If there’s room in your 2015 budget, a laptop purchase can be a great way to end the year and start the next one…or maybe you’re doing a little holiday shopping. Either way, there’s no shortage of options, which can be a good thing if you know what you need. How you use your laptop should drive all of your decisions.
Here’s a list of things to consider for your next laptop (we checked it twice):
Portability
If you often take your laptop with you, weight and size are important factors, along with battery life. Keep in mind though that, in smaller models, you’re giving up screen and keyboard space so these laptops are not ideal for power users. If, however, your laptop mostly sits on your desk, the keyboard and touchpad are more important considerations. In this case, feel free to splurge on all of the battery-draining features, like high resolution and powerful processing.
Resolution
Higher resolution means better picture quality. For a 17-inch screen, we recommend a resolution of 1366 x 768 or 1920 x 1080. At 15 inches, the recommended resolution is 1440 x 900.
Processing power
If you run complex programs – perhaps several at a time – you’ll want serious power under the hood. Intel Core or AMD is your best bet, with at least 4GB of RAM and a solid-state drive (SSD). For fairly basic office work and internet usage, go with an Intel Pentium, Intel Celeron or AMD Sempron processor.
Upgrade your current laptop
Rather than buying a new laptop, you may want to upgrade your current one. Adding RAM can significantly boost your laptop’s performance. Or, if you have a mechanical hard drive, consider installing a solid-state drive (SSD). It can be a cost-effective way to get more mileage from your hardware investment.
Questions? We can help!
As a Dell Preferred Partner, we have the expertise to help you select the best laptop for your needs. Contact us if you have questions.