What to Consider When Buying a Laptop
When it comes to laptops , a while ago they were a luxury , but in 2021 , from digital nomads , to remote workers and even the average office user , it’s become a necessity
Whether your old laptop gets crapped or fried , or you’re simply considering purchasing one for the first time , things can get overwhelming , with an array of choices. I know this by experience. To my fortune , I had some idea to what is needed , but for an absolute newbie , or someone generally new to computers would probably be loaded with ambiguity, like ‘gosh , what if I don’t find anything that suits my budget’ , or, ‘what the heck is better for me , Windows or Mac or ChromeOS or what…’
For those mentioned in the above category , have no fear , for in this guide you’ll learn about the various attributes to consider while purchasing one
1. Operating System*
This is the the software that communicates with the hardware and provides all the various functionalities in the computer…Basically you can’t use a computer, phone or tablet etc. without one
Buyers usually have a few options here , but we’ll go through the mainstream ones.
1. Windows(The king of OSes)
Microsoft’s Windows is the most used OS (operating system) in the world , and for good reason , as it has an interactive UI , compatibility with almost every application on the market, and support for various hardware and software configurations.
2. MacOS
The second most popular after Windows, MacOS , is developed by Apple , and is known for its attractive and lucid UI. While there are certain Macbooks that pack a punch , most are way out of the average user’s budget , and MacOS has poor compatibility with games , so its out of option if you’re a gamer.*
3.ChromeOS**
Developed by Google , ChromeOS is a clear cut OS that is designed for the user experience. ChromeOS can run all Google apps , and some even have compatibility with Android apps. Chromebooks are an ideal choice for students or workers on a tight budget , but , you get what you pay , and they don’t come with AAA specs. However , being cloud based , ChromeOS makes it easy to switch chromebooks and yet access your account and data, to the point where you can use one at school and sign in to another at home , and still work as efficiently.
2. Specs
-This is when things get interesting
So different people will require different specs , according to their needs and budgets. For example , gamers will need powerful CPUs and GPUs , along with a decent amount of RAM and storage , while general users who just want to browse the web will not require top of the line hardware.
However , these are the bare minimum you’ll want to hit while buying a laptop(you may confirm with a retailer or the net description to verify the specifications)
Intel Core i5 or above , or AMD Ryzen 5 or above(AMD gives better price to performance ratios , Intel is generally more expensive)
GPU:
Most people will be just fine with the integrated GPU , and won’t bother wasting money on a discrete one , but gamers , graphic designers , 3D workers etc. will probably require one. If needed , go for at least an NVIDIA GTX series
Go for at least 4gb or RAM , your random access memory , which allows temporary storage of programs and files. Basically more RAM means a smoother experience while multitasking or using heavy programs. If you can , try to hit 8gb, as it ensures a rolling experience for the most users. Note that gamers, video editors, graphics designers and heavy multitaskers will benefit from at least 16gb RAM, as their applications are far more resource hungry
Storage:
There are 3 types of storage drives , SSD(the newer drive) and HDD(the spinning hard drive) and fusion drives(a mix of both). While HDDs can come with mass capacities , like multiple terabytes of storage , don’t get tempted , as they can make your life hell , with terribly slow speeds. Go for an SSD , as it will guarantee solid speeds and reliability. If on a very tight budget though , one can opt for an HDD as SSDs generally cost more per GB of space.
Screen:
Go for at least a FHD(full HD/1080p) screen. FHD screens have a resolution of of 1920 x 1080 pixels , making for sharp images at a reasonable price. Do not get wooed by resolutions like 1440p(QHD) unless the laptop you are buying is more than 16”. AND ABSOLUTELY DO NOT GO FOR 4K SCREENS , LAPTOP SCREENS ARE TOO SMALL TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THEM, CRAMMING PIXELS MAKES FOR DISRUPTED COLOURS AND HORRIBLE BATTERY LIFE.
And finally…
Ports or slots
All devices have some ports on the , be it for charging, data and display reasons. A good mix of ports is necessary for most people
-Consider at least one USB C port , one that supports charging , as a lot of laptops come with bricks tied to ropes chargers(basically heavy as hell) -Get at least one USB A port , to eliminate the need of(for the most part) dongles. -All laptops come with an aux port , so don’t worry about that. -HDMI is ideal for display output, if you need to extend your display, and although thunderbolt 4 can very well take care of it, that is not found on most budget laptops.
AND FINALLY…
Company matters!
Choose a laptop from a reliable and known brand, like Asus, Dell, Razer, Acer, HP, Lenovo, Google(if you’re buying a chromebook) or Apple.
That’s all the help I’ve got for you. Hope I helped out. Cheerio!
*one can dual boot windows on a mac, but most gamers will probably just go for windows anyway, with much better price to performance options compared to macs
**for the sake of simplicity, linux has not been mentioned as few laptop makers build out of shelf laptops that run it, and those are not well known to the average user.
JP's Tech Talk 