Choose the Right Laptop That Fits Your Needs

5 Parts:

Steps

Ideal Laptop Specifications for an Office User

Ideal Laptop Specifications for a Multitasking User

Questions and Answers

Comments

For a Laptop seeker, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the enormous amount of Laptop models and brands in the market today. It doesn't help that laptops do not offer as much room for upgrade as desktop computers do. As a result, you may end up sailing into an ocean to look for that perfect pearl that is able to keep its nacreous glitter throughout the test of time. In other words, the task is far from easy, especially if you don't know where and how to find what you're looking for.

However, taking the easy route is one thing you should avoid when trying to choose the right Laptop. While this endeavor doesn't require you to exert a herculean effort, it doesn't mean you should slack off either. You can either exert enough effort now or spend a lot of energy regretting and perhaps repairing in the future.

This article will not necessarily help you find the best Laptop out there. However, it may help guide you in choosing the best Laptop to fit your needs. In the end, that's all that matters.

1. 1
   Identify in which category of Laptop users you belong

   .

   Naturally, the first step to finding the right Laptop that fits your needs is decisively identifying what your computing needs are. A Laptop user can generally be categorized based on these needs. Computers are built to be capable of performing a plethora of functions. It is essential that you single out the functions that you are going to use on a consistent basis, and focus on finding the Laptop that provides them at the best value. By doing this, you will be able to narrow your choices and steer clear of spending extra money on features that have minimal impact on your regular Laptop use.
   
   Listed below are three general categories of Laptop users:

    

   1. Office User. If you use a Laptop mostly to perform office-related functions such as typing documents, creating spreadsheets and handling e-mails, then you can be categorized as an office user. An office user also does average web browsing, usually for checking social media accounts and researching. An office user is not into computer games, or can just be contented with infrequently playing Facebook games or any browser-based games. Because an office user only has basic computing needs, he or she rarely runs more than two different applications at the same time.
   2. Multitasking User. As the title implies, the multitasking user loves to perform different computing functions concurrently. If you are someone who likes to open many tabs in a web browser on top of a Microsoft Word document you are creating, and a minimized window of the NBA 2k14 video game, then you fit the mold of a multitasking user. A multitasking user can perform every function an office user can, but normally runs a wider range of applications. Depending on the situation and on his or her mood, a multitasking user could perform functions such as casual image editing, playing mid-level computer games, and watching movies, among others.
   3. Multimedia User. When a multitasking user has above average inclination towards editing videos, creating 3D animations and playing high-end games, he or she can be categorized as a multimedia user. This type of user usually interacts with graphic-intensive tasks, so he or she is particularly meticulous with both aesthetics and performance. If you are someone who loves to work with applications like Adobe Premiere Pro and 3DS Max, or play games such as Crysis 3 on ultra-high video settings, then you definitely belong to this class of users.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
2. 2
   Identify the ideal Laptop tech specifications for the Laptop user category where you belong

   .

   Refer to the succeeding subsections to accomplish this step.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
3. 3
   Shop for prospective laptops

   .

   With the ideal Laptop specifications in mind, go to a reputable computer store, either physically or through the Web, and find laptops that fit the specifications you have in hand. Try to pick at least five Laptop models that satisfy your specifications criteria and list their brands and model names before proceeding to the next step.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
4. 4
   Read user reviews about your prospects

   .

   A Laptop is quite an investment, so the last thing you would want to do is to let impulse dictate your buying decision. You have to diligently do your homework and research on each of your prospective laptops in order to acquire essential information that does not usually reflect on the tech specifications label. Go to tech reviews websites and forums, and gather as much information as you can from users who have had first-hand experience on using the Laptop in question. No Laptop specs label will include information on how a Laptop overheats and shuts down upon prolonged use. This is the kind of information that you can only get from legitimate user accounts. Here are some reputable websites for Laptop reviews: CNET, Tomshardware, PC Advisor, and PC World.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
5. 5
   Try the Laptop out

   .

   You can only determine if the keyboard feels good or if the display is as crisp as advertised by actually trying out the Laptop. While this may not be possible in all instances, especially if you intend to buy a Laptop online, it is essential to know that whenever possible, you should not neglect this step.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

1. 1
   Processor

   :

   Intel i3 or AMD Phenom II X2. These processor types provide dual-core processing that is more than enough for non CPU-intensive work like creating office documents and web surfing. New generation models of these processor types could even provide enough power to handle average CPU-intensive tasks like converting videos and playing mainstream video games at low or medium video settings. Therefore, these CPUs allow an office user to perform his or her expected day-to-day functions and run his or her regular applications, but also provide room for the office user to test the waters of a multitasking user without getting drowned.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
2. 2
   RAM

   :

   4 Gigabytes DDR3. While 2 GB of system memory could suffice, a 4 GB one provides ample space for good measure.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
3. 3
   Hard Disk Storage

   :

   500 Gigabytes. It pays to have a good amount of storage space for archiving documents, spreadsheets and other files as they pile up over time. Regular hard disks usually come in two speed options: 7200 rpm and 5400 rpm. RPM stands for rotation per minute which is basically a measure of the spin speed of the mechanical platters inside the hard disk drive. While the 7200 rpm is of course theoretically faster, an office user wouldn't probably notice the difference between it and the 5400 rpm. So, if given the option, an office user should choose the 5400 rpm, as it is the more economical choice.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
4. 4
   Screen

   :

   13-inch or 15-inch LED. Choosing a Laptop screen size depends on how many inches of display the user is willing to sacrifice for portability. With modern laptops, smaller screen size usually means lesser weight and larger screen size means more weight. However, there are always exceptions, especially with the emergence of "ultrabooks" - a type of Laptop that comes in 13-inch or 14-inch dimensions, but is relatively slimmer and lighter than the regular laptops with the same screen sizes. Convention has it that office users usually choose a size between 13 and 15 inches, as these provide better viewing convenience and wider keyboard area.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

1. 1
   Processor

   :

   New Generation Intel i5 or AMD's Phenom II X6 and A10 APU. Any of Intel's Sandy or Ivy Bridge i5 processors that have a clock rate of at least 2 Ghz will qualify as a good CPU for a multitasking user. An i5 processor has four cores thus, could provide twice the computing power of an i3 processor. Aside from speed, the new generation i5 processors also have improved integrated graphics. This means that a multitasking user can concurrently run his or her extensive array of applications and can also play some mainstream video games at low to medium settings without needing a dedicated graphics card. If the user is willing to sacrifice a little bit of performance and efficiency for budget, AMD's A10 processor provides a sound and affordable alternative for Intel's i5.
   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help