Top Factors to Consider When Purchasing A New Laptop

factors-to-consider-when-purchasing-a-laptop

Buying a brand-new laptop is meant to be a fun experience. But with such a wide assortment of models to select from, that too quickly becomes a stressful prospect. There’s no single best model available just because there isn’t any single type of user either. A little information gained about the different types of laptop models, their specs and what they’re used for will help to decide easier and quicker.

In this blog we’ll go through the top factors to you will need to consider when purchasing a new laptop

Memory

All modern-day laptops come standard with a minimum of 4GB of RAM and a larger screen. In theory, you’d want more RAM, but many users don’t need that much extra and don’t need a very large screen. Note that some manufacturers may set a higher maximum RAM requirement on certain models which can make a difference to your total RAM requirements.

Some people will purchase an extra RAM stick, so they can use open more programs and files if needed and will extend their laptop’s service life. Most people will not need the additional RAM so it may be pointless to purchase this extra RAM stick unless you need it. If you do purchase extra RAM for this purpose, then it is wise to purchase from a reputable retailer as there are many sellers on the internet who may sell invalid or damaged RAM.

Processor speed

If your laptop is going to be used heavily and if you’re going to play video and audio files, you’ll need a fast processor. The speed of the processor affects the overall speed of your laptop, which may impact the overall performance.

Some people will have better battery life with slower processors but for daily browsing and emailing you will do fine with a mid-range processor.

Also Read: Brand new laptop very slow? Try this!

cpu-processor

Graphics card

Most laptops come standard with a graphics card, and this is used purely for gaming and multimedia. Most newer generation laptops come with Intel’s best Xe graphics card which should suffice for most games like Minecraft etc. If you are a serious gamer, you will need to purchase a gaming laptop like those from Alienware or ASUS.

Operating System

As a laptop buyer, you have two main operating systems to choose from, Windows and macOS. Both these operating systems have many advantages and disadvantages. Although Windows does have some built in security, the disadvantage is that it has been known to slow down some laptops if you install a 3rd party antivirus. On the plus side, Windows 11 is due to be released in October and has shown to increase the performance of your laptop.

Battery life

Most people do not realize how important the battery is to the proper operation of a laptop. A good battery will give you several hours of use out of a charge. The laptop battery is designed to not only hold charge but also to keep your operating systems running smoothly. In fact, most laptop manufacturers advise that you let your battery drain out completely before recharging them. This is a very important feature to consider especially if you are going to be using the laptop for heavy use across long periods during the day.

Also read: 10 things to do after purchasing a new laptop

Service life

As with most laptops, a generic brand name is just not as durable as a leading manufacturer’s product. Generic brands typically last anywhere from one to three years before they begin to stop functioning. In contrast, a leading manufacturer’s product is designed to last anywhere from four to eight years. Before purchasing a laptop, it is important to check around to see which brands have the longest service life and which ones you can trust for long term usage. You may also check online to see what other laptop owners have to say about their laptops.

Storage

Storage forms a key part of any laptop. The more free space you have, the better your laptop will respond. For Windows 10, we would recommend atleast 256GB of SSD storage. Please note that hard-drives maybe too slow for Windows 10. 

Our take on the best laptop brands from our experience:

Author:
I am a computer engineer holding a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, complemented by a Master's in Business Administration from University of Strathclyde, Scotland. I currently work as a Senior IT Consultant in Melbourne, Australia. With over 15 years of...