Well, be it watching movies, surfing on internet or chatting on Facebook, a smartphone can help you with virtually everything these days. But when it comes to drafting a 20-page business proposal or preparing a presentation, we still need our good old friend, laptop. In short, however 'smart' your handsets are going to be, they won't be able to replace laptops. Here, we discuss a few things you need to consider before buying a laptop.
Purpose is the King!
Before buying a laptop, you should fix your purpose. If your purpose is just academic and entertainment, all you need is a laptop with normal specifications. This will be more budget-friendly as well. You will have to look for one with a slightly better specifications to handle official matters. However, if your work is related to graphic, you might need a more powerful one with better graphics card. If we keep the 'purpose' factor aside, you will have to consider a few things that affect the performance of every laptop.
Processor
Be it a smartphone, laptop or any sort of computer, processor is the key. The rule is that you cannot expect a decent performance if your device's processor is weak. Even if you don't go for the fifth generation processor, you shall not compromise for anything below the third or fourth generation processors. Core i3, i5, i7 processors are the most rated processors used in laptops. An i3 processor is sufficient enough for normal use. i5 and i7 processors are more powerful, but are costlier. Dual core, quad core and octa core processors are used in smartphones. The power of these processors are rated in gigahertz. The power of processor is measured in Thermal Design Power (TDP) and Feature Fabrication Size, (fab size).
Graphics Card
Graphics Card is another important part. Intel iris graphics or HD series graphics not only reduce the power consumption but also prevent laptops from overheating. High quality Nvidia Geforce GT graphics cards have own processors and ram and are best for performing 3D graphics works. They consume a lot of energy and this is a major demerit of this type of graphics card, yet they are worth owning due to their efficient performance.
It is wrong to think that one needs to buy laptops with high quality graphic cards. One needs to depend on graphic cards if they are buying laptops for such kind of programmes.
RAM
You cannot expect a laptop with a better processor to perform well unless it has got sufficient Random Access Memory (RAM). In laptops, RAM normally starts with 2 GB and goes upto 8 GB or more. A minimum 4 GB of ram is highly advisable. Those having laptops with low RAM, can boost their ram at a cost of around Rs.2000.
Display
It is not the size of the display that matters, but performance. Laptops with HD, Full HD or QHD quality screens are available in the market. These will offer your eyes a better experience. You may check out the screen resolution and quality by zooming in some photos in the device. Also, before buying the laptop, make sure that you watch a video on it and see how good your display is.
Screen Size
You need to buy a laptop with sufficiently large screen. It does not mean that you need to buy anything over 16 or 17 inches. 13", 14" screens are also sufficiently large. These sizes remain the best if you will be carrying around your laptop frequently, as weight increases in proportion to the size.
Speaker & Music System
You may be buying the laptop for education purpose. It does not mean that you will never play music or videos on your device. So make sure that your device delivers good quality sound and video. So check out the speakers and music system before buying your laptop.
CD/DVD Drive, USB Slots
CDs and DVDs might be getting outdated, but still you cannot ignore the presence of CD or DVD drives on your laptop. You should have this as an additional option on your laptops. So check out these drives to see if they are working properly. Buy only those laptops with a minimum of three USB slots.
Storage
Various external storage devices are available in the market now. You can store up to one TB or more data on these devices. That's good but this shall not tempt you to buy a laptop with low storage capacity. A minimum storage of 500 GB is preferred for laptops. From the available SSD and HDD storage options, go for former. You will have to pay high for SSD storage, but it will be worth your money!
Operating System
Operating System (OS) also has to be chosen according to the purpose. For those using Linux, it is better to choose Linux-related OS. For those doing a lot of video editing, gaming, designing and other similar stuffs, Windows OS remains a better option. Despite the high costly nature, iOS still remains a great option. Now most of the apps are available for iOS. This makes it even more desirable.
Keypad
Choose laptops with keypads that perfectly fit your hands. Before buying, see how smooth your hands get on keypad. Remember most of your works on laptop are dependent on the keypad. So, pay attention to the keypad's quality!