Buying a new laptop can be intimidating, especially if you’re not tech-savvy. It can be difficult to see past the marketing bit, as each company highlights all the bells and whistles that are meant to make them better than the competition.
While having a basic understanding of computer components is beneficial when buying a new laptop, the decision is mostly intuitive. Here are the top five tricks to help you decide which laptop is the best for you.
1 Identify Your Basic Needs
Before you start looking for a laptop, identify your basic needs: what will you be using it for? Your usage needs will ultimately indicate how much memory you require, the functionality of the device, and even the ergonomic requirements.
If your laptop is for business purposes only, you’ll want something with cloud access, easy portability, that can do the tasks you need, like sending efax documentation, and logging onto video calls.
Those in creative professions might gravitate toward laptops with larger screens, better visuals, and integrations with design programs.
Finally, sourcing a laptop for family use might lead the user to a 2-in-1 tablet device such as a Chromebook. Determining what you need from your laptop is the first step in choosing.
2 Ask for Peer Recommendations
Next, ask friends and coworkers with similar needs what they use and recommend. Keep in mind that everyone will have different preferences that influence their recommendation. However, getting this user feedback can help you create a shortlist of what to look for, rather than starting your search from scratch.
3 Choose Your Preferred Operating System
Different computers and brands come with different operating systems. Windows and Mac are the two overarching choices for consumer laptops, with most people having a preference for one over the other. In recent years, Chromebooks with a Google interface have become top contenders as well.
If you have a preference for which OS you prefer to use, or integrates best with your needs, start there.
4 Consider the Size
When it comes to the size of your laptop, there are two main considerations: screen size and memory. Screen size is ultimately a personal preference. If you want something small that you can use anywhere, a smaller screen size ranging from 11-14 inches is helpful. If you need a larger screen to work comfortably and enjoy movies or games, opting for something 15 inches or larger is ideal.
Again, memory needs tie into how you’ll be using this device. If you’ll primarily be operating in the cloud with G Suite, you can get away with something that only has 32GB of RAM. However, if you’re gaming and storing things on your computer, you’ll need a lot more processing power.
5 Set Your Budget
Finally, determine your budget for buying a new laptop. This number may necessitate some adjustments to your expectations, as more memory, bigger sizes, and certain brands often come with a bigger price tag.
These are the top five considerations for the basic consumer purchasing a laptop. You could drill down further into the number of ports, graphic cards, etc., but this is a solid starting point.
Take some time to research the best options based on the framework created with these five tricks, and you’ll find the best laptop for you.
Author: Wendy Dessler is a super-connector who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing and focuses her efforts on developing customized blogger outreach plans depending on the industry and competition.
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