It can be overwhelming to choose a laptop. There is so much technical information, and it is hard to decipher what you really need. However, if you break it down, it can be much easier. Take a look at what to consider when you are choosing a laptop.
Operating System
If you know what operating system you need, you can narrow down your choices. Windows works well if you want to use Microsoft products such as Office, Outlook, or Access. There are quite a few Windows computers available.
macOS is the Apple operating system, and it is easy for beginners to use. You will be limited to Apple computers with this software.
Chrome OS is another type, and it works for people who do a lot of work in web browsers. Chrome laptops are normally the least expensive out there.
Linux is another OS, and it runs a lot of open-source software. You won’t be able to run Microsoft software or Adobe, but it works well for people who use open-source alternatives.
CPU
The next thing to understand is the CPU. This is the processor that runs your computer. There are two types: Intel processors and AMD processors. Intel has different chips, including the Core i3, i5, i7, and i9, The Core i9 is the most powerful. AMD processors also have numbers, and the larger number is more powerful. The main difference is in terms of graphics, which makes AMD better for gaming and video editing.
Processing Power
How much processing power you need depends on what you do with the laptop. For the average user, an Intel Core i5 is a nice processor, and the Core i7 is a nice upgrade. However, if you edit videos or work with large databases, you might want more processing power. The Core i7 or the AMD Ryzen 7 are great options.
Graphics Card
Your laptop will have a graphics card, but most are integrated into the motherboard. You only need to look for an upgrade if you do serious video editing or gaming. Intel laptops usually have Nvidia graphics cards, while AMD processors use Radeon.
RAM
RAM, or Random Access Memory, is how much data your computer can hold while the processor works with it. If you don’t have enough RAM, your computer will freeze. 8GB of RAM is enough for most users, but for gaming, you might want 16GB.
Storage
Your data is stored on the hard drive. SSD stands for solid-state drive, which is the most common choice. You should have at least 256 GB of storage.
Ports
The ports allow you to plug things into your laptop. You should have 1 USB-C, 1 USB-A, and a headset jack.