Unlike the early versions of these devices, modern laptops are designed to be powerful but light enough to take with you wherever you go, allowing you to work, study and play even if you are living life on the move. Not only are laptops such wonderful things to have in terms of versatility and mobility, but since there are just so many to choose from these days, you can quite easily select the one that will best suit your requirements, but only if you know what your requirements are.
When choosing your new laptop, you might get hung up on the price. And no one would blame you if you did. Laptops can be pricey, and if you’ve never bought one before or if you are a first time buyer, you might begin to think that a good quality laptop is simply out of your price range. But you’d be surprised. With such an impressive number of brands and ranges out there these days, you will find a laptop that fits into your budget quite neatly.
And since laptop technology is constantly evolving, you can buy a rather affordable laptop that will be packed full of the best performing technology, making your seemingly cheap buy something rather more than you expected. What is important when it comes to choosing a laptop, more important than the price tag attached to it, is your specific requirements.
Before you can start looking for a new laptop, you need to define your expectations and what it is that you will be needing the laptop for. A gaming laptop, for instance, might not be the best for work, and vice versa. And it’s not all about the hardware.
Most laptops these days come with loads of software already installed and this can either make your life, and your laptop choice, easier or it can make things a little more complicated. The design of the laptop can also play a role in your choice, as some laptops are 2-in-1 devices while others are just your classic notebook.
Here are 6 tips to help you decide on your next laptop:
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Look at the keyboard and touchpad
If you are going to be using the laptop away from an office space and desk, you will want to make sure that the laptop you choose has good ergonomics. The keyboard should be easy to work with and the touchpad shouldn’t be overly sensitive or hard to work with. Both the keyboard and the touchpad should be comfortable and it shouldn’t feel as though you need to be hunched up over the device just to type or browse the web.
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Consider specs
We’re not all tech wizzes so it goes without saying that when someone starts talking about the CPU, the GPU and the RAM that you might feel a little lost. But these things are very important in terms of the performance capabilities of the laptop and what it is that you intend to do with it. If you are gaming or streaming, for example, you don’t want to be stuck with a jittery laptop that is constantly telling you that it is not responding to your commands. The CPU is the most important spec to understand. Intel Core CPU’s, whether it’s an i3 or an i9, are always good choices, especially for office work and even streaming, while Celeron CPUs are more of the entry level kind. You might also come across the AMD brand, which is cheaper than Intel but still performs quite well. When you are shopping, do a little research on the specs of the laptop that you are considering.
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Battery life
If you are remote working, i.e. on the road or out at meetings, or if you are a student, a longer battery life is absolutely something that you are likely to prefer over the laptop that doesn’t have a great battery lifespan when charged. You will want a laptop that has a battery life of between 7 and 12 hours if you are away from an electrical outlet for long periods.
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Give some thought to the brand
The cliché that some brands are better than others is more of a truth than a cliché. Some brands have a really horrible reputation when it comes to laptops. Either their specs are just not up to scratch or you might find that within a year you need to replace the laptop entirely. Stick to well-known brand names like HP, Acer, Lenovo, ASUS, and Dell, and if you come across a brand you’re not sure about, do your research and read reviews. A laptop is an investment and you will want to make sure that you invest your money wisely.
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Select the right size
Some laptops, especially the high-end gaming kind, are made a little bigger than others. This means they are heavier and can be a little difficult to lug around from place to place. Then you get the small kind, normally made for students, that easily and discreetly fits into a bag. And it is not only weight that factors into size, but also the screen. Laptops with bigger screens are naturally just going to be bigger. The size you select should be just right for you, so make sure you read the size measurements or have a look at the laptop before buying.
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Operating systems (OS)
One of the great things about buying a laptop these days is that they generally come with an operating system already loaded. This saves time and money because all you will have to do from there is load your required programmes. Windows 10 is the latest operating system that modern laptops come preloaded with and it is a great improvement on past versions of the Windows OS. Windows 10 is excellent for students, business, and gaming. If you are buying an Apple laptop, you will be getting the Apple OS system which is macOS Big Sur. And if you buy a ChromeBook laptop, you might get the Chrome OS which is a Google operating system. Try to find out which OS your laptop has before you buy, just to avoid unnecessary frustrations or let downs should your laptop not feature the system you prefer. For more great pc deals visit – https://pcinternational.co.za/
