Modern laptops can run the most demanding applications while being compact enough to carry around town or on the metro without needing extra personal training to do so!
There are all kinds of different shapes, sizes, and powers of laptop, each designed to perform a variety of functions for users depending on how they use their device. Notebooks are generally for the more demanding users, while lighter laptops work well for families or more occasional users.
How will you use your laptop?
Buying a new laptop is best approached by considering what its primary use case will be. Common use cases include work, college, or family use. Mobile devices such as smartphones are becoming increasingly common for daily tasks such as online banking or checking social media, but more serious work still evolves around a desktop device.
Even cheap laptops can be enhanced with peripherals such as wireless keyboards and a mouse to make them into a mini workstation. These small additions can make even the smallest or lowest spec device perfectly adequate for typing a research paper, business plan or story outline.
You will find laptops for sale in a variety of stores and online. Doing a little homework before you buy can really pay off. This ensures you don’t go overkill and pay more on a much higher spec device than you actually need. Conversely, it also means you avoid the frustration of a whirring laptop that quickly becomes out of its depth trying to run demanding games or video production work.
This buyers’ guide helps you answer some of those questions to avoid those scenarios.
Choosing your OS
One of the biggest criteria for choosing new hardware is actually the software that will run it. Many people already have a personal preference for their operating system. To some extent the decision is made for you with the choice of hardware, but other devices are more flexible on the OS they use.
In this case, a little background knowledge of the major operating systems is useful to guide your decision. The most common options for laptops are Windows, Chrome, or MacOS for MacBooks. The choice of OS is mainly driven by personal preference, but a little knowledge helps too.
Windows is the most common and versatile OS for laptops. With a price range from sub-$200 to thousands of dollars, the Windows OS is updated regularly to fix bugs and patch security vulnerabilities. Because of its popularity, Windows devices are plentiful in their choices of features. This includes physical features such as touchscreen to virtual tools such as the Cortana digital assistant.
Windows 10 is the current version, with Windows 11 due to be launched soon. Each version of Windows comes with enhancements such as improved search functionality on Outlook, and writing with a stylus. Windows laptops are very popular with serious gamers, and they are also a versatile option for professionals, academics, and college students.
MacBooks come equipped with the MacOS system. With many similarities to Windows, the layout and functionality differences are often a matter of preference. There are a lot of convenient features built into the MacOS, including cardless payments, and integration with other devices such as watches.
The flexibility of 2-in-1
Hybrid devices are becoming more popular as ways of working change for users. With many firms moving into remote or partially remote working arrangements, 2-in-1 devices are popular for their flexibility.
Detachable screens and flexible bending options provide all kinds of flexibility for home working, working while travelling, or for time in a traditional office environment. These type devices offer a combined laptop and tablet experience all on the same machine.
Size matters
Portability is the main question to consider when looking into the size of a laptop. Laptops usually follow four main sizes, with 11-12” being the smallest up to 17-18” as the largest. Applying some common sense to what you need from your laptop is the best way to choose the size, with portability at the smaller end of the scale and performance at the higher end.
Consider the branding
A brand is not just a name on a box. The best laptop manufactures are defined by the quality of their build and performance of the machines. Just as importantly, look into the support and warranty options your chosen laptop vendor provides. Peace of mind, especially for a mid-range or high-range device is essential to ensure longevity. You can also consider purchasing an extended warranty to cover other eventualities such as accidental damage.