3 Things You Need to Know to Buy the Right Laptop for You
Laptops allow us to work and play anywhere you want to, whether you’re at home, on a business trip, or in a classroom. They’re light enough that you can bring one anywhere and are usually packed with enough processing power to perform all but the most demanding tasks. Whether you’re a student, a stay-at-home freelancer, or a professional who travels often, a laptop has become an essential device.
But choosing the right laptop for your needs can be tricky, especially if you’re not well-versed in tech jargon. People often want a model based on their budget, which is perfectly reasonable. But this also leads to questions like “How much is a gaming PC,” which has many possible answers.
There’s no such thing as the best laptop for everyone, but there is the right laptop for you. Here are a few things you should bear in mind when shopping for a new laptop:
- Operating system
The laptop market is dominated by two major operating systems: Mac and Windows. While there are other operating systems out there, most of them are limited to niche audiences. When choosing a platform for your laptop, your best bet is the one you’re most comfortable with. If you’re not sure what to choose, here’s a quick rundown.
If you want a wide diversity of choices, Windows is for you. Microsoft Windows runs on a wide array of devices, from cheap netbooks to gaming and video editing laptops that can cost over a thousand dollars. There’s a good Windows laptop at every price point, and serious gamers only use Windows. On the other hand, if you want a Mac, then you can only choose from Apple’s line of MacBooks.
- Size
Unlike other factors like RAM and storage, you can’t change the laptop’s size once you’ve bought it, so you have to choose carefully. Most laptops in the market fall within the 13-inch to 15-inch range, but some makers offer 12-inch and 17-inch models as well.
If you want something portable, choose a laptop with a 12-inch or 13-inch screen. They tend to be light and more portable. Keep in mind, though, that a 13-inch laptop won’t pack the same processing power as their bigger counterparts.
- RAM
If you need a laptop for documents, web browsing, and the occasional light gaming, then look for a laptop that has at least 8GB of RAM. That’s the bare minimum for most models today. Some models only offer 4GB of RAM, but if the processor is good and it’s on sale, get that model and spend a little bit more on a RAM upgrade.
For video editing and heavy gaming, consider getting a laptop with 16GB to 32GB of RAM. The more RAM your system has, the more applications you can run at the same time. You’ll also be able to perform more memory-intensive tasks like video encoding.
When choosing a laptop, you have to balance your needs with your budget. You might not get everything you want, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a cheap, good laptop. Today, we’re seeing more and more models with a powerful CPU and GPU that many students can afford. You just need to do a bit of research.
