How To Choose a Good Laptop | Top things to consider before buying a laptop

How to choose a good laptop is big question for all users. Also some of our friends may seek our help to suggest a good laptop. In such case we can suggest them good laptop by considering some of factors. Here we are going to analyse things and factors that must be considered while buying a laptop. Depending on user computing needs, there are several factors to consider before deciding which laptop is best suited for  a user.

Performance

Performance should be one of your key criterion when looking for a laptop. The key is to match your computing needs with the kind of the power you’re looking for. Performance depends on following factors.

1. Processor
2. RAM
3. Storage Type
4. GRAPHICS

lets analyse each this factors :

Processor

A processor (CPU) is the logic circuitry that responds to and processes the basic instructions that drive a computer. The CPU is seen as the main and most crucial integrated circuitry (IC) chip in a computer, as it is responsible for interpreting most of computers commands

 

The low end processors (intel: atom, celron, pendium )offer basic level performance such as web browsing, video viewing, emailing and basics apps

Generations of Processors 

The generation of the processor is the first number after i9, i7, i5, or i3. Here are some examples: Intel® Core™ Processor i7-10710U Processor is 10th generation because the number 10 is listed after i7. Intel® Core™ Processor i9-9900 Processor is 9th generation because the number 9 is listed after i9.

The Latest generation always offer  better performance while consuming less power for battery life. So look latest generation for better perfomance 

RAM

The amount of RAM decides on how smooth and lag-free an experience you get on your laptop. The higher the amount of RAM the better it is. However, here’s an indication of what you can expect from laptops with varied RAM configurations

These days, you’ll probably want to think about 8GB as a minimum. If you’re a power-user, 16GB is the way to go. Meanwhile, gamers should look at dialing things upwards all the way to 32GB if they want the best experience.

More RAM allows for more applications to be run at the same time, and for more data to be quickly accessible by the system at any one time, which comes in handy for tasks such as editing photos or video content.

GRAPHICS

Graphics card of computer is generally two types such as integrated and dedicated. Integrated card is called the built-in card. This card is suitable for everyday use. With this graphics card, you can browse the internet, watch YouTube, etc. easily. But complex works are slow in this card.

The dedicated graphics card has advanced technology. You can do hard tasks such as video and photo editing without any trouble on a laptop with a dedicated type graphics card. So, for better performance, you should choose the computer with dedicated graphics.

Choosing ideal Graphics Card

Usage	Required Graphics
Everyday use: browsing the web and multimedia	Integrated graphics
Gaming and image editing	Dedicated 1 GB
Advanced gaming experience or video editing	Dedicated 2 GB
Professional gaming, animation, 3D rendering	Dedicated 2GB and above

Choosing ideal Graphics Card

Gaming Laptop Type	Graphics Processor	Performance
High end gaming laptops	Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, 1070, 1080	Smooth 60FPS gaming at high and ultra settings on latest games
Premium gaming laptops	Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050, 1050 TI	Fluid 30FPS gaming at high settings on latest games
Entry level gaming laptop	Nvidia GeForce MX150, 940M & AMD Radeon R7 M44 GeForce 960M 950M	30 FPS gaming at medium and ow settings

Storage

Hard drives used to be all the rage, but these days they’ve mostly out of favour, especially for thin and light laptops. This is because they can be slow, somewhat bulky, and produce noticeable heat and noise.

A solid state drive (SSD), on the other hand, offers a lot more speed than a hard drive, runs silently, and can be installed in a form factor that doesn’t add too much to the weight and bulk of a laptop. As a result of these clear benefits, most OEMs have embraced SSD storage as the standard for laptops.

Storage types

1. HDD-Hard Disc Drive
2. SSD-Solid State Drive

HDD VS SSD

HDD	SSD
Stores data on magnetic discsStores data on memory chips	Stores data on memory chips
Available in higher capacityComparatively available in lower capacitiesModerate in data transferFaster in terms of data tranfer	Comparatively available in lower capacitiesModerate in data transferFaster in terms of data tranfer
Moderate in data transferFaster in terms of data tranfer	Faster in terms of data tranfer
More power consumption	Less power consumptionCheaper when it comes to per GB costExpensive on per GB cost.
Cheaper when it comes to per GB costExpensive on per GB cost.	Expensive on per GB cost.

