Picking the right laptop is a difficult decision. If you’re not an IT professional, it can be tough comparing laptops and determining how to get the best bang for your hard-earned buck. So, in this article, we have highlighted the most important considerations and the things you need to look for when you’re picking a laptop for your own particular needs.
Studying, Writing, and Business
Whether you’re a professional writer or a student, a mid-range Chromebook is likely to be sufficient for your needs. Laptop and laptop/tablets that use Chrome OS tend to be much more efficient than their Mac OS and Windows counterparts in the same price range, as Chrome OS is a much lighter operating system to run. For $200 to $500, you can get a Chromebook that’s optimized for Google Docs, which will work both offline and online. This allows you to open your same documents on your phone or tablet to write, edit, or check and send out e-mails whenever a good idea comes to mind. Look for longer battery life if you’re planning to work on the go.
Cloud Gaming and Social Media
Experts say that the way remote servers run cloud gaming is the future of games. Thanks to the adaptability afforded by apps, this is now possible on nearly any type of laptop. IT consultant Boris Mann details how the Parsec app can be used to stream cloud games using even some of the most dated machines. This means that you won’t need anything beyond a low to mid-range Chromebook, or even a secondhand Mac or Windows laptop. What you will need is a consistent and fast Internet connection, and ideally, something that’s compatible with the latest apps. The same considerations are true if you need a laptop primarily for social media. See our guide on how to use Tik Tok on PC where we detail what you need to do to start broadcasting straight from any Windows laptop.
Coding and Programming
If you work in coding and programming, you will need a laptop that will allow you to easily switch from solitary tasks to collaborative group work. In terms of parts, the most crucial thing to look at is the CPU. In HP’s guide to the best laptops for computer science, they note how processing power is what’s most important for running programming sequences. Compiling and testing code relies heavily on the CPU’s processing power. So coughing up the dough for a laptop with an Intel Core i7 processor will serve you better in the long-term than saving up and settling for an i5.
Gaming, Video Editing, 3D Rendering
If you’re serious about any of these three tasks, you’re going to have to look in the $800 to $2,000 range. The main thing to look for here is graphics processing power. The National Interest points out how the 3D graphics card (GPU) is the primary defining trait of a gaming laptop. While the CPU definitely factors in as well, the GPU provides the main horsepower for tasks related to rendering high-end game graphics, high resolution post-production video work, or rendering 3D models. Look for a laptop with middle to advanced GPUs. Anything within the range of the GTX 1650 to the GTX 2080 will do nicely. Ideally, you’ll also need a large disk drive and 16GB of RAM.
How to pick the right laptop