Thinking about buying a laptop but its not an easy decision? Don’t think you are alone even if you have a pretty good grasp on desktop technology the options you have for a Laptop make the decision much harder. First we will break it down on the main tiers of hardware you will have and then we will talk about why you really need to define your use of a laptop to justify the tier that you enter at.
Basic Tiers Of Laptops Sorted By Price
It doesn’t matter if your budget is unlimited or not price is always a consideration when you are purchasing anything and although the saying goes that you get what you pay for there is some reality to that when making purchases of computer hardware.
The first thing you have to understand is there will probably never be a laptop that can honestly compete with a desktop computer when it comes to features and computing power but that does not mean that a laptop is always a lesser choice. There are many reasons to purchase a laptop computer but for most of us it comes down to size and mobility. To be able to have a working computer that gets done what you need to get done that you can use anywhere and bring with you is a serious benefit that desktops just can not offer. Once you understand this part of the reasoning behind your purchase selection it makes it a lot easier finding the best computer for your needs.
Entry Level Tier Laptops
The first level of laptops are the least expensive but they also have the fewest features. You purchase this type of computer to provide the most basic computing tasks such as: word processing, spread sheets, browsing the internet and email. You shouldn’t expect anything more and you won’t get it.
The cheapest option will be Chromebooks and they come in just under entry level windows laptops so the choice to save a couple dollars has to be done for a reason. If your school or business is requesting you get a Chromebook then thats ok because they have probably tested the software you need to use and it is available. Remember Windows and Apple software won’t be available to you. For that reason paying 25% more to get a windows laptop is justified for 90% of users.
The people that will benefit most from laptops that have the lowest cost as their biggest feature are people that do not expect to rely on them as a primary computer or possibly young students. If you just want a laptop to bring on your porch to browse the web because you can’t stand doing it on your phone they might be an option.
Mid-range or Level 2 Tier Laptops
If you need a computer for general Home Use, Business, Education then you really need to break out of the entry level options. If you are using it every day or a few times a week or maybe you bring it to school, live in an apartment or dorm and want something functional but not heart breaking if you broke it or it got stolen then the Level 2 Tier Laptops that come in at about $200 to $500 are going to allow you to do much of what you need to do but not offer that level of entertainment and gaming that the most expensive models do.
You really want something with Windows, 8gb of ram and 256gb storage. When you fulfill those requirements you need to compare the CPU and Graphics options. For most you will find that the differences in speed and power of the CPUs available in mid level laptops do not vary too much. You should be more concerned about how old the CPU is / when it was introduced. You don’t want an extremely old CPU that has average performance and by that it means more than 2 years since it was introduced. You can get the CPU Type from specifications and then search for a Benchmark. But don’t get caught up comparing each and every CPU because most of them are very similar. What you might want though is an Intel CPU with Graphics built in because they can encode and decode video very well with the correct drivers. If you edit and watch videos it will be important.
High End Level 3 Tier Laptops
When money isn’t an object and risk of damage and loss are minimal you might want to go with a better laptop. This is especially true if it is the only computer that you own. However do not expect even gaming rated laptops to perform as desktop gaming rigs do. You might be able to launch most games and play them but it will be at a very reduced experience. The person that is buying this level of laptop is normally someone that is on the road a lot and needs to have access to a reasonable amount of computing power for business, video editing, CAD or other professional services. People who are making money with their computer and can justify its use and power level.
If you have serious work to do then you need a better processor 16gb ram, 1TB of storage, a much faster processor and a 16″ display or better high resolution screen is important. You might also need to run the Professional Version of Windows to support your applications and networking requirements.
You can pay a few thousand dollars for the most expensive models or maybe as low as $600-800 for a lower end model that has good storage and power but doesn’t have the higher end graphics. It will depend on your needs.
How Your Needs Define Your Purchase
We have touched on some of the wants and needs when making a decision but it really comes down to deciding if your need requires more hardware.
Laptops are not extremely expandable and many are not easily serviced. A throw away $89 extremely basic laptop will allow you to do the most basic things and that might be enough for lower level education, situations where the device might get stolen or damaged but you can still likely pay your bills, write some letters, save some information and access the internet. They would make a great backup computer in case your better computer died because you could use it to buy parts or research prices for your better computer.
Paying huge sums of money for a device that will be outdated or might even come with a processor that is brand new to you but a few years old in technology doesn’t make a lot of sense if you don’t fall into the situation where you are making money with it. If your work requires it or if you are on the road giving presentations and need to use higher end software then you are going to need and not just want the best hardware you can get because you can’t depend on the client having hardware that will support your presentation or work needs.
Final Note
The most basic $100 laptops will let you do basic tasks but there will be restrictions on everything you do. It is likely to be a frustrating situation unless your needs are small, your ability to secure it is in question and your budget is very tight. That does not mean it is the wrong choice. It could actually be your best choice.
Mid Level Laptops can normally get done quite a lot and can be used in most situations. The exceptions are if the software you need to run has higher requirements. If you are running AutoCAD because you are an engineer you might need to run a lesser version or an online version if available. Many vendors provide online versions of their software now in Subscription form.
Higher End Laptops really have to be justified. If the money you are spending is any consideration then decide if you really need a laptop of this level or if you could have a desktop which you perform most of your work and a laptop only for limited needs. If this is so you are likely to be able to afford a mid tier laptop and a substantial desktop for the same price of the highest level laptops. Basically if you don’t know beyond a doubt that you need a laptop in this category then don’t just get one. Because you are still likely to take it places it could get damaged even if thats out by the pool or next to your BBQ.