7 Specifications You Should Consider Before Buying a Laptop
With so many brands and specifications available for laptops in the market, buying the right model is nothing less than a challenge. It is not as easy as it sounds, even if you have a hefty budget for it. The kind of work you do will play a major role in deciding the laptop you purchase.
People often figure out their budget before they buy a laptop as it gives them an overview of the options that are available within the stipulated price. Next, selecting the operating system will slim down your choices, and you will have a clear picture of what you need.
The article explains some of the high-level parameters that help you decide on the right laptop.
Operating System
The first thing you need to look for in a laptop is its operating system. Some of the most popular operating systems include Windows, macOS, and Linux. Now every OS has its merits and demerits; you need to choose what works best for you.
Windows is a highly usable, user-friendly OS that gives access to basic and advanced features, while macOS is majorly known for its premium interface and design. Linux, on the other hand, is highly useful for engineers and technical students.
RAM Capacity
Memory plays a vital role in terms of functionality and decides the performance capability of the device. If you are someone who likes to deal with multiple tasks at a given time, having a higher RAM as huge as 6 GB is good for you. You can reduce your overall RAM consumption by implementing the best practices mentioned here.
The minimum requirement for RAM is usually about 4 GB if your work is limited to emailing, typing documents, watching movies, or similar. You can also opt for 8 GB or higher if you are an avid gamer or involved in tasks that require resource-heavy software.
Screen Size & Dimensions
Screen estate is another significant thing as it is the space that you will utilize the most while working. Laptops come in various sizes, and that’s what decides if the device is sleek, suitable, sturdy, or massive.
A 13-inch laptop is the most portable one, and you can carry it easily. Anything bigger than 15-inches screen size will impact the portability factor but are best for professionals involved in coding, gaming, or graphic designing tasks.
Keyboard
If your work includes a lot of typing, you might need to buy a laptop that comes with a strong and sturdy keyboard. Look for the keys that are properly spaced and big enough as it allows for fast typing.
Also, make sure to invest in a laptop with a backlit keyboard; the feature is available in the latest laptops. Backlit keys provide an easy way to type even in dim light; however, it consumes more energy at the same.
Processor
Selecting a good processor for your laptop is again a very important criterion. Intel and AMD processors are supposed to be the best processors in the market right now. A good processor responds much more quickly and processes the instructions faster.
Intel provides you with i3, i5, i7, i9 with 10th generation processors, while AMD Ryzen is available in various models, including 3, 5, 7, and 9. The best affordable and high-performing processors have been manufactured in the last two years. Updating CPU drivers helps optimize its performance for high-end tasks.
Storage Drive
The capacity of data your laptop can store depends upon the volume of the hard drive. When you are planning to buy a laptop, buy one with an SSD (solid-state drive) installed in it. SSDs are a faster and more power-efficient solution in comparison to hard drives.
The SSD laptops are quite expensive, but you never go wrong with them as storage is one of the primary factors that impact your computer performance. Opt for anything between 256 GB to 1 TB for low to heavy-load tasks, respectively.
Battery Life
Most of the time, laptop batteries do not perform for the same hours as quoted by the manufacturer. A good practice is to look for the ratings in watt-hours. The larger the figure, the better the results will be.
Battery performance is hugely dependent upon several factors, such as the time you spend on the laptop, devices connected to the laptop, graphics and animations, screen resolutions, and much more. A few tweaks to the settings can help optimize the battery.
Should You Go for 2 in 1 or Not?
You might have seen laptops in which the screen gets detached from the keyboard and can be used as a tablet. If you work during odd hours or watch movies during weekends, buying a 2 in 1 laptop would be the best option.
You can even rotate the screen to 360 degrees in some high-end models. So, if there is a requirement for a tablet, a 2 in 1 screen can save your money to some extent.