It has become impossible for nearly everyone to exist without a laptop or a PC these days. Since everybody is frequently on the move, laptops have become immensely popular and useful for people from all spheres of life.

Just a few decades ago, owning your computer was mostly unthinkable, and the whole family shared one and took turns using. That is not the case anymore since everyone from school students to middle-aged business people go about with their personal laptops.

There are also numerous mainstream laptop manufacturing companies, and each of them is well known and preferred for different reasons. Since the requirements of each individual will also vary, there are several features you must go through before choosing your ideal laptop. 

Laptop manufacturing companies have started selling laptops meant for specific groups of people such as students, gamers, etc. and the features available in these laptops are wildly different. In this article, we will take a look at some of the things to keep in mind before you purchase a laptop.

For Students

College students use their laptops for a variety of purposes including studying, writing papers, learning new skills, doing a bit of designing and editing, watching movies and gaming. They do not have a budget big enough to purchase individual laptops for each purpose, and these laptops are often starter laptops that will help them do a variety of functions. 

The main element of these laptops is simplicity and the easiness by which they can be carried since they will continuously be transported between their rooms, classes, libraries and cafes.

First, choose your budget. Most of the times, a student’s budget for a laptop is not too big, so try to find one on the lower end of the price spectrum. Students usually only require a 2.0 GHz processor, but it will be an advantage to have more. Keep the display resolution at 1080p FULL HD, and you will get pretty crisp visuals.

If you plan on using your laptop mostly for reading, you can opt for one with a smaller screen size. You can easily visit the website of your choice or download the required materials with a touch screen laptop that can be converted into a tablet. 

Since you might always be on the move with this laptop, get one of a lighter build. Buy one with extended battery life if you expect to be away from a plug point for long periods.

Either a 4 GB or an 8 GB RAM will work just fine. In case you plan on gaming a lot on this laptop, get one with a graphics card. Of course, make sure that there is an adequate number of USB ports.

For Gamers

Gaming has recently become accepted as a profession since gamers earn lots of revenue from tournaments, sponsors, YouTube ad revenue and Twitch stream donations. Gamers require a well-built and sturdy computer that won’t break under pressure. Several companies have come up with laptops designed explicitly for gaming because of how heavy-duty these processes tend to be. Live streamers will also have to run multiple applications while they play to ensure a smooth stream online.

Choose laptops with a powerful CPU such as the Core i7 and a dedicated graphics card. CPUs cannot be upgraded so choose the best and latest ones available. For gamers, a 16 GB RAM is necessary while 8 GB is the bare minimum and might not always be ideal. Gaming laptops are not often carried around so you can choose a heavier one with a bigger screen. 

The minimum resolution that you should look out for is 1920×1080 but always go higher if you can. While touch screens are great for other professionals, they are unnecessary on gaming laptops and reduce battery life.

The batteries of most gaming laptops do not last very long, so you will be required to keep it plugged in constantly. It wouldn’t therefore matter too much if your laptop has extensive battery life.

For Graphic Designers, Video Editors and Musicians

This group of professionals fall somewhere in between students and gamers. They do require a well-functioning laptop but not one as extreme as a gaming laptop. Graphic designers and video editors will be running multiple applications simultaneously and if you don’t want it to take a heavy toll on your computer and slow things down, go for at least 8GB RAM.

A dedicated graphics card would be beneficial since there is a lot of visual elements involved in their processes. Musicians will require multiple software to create, mix and tweak their music.

Video editors will require a large hard drive to back up all the footage they work with and develop. Try to get an SSD and enough storage that will let you work without using an external hard disk.

In Conclusion

The laptop you require will depend on your profession and your needs. Do not purchase one just based on the brand name or certain attractive features. First, fix your budget and determine your requirements. Always go through reviews and common issues before you make a decision.

@TechmashUK #TechmashUK