What to Lookout for When Choosing a Laptop. What do you need the laptop for? This is the first question you should ask yourself before you even start shopping for these gadgets. Do you need it for gaming, video editing, school, work, or other business needs?
The answer to the question above will help you choose a suitable laptop for your needs. People make the mistake of dwelling more on the price than the features and specs when choosing a laptop. While there are laptops for all budget needs, they all don’t perform the same way.
How do you ensure your laptop can do the task you bought it for? Here are important aspects that will guide you on how to choose the best laptop for your needs.
- Consider the Size and Structure
- What Operating System do you need?
- Do You Prefer a 2-in-1 Laptop?
- Budget
- Check PC Specifications
- Overall Design and Feel
- Consider Battery Life
- What Brand would you prefer?
- Summary
Consider the Size and Structure
Before you even move to the invisible features, start with the physical aspects of your ideal laptop. Many people evaluate the physical aspects of their laptops based on the display size. Others want something small and sleek but powerful enough to meet their needs.
If you’re going to travel a lot with your laptop, you need to consider a lightweight and sleek model that can fit in your pouch. This means a display size of 11 to 12 inches will work great. This size also weighs about 3 to 3.5 pounds and almost resembles a tablet.
A screen size of 13 to 14 inches will suit both functionality and portability needs. But if you’re a senior professional, a screen size of 15 to 16 inches will allow you to look at things closely and use multiple tabs with ease. For gaming equipment, a screen size of 17 to 18 inches is excellent.
Look at the Operating System When Choosing a Laptop
Prices for high-performance laptops have gone up over the past years, and many people now tend to go for refurbished or older models. While these still work great, you must pay attention to the operating system as it may not be up to date. Using the latest OS ensures there’s perfect compatibility with your gadget.
Most of the latest models come in Windows OS, Chrome OS, Linux, or macOS. Windows OS is available in most gadgets, and it’s user-friendly and highly flexible. While those featuring macOS and ChromeOS are also great, Windows OS offers more built-in and advanced specs.
Microsoft no longer updates Windows 7, and from the look of things, Windows 8 is also nearing its end. Avoid such operating systems as they may expose you to cyberattacks and viruses. Windows 10 is more popular and features powerful updates.
Do You Prefer a 2-in-1 Laptop?
Thanks to technology, many latest laptop models come in 2-in-1 designs. The hybrid devices can switch from the clamshell mode to tablet and other positions such as tent and stand modes.
This means you can switch these versatile gadgets from laptop to tablet as you wish. You can use them to watch TV in bed or work at your office desk. They’re also perfect for those who travel a lot as they fit in tight places and offer much-needed versatility.
The 2-in-1 designs feature detachable screens that can come out of the keyboard. Others come in flexible laptops with hinges allowing them to rotate 360 degrees when changing the mode. The downside of 2-in-1 gadgets is the limited space for battery and processor.
Don’t Forget Your Budget
How much do you plan to spend on your ideal laptop? It’s important to check prices and make comparisons. If you’re thinking of a gaming or video rendering gadget, forget about budget laptops because these attract quite a hefty price.
A simple gadget with decent specs will likely cost you around $200 to $300. This price will get you a low-end device with Windows OS or a Chromebook. They feature minimal storage, and you’re likely to get a slow processor. However, they’re still perfect for basic tasks.
High-end laptops that are likely to serve you better will cost around $1,200 to $2,500. These laptops will offer you hassle-free performance and improve your business productivity. Cheaper ones will come with cheaper components, which equates to low performance.
Choosing a Laptop Specifications
You already know that good specs are equivalent to faster and longer performance. But this is also the most confusing part because there are way too many things to consider when it comes to specifications.
You need to start with the central processing unit (CPU), which is referred to as the brain of your computer. The CPU processes every task in the computer; hence you must consider a decent processor. The processors with two cores can process two tasks at a time and four processes four at a time.
The graphics processing unit (GPU) focuses on tasks that require heavy real-time image rendering. While many people don’t need GPU, hardcore gamers or those who edit videos and images need a dedicated graphics card. However, they consume a lot of space.
Random Access Memory (RAM) is also an important consideration when buying a laptop. This is the storage room for all the apps and services in your computer. Sufficient RAM should be about 8GB, though heavier activities like video editing and gaming may need more.
Your computer’s storage is another spec you shouldn’t forget, even in this era when cloud storage is taking over the document and image storage solutions field. Traditional storage, like the hard drive, is still not off the market. You have the option to go for local device storage, purchase a cloud subscription, or buy premium SSD built-in laptops.
Check the Laptop Feel
If you’re going to type a lot, you’ll have to consider how the laptop feels on your hands. The keyboard and the touchpad are essential features here. You’ll have to look at the texture, keys placement, keyboard spacing, and touchpad quality.
When it comes to keyboard design, brand and laptop type has a lot to play. If you’re going to use the laptop to watch movies, surf the net, or play music, you can do it with any type of keyboard. For professional use and a lot of typing, keyboard decency and ergonomics matter a lot.
About the touchpad, you need to focus more on the feel. The touchpad is always an important trait in most brand specifications. Unfortunately, you won’t know how a touchpad feels by looking at the online reviews because everyone has their view on this.
The best qualities to look for in a laptop touchpad are smooth scrolling, zoom capabilities, and multi-touch gestures. You can determine the touchpad quality by assessing the precision drivers that come with most Windows laptops.
Choosing a Laptop With Good Battery Life
How long your battery will last after a single charge is key when choosing a laptop. Your computer’s processing components need power directly from electricity, a battery, or a backup source. A good laptop should offer you at least 8 hours of battery life.
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But if you’re looking for more features in your device, you’ll have to compromise on battery life. Never rely on the manufacturer’s specifications regarding battery life until you test it yourself. But you’re not going to test it at the store, so online reviews can help you determine the battery life before firsthand experience.
Of course, there are other factors that will determine how long the laptop battery lasts, one of them being your usage habit. If you use a low-resolution screen and low brightness levels, your battery will last longer. Activities such as video streaming and surfing the web are likely to consume more power than word processing.
Don’t Forget the Brand
Even after considering all the above factors, you still need to buy your laptop from a reputable brand. An expensive or most recognized brand doesn’t always mean it’s the best. Consider things like the quality of their computers, price ranges, and warranty offers.
Some laptop brands define class and aesthetics. Others focus more on the features than the looks. Choosing a good laptop brand may also narrow down to what you intend to do with the gadget. You must also know that reputable brands in the market such as MacBook, HP, Dell, and Lenovo come at premium prices.
Do You Know How to Choose a Laptop Now?
Choosing a laptop can be challenging if you’re clueless about what you’re looking for and easy if you equip yourself with enough knowledge. Since technology keeps changing, maybe some of these features will not be important in the future. You must look for a device that can stand the test of time and meet your needs. Are you ready to choose a laptop after reading this article? We’re here to keep you updated with all technological advancements so that you can always make informed choices when buying gadgets.