If you’re professional and looking for heavy and indispensable applications for your profession, or if you are a student who is always around between lessons, a laptop is a right computer to carry out, without any limit, any task. Sufficiently compact and light to carry, there are now hundreds of different laptops of all shapes and brands on the market. Tablets and smartphones are tools that undoubtedly conquer more and more users day by day, but the latest generation notebook is the right tool to write long enough text with a comfortable physical keyboard, to rework a high definition video without limitations related to hardware or screen size or to run applications designed to work only on a desktop operating system and therefore not available for tablets or smartphones. Any model released in the last 4 or 5 years will surely be for you, and for those who are searching for the Best laptop for medical students without big limits, so a valid choice can also be that turn to the second-hand market, as I already explained in my previous post.
What kind of laptop to choose? The wide variety of shapes, sizes, specifications, and prices makes the choice of a notebook model really a complicated undertaking. First, you need to focus on your needs. What do we really need? Of a portable but powerful tool like a desktop to take with you and use connected to the electrical outlet? Of an ultra-portable and light laptop with great autonomy to use it often on the move? These are 10 extremely practical tips to help you choose.
- Choose your operating system. Windows, Mac or Chrome OS
It’s not an easy question to answer, especially if you’ve mostly used Windows. We quickly examine the strengths and weaknesses of all three platforms.
Chrome OS
Google’s operating system is an ideal choice if you want a simple, light, cheap and reliable laptop: I already mentioned it in a previous post, trying to identify the best Chromebook models on the market.
The user interface looks a lot like previous editions of Windows with a menu dedicated to applications, a desktop and the possibility of using a window system, very similar to Microsoft’s OS. The characterizing element is that, in fact, everything is governed by Chrome and the available applications are the same (more or less) that can already be run on any PC equipped with this browser. Many applications, however, are nothing more than simple links to web services. Since it is mainly a browser with few accessories connected, Chrome OS is not subject to being infected by viruses or malware: furthermore, by mainly using services via the web, security is entrusted directly to the remote servers that provide it and not to the code that runs on your computer, with an undeniable advantage of simplicity and robustness. However, there is a significant contraindication: there are few applications for this operating system that can run offline and for this you will need a stable and ubiquitous Internet connection.
However, there are the main applications for productivity: if you use Google Apps, you will find an excellent word processor, a spreadsheet, a tool for making presentations and above all reliable storage thanks to Google Drive, which will allow you to also check the synchronization of the files that you want to have available even when you are not connected.
Defects? Unfortunately, there are still many unsolved problems in the DNA of Windows: it is the preferred target of viruses and malware, therefore, even if security has improved considerably compared to the widespread Windows 7, it still remains an aspect on which attention must be paid. But a myth must be dispelled: viruses and malware also hit OSX hard and not just Windows 10. Finally, Windows still requires some maintenance. Although to a much lesser extent than in the past, it requires periodic cleaning and defragmentation “cycles” to be carried out so as not to incur a progressive degradation of performance.
OSX
If you have no budget problems and you love computers that work “the first time”, OSX will certainly win you over. I talked about it some time ago: there are several things that OSX does better than Windows.
The applications then born directly for OSX are often exceptionally optimized for Apple systems, so as to have practically no rivals in the most creative and professional sectors: for music, for professional graphics, for photography and numerous other professional fields.
In my opinion, however, the OSX interface has aged compared to Windows: not that it is poorly organized or not functional, but in some ways it is less flexible than that, completely revised in Windows 10. On the ergonomics front, however, the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are unrivaled. Made with painstaking care and attention to detail, they are able to offer an overall user experience that still remains a mirage for many competitors. The configuration customization possibilities are many, but certainly not for all budgets: to buy a MacBook Air you need at least 900 Euros, for a MacBook Pro you need at least 1200.
When to choose a Mac? When you want to buy an object that is absolutely long-lived and to be kept for many years, because one of the undeniable advantages of the Apple ecosystem is the continuous updating policy that allows your laptop to always be in step with the times.
What about Linux?
I have not mentioned it among the possible choices, but undoubtedly it can also be another alternative to consider. Especially if you adopt the popular Ubuntu, you won’t be disappointed. But if you don’t have a great computer skills and, above all, you’re not patient, avoid it. Linux does not lack anything, except, in certain conditions, the simplicity of use and the flexibility (within everyone’s reach) to face every situation without major headaches.
