What to consider before buying a laptop
Buying a laptop is a significant investment and choosing the right one for you and your needs can be quite a daunting task, with hundreds of different models and features.
To make your life easier and help you with your purchase, I have gathered some things you should know!
Budget and Usage: First, you should set the amount you want to spend on buying a laptop and the usage it is intended for. Both current and future use, as needs may change in the near future. Gaming, office work, education, multimedia station for movies and music, or for browsing obviously have their own categories and price ranges.
Processor (CPU): The CPU or processor is the heart of the laptop and responsible for most functions of the laptop. The top manufacturers at the moment are Intel and AMD. Intel CPUs are based on Core technology (i3, i5, i7, i9) and AMD on AMD's Ryzen, each with its own capabilities and weaknesses. For most users, an i5 or Ryzen 5 processor is a good balance between performance and cost.
RAM Memory: RAM memory is crucial for multitasking and the more, the better. Not for everyone, though. Nowadays, 8GB is sufficient for most basic tasks, while 16GB is gradually becoming the norm, especially for more intensive applications and games. It would be good, if there is no financial ability now, to find a model with the ability to expand the RAM memory, so you can add more in the future if needed.
Battery Life: If you need the laptop for on-the-go use, or you will often take it with you to work outside, battery life is critical. You should look for laptops that offer at least 8 hours of battery life, although more is always better. Of course, the autonomy provided by each manufacturer differs with real use, but it is a good point to evaluate it approximately.
Storage Space: SSDs (Solid State Drives) offer faster performance than traditional HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) and are now found in most laptops. They improve boot times, application startup speeds, and overall system responsiveness. Opt for drives with at least 256GB to always be comfortable and not worry, but 512GB and above are never wasted, and do not significantly increase the cost.
Portability: If you travel often or carry the laptop daily, consider its weight and size. Ultrabooks are usually lightweight and thin, sacrificing some ports and sometimes power for better portability.
Connectivity: You should also make sure it has the necessary ports — USB-C, USB 3.0, HDMI, and possibly Thunderbolt 3 or 4 for faster data transfer and more flexible connections. If you use wireless peripherals, check for Wi-Fi 6 support and Bluetooth capabilities.
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