Top 9 Things you should consider before You buy a right laptop

ByEric Jaxson

Buying a laptop is not an easy task. Thanks to the gazillion numbers of laptop companies have in the market; it has become increasingly difficult. Out of these, which one is suitable for you? While giving outright recommendations is tricky because each user has a different set of requirements, we can certainly give essential tips for buying a perfect laptop for you.

Major 9 Things You Should Consider All The Time To Get A Suitable Laptop For You

  1. CPU and GPU options.

The central processing unit (CPU), also comprehended as the processor, is essential for any laptop. Due to its many components, it’s often characterized as the “brain” or “heart” of a computer. Put another way, it’s like an engine of a car – without it, your lump of metal and wheels are getting nowhere.

A CPU’s “core” is also another word for the CPU’s processor. Historically processors had only one core that would focus on one single task. However, today CPUs contain two or more CPU cores.

Choosing the best CPU matters significantly, whether you’re buying a new laptop or upgrading our existing system. Higher clock speeds & core counts can make a notable difference in performance, providing a snappier system and faster completion of an intensive task. Plus, the CPU you choose will dictate your motherboard options. Thus CPUs with more cores are more efficient than those with fewer.

The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is also known as a graphics card or video card. It is a technical electronic circuit that accelerates creating and rendering images, videos and animations. It performs fast calculations while freeing the CPU to perform other tasks.

GPU is indeed similar to CPU; it’s more focused. You could think of it as a doctor specializing in a particular medicine area, where the CPU is more like your GP (General practitioner). There are two types of GPUs: merged or embedded, which live directly on the CPU’s shared memory. The other is a discrete GPU with its own card and memory.

Instead of looking at how many cores a GPU has, it’s better to investigate whether it’s embedded or dedicated.

  1. RAM

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Is there a difference between storage and RAM? Your computer RAM is primarily short-term memory where the data is stored. This isn’t to be mistaken with long-term data stored in your hard drive, and it stays there even when your device is turned off.When you play a game from your computer or stream a movie from the Internet, all of the data that your computer’s processor requires to play the game or watch the film is stored in RAM. This is so that your processor can access it quickly.

“How much memory do I need?” it’s an inevitable question when buying a laptop. It’s essential to realize that the RAM you’ll need is based on how you intend to use your computer. If all you require is taking notes in your class, writing, and surfing the web, you won’t need much RAM. For these requirements, 4GB of laptop RAM should be sufficient.

If you want your laptop to accomplish all the demanding tasks you throw at it, such as gaming graphics design, you should have at least 8 GB of laptop RAM. If you desire to stretch the limits of your PC”s capabilities, 12GB laptops, 16GB laptops, 32GB laptops, or even 64 GB are viable options.

  1. Storage

The difference between memory and storage is that memory stores data short-term for immediate access. Storage, however, stores long-term for permanent access. One of the most important decisions you are to make when buying a laptop is figuring out how much storage you need. It can considerably drive up the laptop’s price depending on the amount.

So, how much storage do you need? There is no definite answer, of course. Most premium laptops like Macbooks the Lenovo Thinkpad start with 256GB of storage space. For many people, this will probably be enough storage for everyday use.

You can get up to 1TB of storage with a new laptop, but this isn’t necessary for most circumstances. If you use your laptop to browse the internet and watch Netflix, you won’t need more than 128GB of storage on your laptop.

However, if you work on your laptop, you’re going to need more than primary storage. If you’re a designer and video editor, you might need more storage than this, and it would be better to opt for a 512GB or 1TB laptop.

  1. Screen Size and Quality

Laptops come in various sizes that follow a scale of lifestyle needs like portability, budget, and processing speed. Most popular laptops have screen sizes that range between 13 to 15 inches, with 13 being standard. But other models lean toward smaller or larger sides, some between 11 to 17 inches. It would be best to figure out how portable you want your laptop to be. Laptops are characterized by display size:

  • 11 to 12 inches: The lightest system typically weigh between 2.5 to 3.5 pounds.
  • 13 to 14 inches: It’s the best balance between portability and usability. Given you get a laptop which weighs under 4 pounds.
  • 15 to 16 inches: Now to the most popular size. Consider this size if you want a larger screen but not planning to carry it. These laptops usually weigh 4.5 to 5 pounds.
  • 17 to 18 inches: If you don’t plan to carry it and it’s always sitting on your desk, this is for you.