Display

When it comes to laptop displays, the display size and resolution are the key factors that one needs to consider.

Resolution

Higher resolution will make text and images more sharper and plesent to the eye.

HD	Full HD	4K
Offers 1280 x 720 pixels	Offers 1920 x 1080 pixels	Offers 3840 x 2160 pixels
Found in entry-level laptops	Found in premium and gaming laptops	Found in high-end laptops
Good for basic tasks	Good for entertainment and productivity apps	Consider it if you watch a lot of 4K content

Display

13.3 INC	14 INC	15.6 INC
If you plan to travel frequently	Perfect balance between screen size and portability	Entertainment-oriented Laptop
When looking for a lightweight laptop	Mixed usage of office applications as well as entertainment	Portability is not too important for you
Primarily use the laptop for office applications	Optimal performance and storage space	More USB ports and an optical drive

Operating System

An operating system manages the hardware and software resources of a computer, while also providing common services that are essential to all software on the system.
 

Mac OS

• Great user interface
• Applications run without lag
• UNIX-based code makes the OS more secure
• Apps are malware and virus-free as they are curated by Apple; limited choice of apps

Windows OS

• Most popular
• Compatible with most hardware and software
• Supports third-party programs
• User interface can be customized
• Easy to multitask using multiple windows
• Try apps and software before buying them
• Share data across all synced, compatible device
• Enhance, edit and organise photos
• Access systems using virtual desktop
• Features Cortana, the personal assistant with voice recognition

UBUNTU & DOS

Laptops that ship with Linux-based, open-source, operating systems or DOS operating systems are suitable for programmers and coders. Ubuntu is the most popular Linux-based operating system that has an appealing graphical user interface. Laptops that come with Ubuntu can be used for basic applications like web browsing and media consumption.

Chrome OS

• Available only on Chromebooks
• Apps can be added through the Chrome Store
• Web-based
• Mostly free applications
• Google has announced Google Play Store will be added to all Chromebooks by 2016
• Features Google’s built-in malware and virus protection

Other Features

Keyboard quality

For long typing sessions, you’ll need to get a laptop that has a comfortable keyboard. You want a keyboard that has a comfortable layout with full-sized keys and some space around the arrow keys. Make sure the keyboard is also backlit, so that you can type with an easier view on the keys in dimly lit environments.

Touch screen

Touchscreens make computer interfaces simpler. Just as you would on a smartphone, you can tap to select, hold and drag to move items, swipe to scroll and pinch to zoom.

Battery life

Manufacturer-quoted battery life is almost never indicative of what the real-world experience of using a laptop is like. There are simply too many variables that affect battery life. The operating system a laptop runs on can also play a major role in determining battery life. It’s for this reason that ultrabooks and convertibles running on Chrome OS tend to offer superior battery life than those running on Windows 10. A good practice here is to look at the rating of the battery in Watt-hours or milliamp-hours . The larger these figures are, the longer the battery can last.

Fast charging

Useful feature when you need to charge your laptop in the least amount of time.

Black-light keyboard

Makes typing easy when using the laptop in low-light environments.

Ultra slim bezel display

Provides a larger screen in a smaller form factor. It looks good as well.

USB 3.0

These days, if a laptop has less than one USB 3.0 port on it, you probably ought to look at buying another laptop. Ideally, you should look for a laptop that has at least a couple of these USB 3.0 ports. If possible, you should try and take things a step further and go for a laptop with USB 3.1 ports.

USB type-c ports

Latest connectivity makes for fast data transfers with external storage devices.

Fingerprint reader

Fingerprint-based login is useful when laptop access and security is a concern.

Infrared Camera

Windows 10 laptop users can open the computer by looking closely at the screen. You can use this feature if your laptop has an infrared camera or a RealSense 3D camera.

2 in 1 PCs

You can enjoy laptop browsing on your bed or at the table with this type of laptop. You will find detachable screen laptop or a rotate screen laptop common and available in the market.