal online. Here at ProCompare, we are not selling anything. We only help our visitors find what they need for a great price. Over the years, we've worked with many online retailers (such as TigerDirect, Toshiba Direct, Dell.com, etc.) and price comparison sites (such as PriceGrabber and Shopping.com). At the end of the day, what we've found out is that nobody can beat Amazon. Due to their huge laptop buying power (which is even bigger than that of Best Buy and Walmart), they are simply able to get the best prices. In addition, their delivery cost is minimal and their customer support is second to none. This is why you'll find that we recommend Amazon as the place to buy most laptops on our site.

Now that you've read this, you're ready to make your best laptop purchase ever. Just click here to get started.