How to Choose a Laptop: 6 Steps (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Are you about to buy a new laptop, but don't know which one to buy? Choosing a laptop can be a frustrating experience. This article will also inform you about some technical terms, in order to better understand the information on the labels of the products you will have to choose from.

Steps

Step 1. Get a magazine or list of laptops

Step 2. Decide how much you are willing to spend on your laptop, what type of hardware you are interested in, and so on

Step 3. Write down your preferences for your laptop, including things you want to find and things to avoid

If you love video games, you should probably make sure your RAM is at least 3-4GB. If you will be downloading a lot of things, make sure you have a hard drive that suits your needs.

Step 4. Grab your magazine (or other laptop information source) and find out which laptops seem more appealing and which aren't

Write down the ones you won't buy at all, and the ones that might be right for you.

Step 5. Narrow the circle constantly, scoring pros and cons

Eventually, you will come to a choice between a couple of laptops. Evaluate the characteristics of both. Check the operating system (if you need Windows Media Player, Windows Movie maker and other Microsoft products, buy a Windows PC). Evaluate the costs. If they look practically identical, go for the cheapest one! If you don't really need something, don't spend an extra € 30 on it.

Step 6. Use the list below in case of further doubts; the list indicates the functions of each component, and what you need in terms of specifications

• Processor. The processor is the mind of the computer. It is measured in gigahertz. If you will use the laptop a lot to edit photos and videos or other heavy work, look for a high number of GHz, while if you will use the computer for home errands not too demanding you can save and choose a processor with less GHz. Many processors today are "core" multiple". It means they can handle multiple processes at the same time.

  

• RAM. RAM is virtual memory. It is measured in gigabytes. Allows you to run programs at high speeds. The larger the RAM, the faster the computer. If you plan to use the laptop a lot for editing photos and videos or playing games, aim high, around 6-8GB. If you intend to use the computer for simple housework, such as writing or watching DVDs, choose the standard figure, around 2-4GB.

  

• Hard Disk (HDD). The hard disk, or HDD, is your computer's storage, where everything you create or do when you save is saved. Storage space is also measured in GB. For normal jobs, such as writing, a 200-260GB HDD should suffice, but for playing games and editing a lot of videos, you should probably opt for a 500GB minimum HDD.

  

Advice

• The abbreviations are:

  • Gigahertz: GHz
  • Gigabytes: GB
• If you use the internet, copy the information you find on the laptops and put it all in one document.
• If you can't find a laptop with the desired operating system, you can buy it later, but usually for a higher price.