It may be a stretch to say that laptops are becoming a extension of humans, but at the very least they represent our digital selves. As the digital age deepens, more of our lives are spent online. Whether relaxing watching a movie, listening to music, writing a blog, or working in spreadsheets, most of our work is on our laptop or smartphone.
As the device market becomes increasingly competitive, this is a good thing for consumers. Prices on hardware continue to decrease as demand increases. Retailers attempt to gain an edge on rivals by running price promotions, or bundling in additional software licenses to sweeten the deal.
The first place to begin when looking for a new laptop is to consider your requirements. From serious gamers that need compute power overweight to business travelers for who portability is the top consideration, everyone has their own use case.
This article guides you through some of the main considerations you need to make, and how to get the best value for your budget.
Which operating system do you prefer?
Windows PCs are a common option for many users. Microsoft 365 personal provides many of the programs that you need to run your life and small business needs. The Windows OS also provides a suite of inbuilt security features to keep your data and financial information safe.
You can also easily collaborate with your friends, family and colleagues with tools such as OneDrive in the 365 suite. This can reduce pressure on your PC since most of your data will be stored in the cloud instead of locally on your device. It also serves to protect your data because if anything were to happen to your PC, you would still be able to access it via another device.
From the highest end PCs to the entry-level bargains, you can find a spec to suit any use case. Even on a limited budget you can still find a good entry-level PC that can handle any regular requirements you throw at it.
Screen size and resolution
Your screen is one of the most important aspects of your laptop. It is the part that brings your digital experience to life.
The most important elements of a laptop’s screen are the size and resolution. Most manufacturers offer a few choices of screen size. The resolution determines the quality of the picture on your screen, and how movies and software applications appear.
Screen size is all down to personal taste and requirements. But you also need to factor in practicality. If you travel a lot with your PC, a larger, bulkier screen can quickly become burdensome as you lug it between flights and into overhead lockers.
Travelers will also want to look for features such as a good touchpad, or even touchscreen capabilities when it is not possible to plug in a mouse.
The technical aspects
While you should focus mostly on your use case instead of technical features, you do need to know what your new device can do.
The main technical aspects to be aware of are memory and storage. This affects your computer’s ability to work at speed. In other words, it determines how quickly your web browsing, online gaming or movie streaming will perform.
A laptop’s local storage for files is on the hard disk. With the proliferation of cloud applications, there is no reason to overburden your hard disk by storing too many files on it. It is also risky since there will be no backup of your files in the event of loss or theft.
You can also optimize your PC’s performance by using cloud storage to keep copies of files. You can still have the convenience of accessing your files through Windows Explorer, but safe in the knowledge that they are backed up safely in the cloud.
Enjoy your search!
Buying a new laptop should be fun! Test drive a few devices in store to see which ones you prefer. If you do a little homework you also improve your chances of finding the optimal PC for you. You can also compare a few weeks in advance to keep an eye on the prices of your favorite options and see if any special offers come up on them.