- How to choose the screen size
The first decision to make when buying a laptop on the hardware front is the screen size one. It is not a negligible factor, because it is the most characteristic specification for a laptop. A small screen makes the laptop less comfortable to use, but undoubtedly lighter and easier to carry, as well as able to guarantee adequate autonomy. A screen that is too large guarantees adequate comfort and an absolutely transversal use, but at the same time it implies little transportable dimensions, a clearly higher weight and undoubtedly lower autonomy. Let’s see how to orient ourselves in the choice.
11 to 12-inch screen: the lightest and thinnest systems use screens of this size: it is no coincidence that laptops equipped with screens of this type rarely exceed a weight of 1.2 kg. However, the small size also affects the width keyboard, touchpad and overall readability of the screen. If you are looking for extreme mobility, as an efficient alternative to a more common tablet, these are the laptops suitable for you.
13 to 14 inch screen: in my opinion, this range includes laptops that boast the best balance between size and performance. The more sophisticated models are in fact able to contain the weight to less than 2 kg. (Which is a bit of a psychological limit that distinguishes an ultraportable from a “transportable”). The best laptops for adobe creative cloud in this category is undoubtedly the 13.3 “Apple MacBook Pro, which is a bit the sum of many features appreciated by those who use the computer every day: lightness, robust materials and pleasing to the eye, screen quality, comfortable keyboard and precise touchpad. At the same time, however, not everyone can spend well over 1000 euros to buy a computer. The Windows notebook market in this category is at least varied and full of models at all prices:
15-inch screen: many love the large screen and the fact that they have a large keyboard exactly like a desktop, so notebooks of this size are among the best sellers. However, it is also the PCs that are least suitable to be brought with you every day: they are more suitable for domestic use as a substitute for a fixed PC or to be placed on your work desk. But they lend themselves little or nothing to be used away from an electrical outlet, since few models are able to offer autonomy longer than 2 hours. The latest generation models are making great strides in this sector, but they are certainly not optimal in this respect. In addition, a 15-inch notebook often offers some of the best hardware combinations on the market: powerful CPUs,
17-inch screen or higher: in this case we are talking more about ” desktop replacement ” laptops. These are high-performance notebooks essentially designed for video games, as professional workstations and certainly not for traveling companions. Thanks to their size, we will certainly find unusual hardware configurations, high-performance video cards and more than one slot for all the storage systems we need. But who would feel like carrying a colossus over 3 kg in the bag?
- Check the type of keyboard and touchpad
Another strongly distinctive element of a laptop is the type of keyboard and touchpad adopted. These components mainly differentiate the cheaper models compared to the more valuable and expensive models. Does the keyboard have a solid, touch-sensitive stroke? Is there enough space between the keys? Is the touchpad sensitive and precise enough? In this field, Apple has made school with its island keyboard with well-spaced keys and with a very short, but at the same time extremely “communicative” stroke. But there are also equally valuable interpretations, such as the Lenovo Thinkpad keyboards.
In addition, the mouse keyboards buttons must ensure a satisfactory click, the touchpad must allow you to easily use gestures now in common use on tablets and smartphones (such as the pinch to zoom). Almost all manufacturers, in addition to Apple and Lenovo, are adapting to offer quality components, but to have a good compromise between everything you need to invest a little and turn to more sophisticated models.
Finally, the presence of the backlight is another very useful element, especially if you use the laptop in the dark.