Now onto the best part, quality. Most people won’t detect the difference between a Core i5 and a Core i7. But even the most tech-illiterate person will relish a beautiful display and scorn an ugly one. Every display is made out of tiny dots called pixels. The more pixels you have the, better the quality.

Most laptops come with low resolution, 1366 x 768 screens that show less than high-resolution panels with at least 1920 x 1080 pixels. A 1920 x 1080 display can deliver as much as ten extra lines of text on any web page or in an email or a document you’re editing.

If you want to get ahead of the game and up your display quality a few notches, you can get an even higher resolution than 1080p. Some laptops are available with panels that are 2560 x 1440, 3200 x 1800 or 3840 x 2160 (aka 4K) resolution. These higher-than-1080p resolutions are sharper, but they also use more power, harming battery life.

  1. USB ports

USB’s complete form is Universal Serial Bus, and it’s the most common port you find on a laptop. A USB port allows various devices to be attached to a laptop without needing a specific port or bulky connector. USB ports can connect printers, scanners, MP3 players, and a host of other peripherals.

There are three types of USB ports at the moment:

  • USB Type-A: This is a 4-pin connector available in different styles and versions. There are USB 1.1, USB 2.0 USB 3.0 and USB 3.1.
  • USB Type-B: Type-B connectors are at the other end of typical USB cable pins into a peripheral gadget, such as a Smartphone, a printer, or a hard drive.
  • USB Type-C: This is the newest type of USB. The USB-C is slimmer, smaller, and comes with 24-pins which makes it handle higher currents and faster transfer speed.

  1. Keyboard Quality

Chances are you’re pretty acquainted with the keyboard on your laptop. Despite any design flaws, you’ve learned its intricacies and acclimated to its limitations. Sadly, Some of them can be uncomfortable. So, if you expect a lot of typing on your next laptop, I urge you to consider these points:

  • Size and function: The size of the keys on a laptop’s keyboard is essential because it is directly proportional to the precision of your keystrokes. A ‘full-size’ keyboard is what you should seek for in your next laptop. Laptops with a screen size of 11.6 inches or more should feature a full-size keyboard.
  • Tactile Feedback: Even if it might seem counter-intuitive, it’s good to look for keys that offer more resistance while pressing them. A key with more resistance provides better feedback to the finger. A key that’s easy to press and release won’t give you the feeling of pressing a key. So you’ll tend to repress it. This is how mistypes occur.
  • Laptop Keyboards: Laptops keyboards are primarily traditional, chiclet-style, and mechanical. A traditional style keyboard has keys placed near one another, with each key edge sloping off. A chiclet-style (or island-style) keyboard has keys that appear to pop out of the laptop’s body through separate cut-outs for each key. Unlike a traditional or chiclet-style keyboard, which uses a membrane under the keys, a mechanical keyboard employs simple mechanical switches under the keycaps.

In the end, it’s for you to find a keyboard that suits your style. It could increase your productivity fivefold and keep your fingertips smiling.

  1. Build quality

Laptops are a crucial part of our life, be it working on an office project, coding, or attending an online course. The laptops have become very sleek and lightweight, but many come with the robust and sturdy build quality, thanks to modern materials like alloys and carbon fiber. These sturdy laptops can handle rough usage and take accidental drops and spills. Laptops with durable build quality are essential if you are a multi-tasker or use your machine on the go. Stable build quality is crucial for those who travel as the chances of damage increase when you take your laptop with you outside.

  1. Battery life

Your laptop depends heavily on its battery. If the battery goes bad, you’re limited to only using your laptop by plugging it in, which isn’t always convenient. Generally, the average lifespan of a laptop battery goes about 1,000 charge cycles. Depending on the laptop’s brand and battery and its use, the number can differ. It’s also essential to note that performance can still degrade over time.

  1. Most importantly, meet your needs

In the end, the most crucial factor when buying your laptop is how it will meet your needs. These essential tips for buying a perfect laptop will not be used if the device doesn’t meet your requirement. For you to find a laptop, be known of your own set of requirements so you can increase or decrease your budget if needed.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *