There’s hardly any field you operate in today that you do not need a reliable laptop. These different fields however do not require the same capacity since the demands of the tasks to be done are different.
In this article, we will look at a few things you need to consider to ensure you choose a system that will help you carry out your tasks efficiently.
Let’s get right into it.
Operating System
This is just something to be aware of and decide on before looking at any other factors. The operating system a laptop operates on can be Windows, Mac OS or Chrome OS. For serious computing work, the choice is really between Windows and Mac. Chrome offers very limited functionality when compared to these two.
Which OS you go for is simply a matter of taste. Between Windows and Mac, there is no task that one can perform that the other can’t. Except of course you want to consider touch screen functions which is only available on Windows.
Windows laptops also offer the widest range of options. You can get a Windows laptop from a few hundred dollars to a few thousands. Mac on the other hand offers fewer options and most are in the higher price range. You can check your options on sites like https://www.orphanlaptops.com/.
Processors
This is the engine room of the laptop and probably the most important thing to consider. This determines how fast it will process information. The level of power you go for should depend on the type of task you want to carry out with it. Learn more about processors here.
Say for example you need the laptop for multimedia tasks like video editing or music production, you certainly will need as much power as you can get since these tasks can put a strain on the CPU. Same goes for gaming.
Some options to consider include Intel’s core i series (i3, i5, i7 and i9), AMD Ryzen Mobile, Intel Xeon and a few others. For simple web surfing, media viewing and document editing, a core i3 will do perfectly. For very heavy processing tasks like 3D modelling, professional level engineering and heavy video editing, you may want to consider the i7, i9 or the Intel Xeon.
RAM
After looking at the CPU which determines the processing speed, you should then look at the size of the RAM which will determine how many processes it can run simultaneously. On the average, 4-8GB of Ram will be ideal for most mid-level processing tasks. However, for higher processing tasks and serious gaming, you may need to consider between 16GB to 32GB of RAM.
Having more RAM size than you need will not hurt you but having less than you need will. A higher RAM size will only cost you more.
Screen Size and Quality
Laptop sizes are usually given based on the screen size. This is something that cannot be changed or upgraded once chosen. To choose the right size, ask yourself what is really important to you. If it is portability, then you most certainly will want the smallest size. This will usually also affects its weight.
For screen quality, we are referring to the picture resolution it offers. Most laptops offer displays with a resolution of 1366 x 768. This will be far from ideal if you are looking for HD quality pictures. For this, you may want to consider a display that offers a 1920 x 1080 resolution.
For even higher resolutions, look for 2560 x 1600, 3200 x 1800 or even 3840 x 2160 just note that these very higher resolutions mean lower battery life as they consume a lot of power.
If you are a gamer or video editor, then you may also want to look at one that has a dedicated graphic chip. This can be something like an AMD graphics chipset or an NVidia. This will mean more cost to you.
Battery Life
Given that a laptop is designed to be a portable device, you should take proper notice of its battery life. You should ideally consider one that offers up to 8 hours of battery life.
Other Considerations
Aside from all of the above, there are a few other important things to consider when making a choice. These include whether to go for a 2-in-1 or a traditional laptop. A two in one will offer you the flexibility of switching from laptop mode to tablet mode and back, depending on the need of the hour.
Storage size and type is also something to consider. The bigger the storage size, the more you can store. Aside from size, the type of storage drive is also important. A SSD (Solid State Drive) will enable the system operate faster. Read more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_drive.
In the final analysis, your choice will ultimately be determined by how much you are willing to spend on your purchase. Consider the factors that are most important to you and choose based on these.