- Find your way through the hardware specifications
Understanding the characteristics of a laptop from the avalanche of specifications that each model offers is certainly not an easy task. The configuration of each laptop, however, can be more intelligible if we take some essential components as a reference: the type of CPU in equipment (which by far affects the final price by far), the amount of RAM installed, the type of graphics card employee and the type of storage used (if a common hard disk or SSD is used). Let’s understand, piece by piece, how the characteristic elements of a laptop are decoded:
CPU: it is by far the component that most influences the final cost of a laptop, but which at the same time characterizes its use and power. The cheaper models are often equipped with fairly inexpensive CPUs such as the Intel Pentium or the AMD E Series, made to be inexpensive but powerful enough to guarantee a decent user experience. The Intel Atominstead they are mainly designed to be efficient on the consumption front, guaranteeing excellent autonomy but at the same time not always satisfactory performance. The more expensive laptops and devoted to extreme mobility instead use the Intel Core M CPUs, optimized to the maximum for consumption and at the same time faster than the Atom, but certainly not as performing as the Core series CPUs (i3, i5 and i7). The latest Intel Skylake CPUsthey are a further evolution oriented towards mobility and the reduction of consumption, guaranteeing significantly higher performance than the previous Intel Core M (in the order of 40-50% more), but they are still quite expensive and preserve the top of the range laptops. The most efficient laptops in terms of performance are equipped with the 5th generation of Intel CPU (known as the Broadwell series) presented in early 2015.
If you are looking for performance, then, do not opt for the Intel Core M (or worse for the Atom), rather orient yourself for a Core i3 (if you want to keep the budget) or for a Core i5, the right compromise between performance and consumption. The Core i7 are mainly oriented towards intensive professional applications and consistently affect the final price of the laptop, but will certainly be loved by video game enthusiasts for their extreme power. If you are looking for extreme energy efficiency without sacrificing too much final performance, keep an eye on the latest Skylake CPUs.
RAM: today as today, 4Gb are considered the minimum union for a modern laptop. To obtain more than satisfactory results, you must at least double the quantity: 8Gb is the right quantity to make things work quickly enough without having to give up using your PC in multitasking (many open windows and many things at the same time). For professional users or hardcore gamers, 16Gb is almost a must.
Flash Cache: it is a component present above all on ultrabooks and laptops designed for mobility. It is a complement alongside the traditional hard disk drive to speed up disk operations. They are gradually disappearing in favor of the faster SSD disks, now versatile and reliable at the right point to be a must on all the latest generation portable devices.
SSD or Hard Disk Disks: the most modern and expensive configurations resort to SSD disks, fast and now sufficiently large storage units to replace a hard disk (generally at least 128Gb or 256Gb and recently also 512Gb). Prices are gradually falling, but a laptop equipped with an SSD disk costs on average more than one equipped with a mechanical disk. The advantage in terms of performance, however, is undeniable, obtaining even 100/200% improvements. On the medium or low end of the market, you will certainly find a 500Gb or in some cases 1Tb hard disk, able to offer a lot of space without affecting too much on the purchase price.
Display: the more pixels you have available, the more information can be shown on the screen and everything will appear clearer and more readable. The display, like the CPU, clearly affects the cost of a laptop, so commonly on a medium-low range laptop, regardless of the screen size, you will find a resolution of 1366 × 768 pixels (HD resolution): however, consider that the wider the screen, the more problematic the poor resolution will be. The 14 and 15-inch models often offer higher resolutions: starting from resolutions of 1600 × 900 pixels (quite rare) up to Full HD panels to 1920 × 1080pixels. In this case there is the same resolution as for example a home TV, with a quality often adequate to be versatile displays for both multimedia and professional use. The price of Full HD displays is rapidly decreasing, so it is preferable to turn to them in choosing a laptop, also because displays with ever higher resolutions have appeared on the market: 2560 × 1600 pixels (like many latest generation smartphones), 3200 × 1800 pixels and 3840 × 2160 pixels. Needless to say, all resolutions higher than Full HD involve a significant purchase expense, but which reward in daily use with the sharpness and quality of the images displayed. To view a film, a Full HD is sufficient, for many professional purposes, however, it may be useful to have a more defined display. In addition to the price, high definition involves significantly higher consumption and therefore lower autonomy: ultra-portable laptop models often resort to bright screens but with low resolution precisely to better balance the fundamental aspect of energy efficiency.
Touch screen: excluding Chrome OS and OSX (but certainly more than in the past) which are not particularly optimized for use on a touchscreen, Windows 10-based laptops could take some advantage of the presence of a touchscreen. Frankly for a laptop with a fixed display I find it to be a negligible aspect, while it may make sense if the laptop is a convertible model with a display that can be removed and used as a tablet. Again, the price difference between a touchscreen and one without this feature is narrowing. Finally, on the better defined displays, you will rarely find this feature. Between a very well-defined display and a touchscreen display but with a lower resolution, for the same price, undoubtedly opt for the display with a higher resolution.
