How Do I Choose A Good Laptop? (7 Easy Steps)
Topic: How Do I Choose A Good Laptop? (7 Easy Steps)
How Do I Choose A Good Laptop? (7 Easy Steps)
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You are planning to get a new laptop and have one question on your mind: how do I choose a good laptop? Well, I have you covered because I am about to walk you through choosing one of the decent laptops out there on the market.
Running a maze can be easier than finding a good laptop that meets all the specs you need within your budget range. Search online for a laptop and you will find several brands offering thousands of laptops and each claiming to be the best. From the cheapest to the high-end laptops; they all seem competent when you look at them online.
Fully understanding the ever-changing number of product specifications is complex work. Laptops vary greatly in terms of processor performance, display, size, disk space, and RAM, among many other features. Even if you fully understand what you want and what all the things mean, finding one that suits you best in all aspects can be a challenge.
How do I choose a good laptop?
The question that brought you here today “how do I choose a good laptop?” It doesn’t have a simple one-line answer. But, there are some tips and guidelines to help you. Stay with me until the end.
Choose the right Operating System
Once you start exploring laptops, you need to choose which operating system (OS) is right for you. By considering what programs you’ll need to use and what operating system those programs run on, you’ll be able to decide what hardware you want.
- Windows – If you use Microsoft applications like MS Office or Outlook, choosing the Windows operating system is a perfect idea. There are also more Windows laptops available than any other operating system.
- MacOS: Although Apple’s macOS is much easier to use than Windows according to most users, it is strongly connected to the brand’s hardware. If you don’t have an Apple device, you should try to avoid a Mac, as there will be compatibility issues with other devices.
- Chrome OS – If you can do most of your laptop tasks in a Chrome browser, Chrome OS is a decent option. Chrome laptops are among the least expensive options available, so the OS is worth considering if you’re on a budget.
- Linux: If you don’t mind not having Microsoft Office, you can set up Linux on just about any computer hardware ever produced. The downside is that some major programs, such as Microsoft Office and Adobe’s Creative Suite, won’t work.
Choose the Correct Size
Taking into account how you want to use your new laptop and what screen ratio you personally prefer, you want to make sure you get the perfect fit for you. The size, unlike RAM or the touch screen, cannot be upgraded afterward. You’re going to be stuck with the item you chose at the beginning, so choose wisely.
Please note that smaller 13-inch devices may not support the powerful Intel processors or integrated GPU as their 15-inch equivalents.
Understand Processors
Also known as CPU (or Chip), processors are the most important aspects to define the overall performance of the device.
Below are the top two processor manufacturers:
Intel Processors
Core i3 to Core i9 CPUs are prominent from Intel. The Core i3 processor is the weakest while the Core i9 processor is the strongest.
When it comes to productivity and multimedia workloads, many users believe that an Intel Core processor offers the best performance. Laptops with Core i3 processors are often found in entry-level machines, while Core i5 processors are featured in most “modern” laptops.
Average users often go for i3 and i5, but for those looking for a beast, the core i7 or i9 will be worth considering, but the price tags will also increase with an increase in the leading digit.
AMD processors
Several vendors are already selling computers and laptops with AMD Ryzen CPUs. If you are a fan of gaming, this could be an extremely attractive option to explore. Ryzen CPUs are usually paired with AMD’s own Vega GPUs, which are currently clearly superior to Intel’s integrated graphics for gaming.
There are several limitations here, but because AMD CPU-powered laptops are typically slightly less expensive than their Intel equivalents, they can offer a higher return on investment.
How much RAM is right for you?
The more the better! RAM is something the computer uses to store data while the CPU processes it. Think of RAM as your office desk.
The table must be able to accommodate everything you are dealing with. Things fall off your desk if it is too small and it will affect your work. Likewise, if your RAM runs out, you won’t be able to work efficiently. Your laptop will inevitably crash and need to be restarted.
Day-to-day users will be fine with 8GB of RAM, but stepping up to 16GB will make your laptop much more proficient, and if you’re a gamer, you definitely need that 16 GB. Go for 32GB if you’re a professional user (and it’s affordable, too).
One thing to consider before buying is if the RAM is connected to the motherboard because then you won’t be able to upgrade it.
How much (and what kind) of Storage do you need?
Gone are the days when hard drive storage was a thing. Now, they are not very favorable, especially for thin and light laptops. This is due to the fact that they can be slow, massive, and generate a lot of heat and noise.
In contrast, a solid-state drive (SSD) is much faster, runs quietly, and can be placed in such a way that it doesn’t significantly increase the bulk of a laptop. As a result, most companies have adopted SSD storage as the standard for laptops.
The only problem is that SSDs don’t provide as much space. Also, SSD storage is sometimes more expensive in terms of dollars per gigabyte than hard drives. You can stick with a 128 Gigabyte, 256 Gigabyte or 512 Gigabyte capacity drive, and it will cost much more than a 1 Terabyte or 2 Terabyte hard drive.
Battery duration
If you are going to work from home, you have definitely chosen a place for your bed that is right next to a switchboard. Otherwise, it has an extension, so battery life shouldn’t be much of an issue for you.
But for those who travel a lot and don’t have 24/7 access to electricity, good battery life is a must.
It is important to check the performance of the battery in watt-hours (Wh) or milliamp-hours (mAh). The higher these values are, the better the battery life. Also, many computers will display battery life in hours, which is considerably easier to understand.
Another important feature to check is flash charging. Many of the latest laptops support fast charging, which is always handy when you’re in a hurry.
Additional Features
Above are some basic features you should check to get the most out of your laptop. However, there are many things that most of you will prefer to have. These include preferred ports and slots, biometric verification, touch screen, webcams, convertibility, and much more.
You should look for these based on your own wishes and affection, as they will not affect basic usage and performance, and this is why I have called them EXTRAS.
Conclusion
What you call a good laptop depends on what you expect from it. Everything you see will have some flaws, but you must decide which flaws you will settle for and which you will never tolerate.
So judging a laptop isn’t much different than judging a person. But as my take on this is pretty straightforward, that being said, after having a thorough understanding, you can make an informed decision on what to go for.
