Tech, Tips & Tricks
Laptop Buying Guide: 6 Essential Tips to Know Before You Buy
Buying a new laptop is exciting, but it can be daunting with how many options there are. How can you be sure to find the best laptop for your personal budget? We’ve put together this list of six essential tips you should know before you buy your next laptop. Use them to narrow down different models and options, and you’ll find the perfect laptop for your needs.
Pick the Right Size
Most laptops’ internal components can be upgraded, swapped, or customized, but the size you select is the size you’ll be stuck with. Most laptops range in size from 11.6 inches to just over 17 inches. The best way to pick the right size is to consider how and when you’ll use your laptop the most. Will you regularly travel with it and use it only for basic computing and keeping tabs on work projects? If so, then a smaller size may be best since it will be the easiest to transport and stash in travel bags. If you plan to use your laptop in your home office as your daily work computer and only travel with it once in a while, then something on the larger end of the spectrum would likely suit you better. You’ll have less eye strain and enjoy the bigger screen size and built-in keyboard.
Consider Battery Life
Like the last tip, this one also depends on how you plan to use your laptop. If you’ll be using it on the go, then battery life will be incredibly important. If you’ll use it mostly at your desk, then battery life may not be such an important factor when shopping for a new laptop.
Examine Durability
This point is key if you plan to travel with your laptop a lot. Some laptops are designed with military-grade protection certifications to withstand being dropped and knocked around. They also offer laptops with the ability to endure dust, rain, extreme heat and cold and other environmental factors that could cause a standard laptop to fail. If you travel often and want to be sure your laptop and its contents will be ready for the ride, consider a laptop with a high standard of rugged durability.
Get Enough Storage Space
For a lot of people, storage capacity is a top factor to consider. If you download movies or save a lot of digital pictures and videos, then consider the biggest hard drive size you can afford. We suggest getting at least a terabyte, so you’ll have plenty of room for your photos, media, files and other downloadable content.
Get Enough RAM
The more you multitask with your laptop, the more RAM will matter. More RAM means your laptop can run faster by being able to access a lot of data and multiple applications at once more quickly and smoothly. If you keep a lot of browsers open, listen to music or watch videos online while working in spreadsheets and checking emails, then consider getting more than the standard minimum of 4 GB of RAM. If you’re a gamer, you’ll need to look for laptops with 32 GB of RAM or more for the smoothest gaming experience.
Consider Keyboard Quality
It may not seem like a very important factor, but an uncomfortable keyboard can affect your overall experience every time you use the laptop. The built-in keyboard won’t be quite as important if you plan to get a wireless keyboard and mouse set, but it will still matter when you travel or use your laptop away from your desk. Consider whether the keyboard has a backlight so you can work in darker rooms and whether the size is standard or compacted, which can lead to hand cramps. Laptops with full-size keyboards tend to be the most comfortable and functional.
Join The Conversation