Graphic card: in most cases, a laptop uses an integrated graphics chip (which shares system memory for its graphics functions). It is a simple and inexpensive solution, sufficient for most daily tasks, such as browsing the web, watching a video and even playing some popular video games. If, however, you need more operating power, the chosen laptop must have a dedicated graphics chip, with a memory availability separate from the system one (generally it must also be faster): this choice is essential for more sophisticated and for the most demanding graphic applications. In addition, a latest generation laptop can be equipped with a GPU (Graphic Processing Unit), a dedicated chip separate from the video card to speed up video playback and editing. The latest generation video cards and GPUs for laptops are mainly produced by Nvidia and AMD. An undoubtedly useful plus is that of having both an integrated and a dedicated video card (possibly equipped with a dedicated GPU): if you want to improve the autonomy of the system and you do not need all the necessary computing power, you will use the integrated video card excluding the dedicated section. If instead you want to make the most of the computing power of the video part of your laptop (inevitably consuming more), you will instead resort to the dedicated video part (Dual Graphics function).
DVD and Blu Ray Drive: optical technology is gradually disappearing from laptops, especially from thinner and portable models, surpassed by other technologies (memory cards and cloud storage services). On larger laptops, however, they are a constant and useful presence if you intend to use your notebook to watch DVD or Blu Ray. In my opinion, especially when the manufacturer provides a modular structure for the notebook chassis, it is better to opt for other accessories: in these cases, in fact, it is possible to extract the optical drive by replacing it with a caddy to house another hard drive or an additional battery to increase autonomy. In addition, optical drives increase the weight of the computer and decrease the autonomy because they consume much more than a memory card.
- Choose a classic notebook or a convertible laptop?
Since the launch of Windows 8, designed primarily to improve the experience of using devices equipped with a touchscreen, many manufacturers have started offering hybrid instruments, halfway between a traditional laptop and a tablet: the display of these laptops can be unhooked from the keyboard and used separately, just like a tablet. The arrival of Windows 10 has certainly further improved the usability of these solutions, since it is able to provide a completely diversified user experience depending on whether you use the PC as a traditional laptop or as a tablet: in the latter case, the desktop interface is replaced with an interface optimized for touch, with a start screen organized in tiles and easy to use without a touchscreen (interface Modern UI ). Microsoft then invested heavily in this sector by presenting a wide range of products called Surface: the latter are, however, very convincing and complete and will not fail to give great satisfaction to enthusiasts. There are, however, numerous options also from other manufacturers: the best are offered by Asus, with the Transformer Book line and by Lenovo with the line called Yoga.
- Establish a budget
Everyone loves to spend as little as possible to get the best: it’s an obvious observation, but one that is badly suited to buying a laptop. First, unlike a smartphone, a laptop lasts for several years. It is therefore a lasting purchase destined to last over time. For this reason, think carefully before buying a “low-end” laptop (inexpensive): unless it is a second computer to “mistreat” and to place alongside another notebook, it is not said that it is the ideal choice to use the entry level models. If your budget is limited, turn to the second-hand market , where you can find interesting models with updated configurations, spending less than half of an equivalent but new laptop.
Let’s see what are the main price ranges and what to expect in that spending range:
From 200 to 350 Euros: in this price range it is possible to buy numerous Chromebook models (which therefore operate with the Google operating system, as described above) and entry level systems based on Windows. While on the former I have no particular reservations, because they are designed precisely to make the purchase of a simple and light laptop accessible, on the latter I do not feel particularly recommending the purchase. THE Chromebookthey generally have a better battery life, they are offered with 11 “and 12” displays, very suitable for containing weight and dimensions. While Windows laptops in this segment seek a compromise in terms of performance by adopting dated or slow CPUs, they often offer poor displays (often 15.6 “wide but low resolution displays) and poor autonomy.
From 350 to 600 Euros: in this price range, laptops equipped with Windows are undoubtedly the best choice. Whether you opt for a desktop replacement model, or you prefer an ultraportable or convertible model, you can access a wide range of satisfying and performing products. The compromise of an affordable price, therefore, is not obtained in this segment by sacrificing performance, if anything, by saving on build quality or by adopting CPUs not of the latest generation, but still perfectly in step with the times. Thanks to offers and discounts, both on Amazon and in the main IT stores, it is not uncommon to be able to buy interesting models at the end of careers at bargain prices.
