Hi Brandon,
when you buy a computer, especially for use with graphical applications, RAM cannot be replaced by anything, because it is the only type of memory that the processor has direct access to. If a computer has too little RAM and the application requests more, then the computer starts to swap memory to the hard drive, and then any computer becomes slow and you get annoyed.
To have enough RAM, it is good to know the laptop’s manufacturer’s page or fan pages, such as thinkwiki pages, and check if RAM can be upgraded or retrofitted and what type to buy. Often used laptops are offered with the RAM slots not full, it’s definitely worth getting those full then.
Image 1: Checking RAM slots on your computer
The other thing I find important is that the batteries are not built-in, because lithium-ion batteries often last only a few years when the device is used mobile, sometimes only one year. The bad habit among manufacturers to solder batteries in permanently and among users to throw the device in the trash when they are dead has unfortunately become more and more common. Devices with removable batteries limit one to older model years, but they are often powerful enough.
If the device is not used mobile, I would not buy a laptop. A stationary PC is cheaper with the same performance and you can replace everything if something is defective, which is often not possible with a laptop. However, a PC needs a separate UPS, which is always integrated in a laptop.