With the digital age advancing by the second, it can get quite challenging to keep up. Luckily, that’s what reviews and guides are for to help you understand the latest gadgets and tech to serve all your needs.
Even though there are high-tech smartphones and tablets, many people still rely heavily on their laptops, and for a good reason. They’re versatile, easy to carry, and compact. It’s also ideal for the busy-bee who needs to be working all the time. Yet when it comes to buying a new laptop, the options out there can get quite overwhelming.
If you’re in the market for a new laptop, here’s what you should consider before making your final decision:
The Operating System
Seeing as laptops are revolutionary inventions, one must choose the ideal operating system to garner the best functionality a laptop can give. We’ve been blessed with more than one operating system, whether you go for Windows, MacOS, Ubuntu or Linux, or ChromeOS. Windows 10 is considered to be a breeze to use with its easily navigated interface and customization. Meanwhile, anyone who’s already an Apple user won’t face any issues with using Macbooks that operate on MacOS. Android users will find ChromeOS as simple as their smartphones.
It all depends on your usage; if it’s for browsing, gaming, or work, then the Windows 10 will be quite ideal. It also makes the switch from laptop to tablet much easier. If you’re a programmer or designer, then a MacOS will help you navigate through your design tools much easier. Meanwhile, ChromeOS is popular among students for being the least susceptible to malware.
The Size
Size does matter when it comes to your laptop and it all depends, of course, on how you will use this laptop. The smallest size if you’re looking for maximum portability, are 11-12-inches; they’re super thin and weight around 3 pounds.
Generally, laptops with the sizes of 13-inches to 14-inches provide the best chance for ease of use and convenience of carrying around. However, the most popular one is the 15-inch. They can be carried around, albeit not as convenient as the smaller ones, but their large screen is generally preferred.
Meanwhile, if you’re not planning to move around with your laptop a lot and you need it for heavy-duty work or gaming, then bigger sizes like the 17-inch/18-inch will serve their purpose.
The Budget
Your set budget will help determine your choice when it comes to getting a new laptop. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars and high-end features when many convenient and reliable laptops can be found for $700 or under, and they can offer a great level of performance fit for your daily use.
Those who want to save on a laptop should also consider buying a refurbished unit. Find a reliable supplier that offers warranties and guarantees for all its products to avoid getting scammed. Do not hesitate to ask questions and scrutinize the supplier and product carefully before purchasing. Buying a refurbished computer can help you save as much as 40 percent. It’s a great deal if budget is a major consideration.
One thing you should definitely do is check online reviews; its important to read reviews for your laptop before making a purchase, just to be on the safe side. These reviews will help you narrow down your choices and will prevent you from spending more than you should have.
The Specs and Features
Now that the budget and size are determined, it’s time to check the features that will make using your new laptop becomes a breeze. For starters, pay close attention to the CPU, which is the brains of your laptop; this processor has all the influence on how your laptop performs, that’s why it is important to get on with the fastest CPU. It’s not preferred to get below an Intel Core i5 because newer models have reached Intel Core 10 and anything in between will give you optimal performance you need.
When it comes to RAM, consider going for 8GB or more for the best memory and speed. Also, the hard drive helps in the speed if you get an SSD (Solid State Drive) instead of an internal hard drive. If you’re planning to use your laptop for gaming or designing, then consider a high-end graphics card that is AMD or NVIDIA.
Meanwhile, screens should have a display of 1920×1080, even though most business laptops come with lesser quality. High-end brands tend to have a screen quality of 2560×1600 and up to 4K resolution.
You should also consider if you want to get a basic laptop or a 2-in-1 laptop that also serves as a tablet. This means that you’re investing in a device with a good touch screen feature as well as an impressive keyboard. Some of these laptops have a detachable screen or they can turn 360 degrees.
Finding the right laptop needs extensive research and familiarizing yourself with all the models out there. Today’s laptops come in all shapes and sizes as well as offering you a wide array of features fit for every need.