From 600 to 800 Euros: numerous satisfying models are starting to be offered in this price segment, both from an aesthetic, construction quality and performance point of view. The choice still falls on Windows laptops, because even at this price level, no Apple device is still accessible at this price (unless used). Whether it is a classic notebook or an ultrabook or a convertible laptop, you will undoubtedly find quality models that are suitable for all uses.
Above 800 Euros: obviously by spending considerable amounts, you can get the maximum benefit from the current technological offer. In this sector I would recommend without hesitation the purchase of a Mac, whether it is a MacBook Air model, designed to be light and transportable, or whether it is a MacBook Pro, a model (especially in the version from 13.3 “) made to be a real passepartout for all situations. In this price range are also offered all systems designed for professional applications (graphic workstations) and for entertainment, especially for video game lovers. There is no real spending limit.
- The brand matters
In the field of laptops, of course, there are excellences and each individual manufacturer can boast at least one line of products that is particularly successful and worthy of consideration. Since, as I have already written, a laptop is a lasting purchase, in addition to the goodness of the brand, it is necessary to pay close attention also to the quality of the assistance network, essential to be sure of finding a solution if your laptop should fail. Let’s see brand by brand which are the excellences and on what to orientate.
Acer: it is one of the first manufacturers in the world by experience and boasts a line of products that has never been developed, but, in my opinion, it excels above all in entry level models. The excellent quality/price ratio of many low-cost models makes it an attractive choice if the budget available is limited and you do not want to give up a quality product at the same time. The service network in Italy is not very widespread and does not always satisfy customers, but has improved over the past few years.
Asus: the oriental brand is by far the most dynamic one in recent years and excels above all on the mid-range models and on the convertible ultrabook line. Asus also boasts considerable experience in the sector of cheap laptops, having in fact invented the netbook segment, which has now disappeared in favor of the most modern ultrabooks. The service network, like Acer, is not very extensive, but it is undoubtedly efficient.
Apple: Californian brand products have always stood out for customer satisfaction and reliability. In all segments where Apple is located, it always manages to excel. Even the assistance network, widespread thanks to the opening of numerous Apple Stores in the area, always manages to be efficient and satisfactory. Only contraindication: the price, always on average higher than all competitors.
Lenovo: the excellence of the Chinese brand is in the Thinkpad brand professional laptop sector, which has always been synonymous with reliability and robustness, although not exactly cheap. In recent times, Lenovo has introduced the convincing ultrabook series called Yoga, absolutely well-made and satisfying products. Less convincing are the more entry level products, where other manufacturers, in my opinion, do slightly better. The service network is quite developed, although not always up to the products.
HP: historic brand in the field of laptops, in recent times its range has not stood the comparison with other more dynamic brands (Dell and Asus), but is recovering mainly in the field of Chromebooks and professional laptops. The assistance network is excellent and widespread in the area.
Dell: although less widespread in the consumer field (American brand products are generally only purchased online), Dell has considerable experience and an excellent reputation in the field of professional laptops and for workstations dedicated to video game lovers. Reliability and build quality are one of the strengths, while the service network, although indirect (it is necessary to send the defective product to their service center), is always efficient and satisfactory.
Samsung: Among the manufacturers listed is the youngest brand in the field of laptops, even if it has been offering good products for some years already. In my opinion, Samsung Chromebooks are a point of reference, as are mid-range laptops. High-end laptops suffer from competition from more established brands, also in consideration of their price, which is not exactly cheap. The support network, thanks to the widespread diffusion of the Korean brand’s smartphones, is very widespread, although not always completely satisfactory.
Sony: the Vaio line is probably one of the points of excellence of this well-established Japanese brand, with peaks of excellence especially on top of the range products. In terms of build quality, many Sony products are vying for Apple’s leadership in the premium laptop industry. The service network is widespread and efficient.
Conclusions
I have not intentionally explored all the characteristic aspects of the laptop world to reasonably contain the length of this post. The aim was to provide the most important and characteristic elements of reflection of these products.
