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What to look for in a LAPTOP?
1. Performance
2. Operating System
3. Design
"Choosing the right one begins with considering the below 3 factors"
PERFORMANCE
Performance depends on 3 factors
1. Processor
- This is the Brain of the computer and it influences the speed of completing tasks. With the exception of Apple that has its own M1 processor, laptop processors are made mainly by 2 companies - Intel & AMD.
2. RAM
- This decides the short team memory of the computer and influences its multitasking ability.
3. Storage
- This is the computer's long term memory. HHD (Hard Disk Drive) gives more capacity on a budget. SSD (Solid State Drive) is faster. SSHD (Solid State Hybrid Drive) combines HDD & SSD and offers a large storage space with speed.
What kind of USER are you?
Depending on your purpose, it's easy to choose the specifications (Light use / Medium use / Heavy Use)
Light Use
For simple activities like surfing the web, watching movies, etc. Recommended for homes and young students.
PROCESSOR
Intel Celeron, Pentium or i3, AMD A Series
RAM
4 GB
STORAGE
HDD
Medium Use
For multitasking, editing documents, photos & basic gaming. Recommended for office work & students.
PROCESSOR
Intel i5 or i7, AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7, Apple M1 or M2
RAM
8 GB
STORAGE
HDD or SSD
Heavy Use
For heavy multitasking, content creation & programming. Recommended for professionals, designers & GAMERS.
PROCESSOR
Intel i7 or i9, Xeon AMD Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9, Apple M1 Pro, M1 Max or M1 Ultra
RAM
16 GB
STORAGE
SSD or SSHD
Operating System
Operating systems act as an interface between you and your laptop programs. There are 3 major choices:
1. Windows
Characteristics
- Most common OS. It comes pre-installed on many laptops. Recommended for students, researchers, business users & gamers.
Compatibility
- Most common software are Windows compatible. It's the only OS that supports all games.
2. macOS
Characteristics
- Proprietary of Apple. It is pre-installed on their devices. Recommended for programmers & other Apple product users (iPad, iPhone, and other apple products)
Compatibility
- Compatible with most software. However, no touchscreen model is compatible with macOS.
3. ChromeOS
Characteristics
- Found on Chromebooks. Internet is required for its efficient use. Recommended for school students.
Compatibility
- Limited software but supports apps from Play Store. The OS most-suited for 2-in-1 models or tablets.
Take note:
Some laptops come with Linux/DOS but these don't support many software. You may need to buy & install Windows.
DESIGN
Design influences portability & can be categorized into 4
2-in-1s
- These are versatile devices that can function as both, a laptop & as a tablet. They can be of 2 types bend-backs or detachable. Bend-back are better laptops than tablets while detachable offer a superior tablet experience.
Thin & Lightweight
- These are laptops that usually weigh under 1.5 kgs & have a display size of 13" or lower. They are slim & easy to carry around. Most laptops in this category focus on longer battery life.
Regular Clamshell
- These have a traditional design with a screen that folds down to the keyboard & mousepad. They are affordable and usually deliver more performance for your money than other portable laptops.
Gaming Laptops
- These are generally heavier as they are equipped with powerful hardware & dedicated graphics card. They compromise on portability for superior performance and are ideal for usage in one place.
1. Performance
2. Operating System
3. Design
"Choosing the right one begins with considering the below 3 factors"
PERFORMANCE
Performance depends on 3 factors
1. Processor
- This is the Brain of the computer and it influences the speed of completing tasks. With the exception of Apple that has its own M1 processor, laptop processors are made mainly by 2 companies - Intel & AMD.
2. RAM
- This decides the short team memory of the computer and influences its multitasking ability.
3. Storage
- This is the computer's long term memory. HHD (Hard Disk Drive) gives more capacity on a budget. SSD (Solid State Drive) is faster. SSHD (Solid State Hybrid Drive) combines HDD & SSD and offers a large storage space with speed.
What kind of USER are you?
Depending on your purpose, it's easy to choose the specifications (Light use / Medium use / Heavy Use)
Light Use
For simple activities like surfing the web, watching movies, etc. Recommended for homes and young students.
PROCESSOR
Intel Celeron, Pentium or i3, AMD A Series
RAM
4 GB
STORAGE
HDD
Medium Use
For multitasking, editing documents, photos & basic gaming. Recommended for office work & students.
PROCESSOR
Intel i5 or i7, AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7, Apple M1 or M2
RAM
8 GB
STORAGE
HDD or SSD
Heavy Use
For heavy multitasking, content creation & programming. Recommended for professionals, designers & GAMERS.
PROCESSOR
Intel i7 or i9, Xeon AMD Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9, Apple M1 Pro, M1 Max or M1 Ultra
RAM
16 GB
STORAGE
SSD or SSHD
Operating System
Operating systems act as an interface between you and your laptop programs. There are 3 major choices:
1. Windows
Characteristics
- Most common OS. It comes pre-installed on many laptops. Recommended for students, researchers, business users & gamers.
Compatibility
- Most common software are Windows compatible. It's the only OS that supports all games.
2. macOS
Characteristics
- Proprietary of Apple. It is pre-installed on their devices. Recommended for programmers & other Apple product users (iPad, iPhone, and other apple products)
Compatibility
- Compatible with most software. However, no touchscreen model is compatible with macOS.
3. ChromeOS
Characteristics
- Found on Chromebooks. Internet is required for its efficient use. Recommended for school students.
Compatibility
- Limited software but supports apps from Play Store. The OS most-suited for 2-in-1 models or tablets.
Take note:
Some laptops come with Linux/DOS but these don't support many software. You may need to buy & install Windows.
DESIGN
Design influences portability & can be categorized into 4
2-in-1s
- These are versatile devices that can function as both, a laptop & as a tablet. They can be of 2 types bend-backs or detachable. Bend-back are better laptops than tablets while detachable offer a superior tablet experience.
Thin & Lightweight
- These are laptops that usually weigh under 1.5 kgs & have a display size of 13" or lower. They are slim & easy to carry around. Most laptops in this category focus on longer battery life.
Regular Clamshell
- These have a traditional design with a screen that folds down to the keyboard & mousepad. They are affordable and usually deliver more performance for your money than other portable laptops.
Gaming Laptops
- These are generally heavier as they are equipped with powerful hardware & dedicated graphics card. They compromise on portability for superior performance and are ideal for usage in one place.
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