How well we are able to do our jobs often hinges on the quality of the computer on which we work. With millions of people still working from home, many of us rely heavily on high-quality business laptops and computers.
Working on an older or limited laptop model affects your productivity and how well you enjoy your work. Working on your laptop should be a comfortable, convenient, and pleasant experience.
When shopping for laptops for work, it’s difficult to know where to start. Despite the pandemic, laptop sales have grown between 2020 and 2021. New models seem to appear on the market monthly these days.
To help you narrow your search and find the best laptop for work, we’ve compiled all of the most important things you need to consider before you settle on a specific brand and model.
Usage and Purpose
The first thing you need to consider is the nature of your business and how you plan to use your laptop. If you are an artist or a creative, there is a good chance you use your laptop to produce content.
If that’s the case, you will need a laptop that can manage the software you need for your creative projects. That might mean you need a laptop with high-quality graphics and a lot of processing power.
Other jobs and businesses don’t require such an advanced setup. Perhaps your primary use is creating spreadsheets and documents, using email, and internet browsing.
If most of your work takes place in virtual meeting rooms over Zoom, you’ll want to make sure your laptop computer supports this.
Budget
Another very critical thing to take into consideration is your budget. The best approach is to set a clear budget before you begin shopping.
You will want to consider how much you are willing to pay and what you want to get for your money. Not every type of business or work requires the highest echelon of laptop technology.
On the other hand, spending too little and getting stuck with a laptop that doesn’t quite do what you need it to will cost you more in the long run.
Here’s what kinds of laptops you can expect to find according to specific price ranges.
$300 and Under
For under $300 you will find exclusively lower-end Chromebooks and Windows laptops. If you intend to use your laptop for business, a machine this inexpensive is not an advisable purchase.
These types of laptop models are usually low-quality, slow, and have limited storage. They are really not even designed for light business use.
$350 to $599
For this price range, you are still shopping within the very low-end of laptop computers. You can expect to find some mid-range Windows laptops and better Chromebooks that can work for business.
In this range, you will get better performance out of a Chromebook. The catch is these Chromebooks operate better than their Windows counterparts at this price because they have much less storage.
$600 to $999
The majority of business laptop users will find what they need in this price range. You should have no problem finding a machine with the memory and storage you need.
This price range will also get you a processor powerful enough for multitasking. You can expect more high-tech security features, good battery life, quality displays, and ergonomic keyboards.
$1000 and Up
If your budget is $1000 or more, you can pretty much get everything you need and more. You will find much more portable and powerful laptops for work than you will in the other price ranges.
Lenovo is an excellent computer manufacturer that offers a variety of options for laptop buyers at every price range.
Operating System
There are three primary operating systems. These include Windows, Chrome, and Apple. Unless you can afford to spend $1300 or more, it is likely you will be working with either Windows or Chrome.
Despite the popularity of Apple computers, Windows remains the worldwide business-standard. If you can’t figure out which operating system you prefer, you won’t regret going with Windows.
Here’s what you need to know about each different type of operating system.
Apple OS X
If you are a devout Apple user, you may not be deterred by the hefty price tags on their laptops. Creative professionals have always loved Apple operating systems for their ability to run high-octane design programs.
But these days MacBooks feature less RAM than their predecessors. It’s no longer the go-to brand for creatives. Still, the impeccably-designed interface of Apple OS X is worth the price for many professionals.
In addition, if you are in a profession where cultivating an elite image is a necessity, Apple may be your best choice.
Windows 10 OS
Windows remains the standard when it comes to business laptop operating systems. Choosing Windows OS will give you a better variety of laptops to choose from than either of the other two operating systems.
There are all kinds of Windows laptops available for every price range and every configuration you could want. If you’re picky about the features of your laptop, this might be the best operating system for you.
Another benefit of going with Windows is familiarity. Most people have used a Windows laptop at some point during their career. In addition, the majority of IT professionals know how to provide support for Windows laptops.
Chrome OS
Chrome OS is Google’s operating system. It is also the newest operating system on the market. This can make users nervous to try a Chromebook since they are still relatively unfamiliar to many people.
Chromebooks were originally designed for students, hence their exceptionally affordable price tags. Since they first came on the market, though, Chromebooks have diversified into business laptops.
If you are comfortable storing your data in the Cloud, rather than on your hard drive, a Chromebook will work great for you. It is not possible to download programs on a Chromebook.
But this shouldn’t be a problem thanks to the increased amount of cloud-based programs available, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Design
The classic laptop that opens on a hinge is hardly the only option anymore. When it comes to design, hybrid laptops have a lot to offer.
Hybrid laptops are machines that function both as a laptop and a tablet. They’re also called convertible laptops and 2-in-1 laptops.
Some hybrid laptops have hinges with a 180-degree range of motion. Others have screens that detach from the keyboard completely. If you travel a lot, having a hybrid laptop can make working in-flight a breeze.
Many people also enjoy hybrids because they have both keyboards and touch screens. Keep in mind that laptops with touch screens and hybrid technology typically cost more.
You may also find that computers featuring touchscreens suck up a lot more battery power than traditional laptops. Touchscreens tend to be heavier as well, so take that into consideration when you think about portability.
Screen Size
There are several different screen sizes when it comes to laptops. Though, you will not find a broad range of screen sizes for every model of computer. Apple is particularly limited when it comes to offering different screen sizes.
Laptop screen size gets classified into the following categories: 11 to 12 inches, 13 to 14 inches, 15 to 16 inches, and 17 to 18 inches.
To get the best idea of what size screen you prefer, measure these dimensions in person or compare them to the size of your current laptop. If what you’re working with is too large or too small, go up or down a size.
Storage
If storage is important to you, your best choice is to go with a standard hard drive or a solid-state drive (SSD). They perform well and have a decent storage capacity. As mentioned, a Chromebook has very low storage.
For work that requires significant internal storage, you might be better off using a regular hard drive or adding an external hard drive for good measure.
Battery Life
If you have the ability to plug in all day, battery life may not be of critical importance to you. But if you travel for work or need to be able to work on the go, you should take battery life into account.
It’s best to aim for a battery life of seven to eight hours. You can find many excellent laptop models with this kind of battery life in the $600 to $1000 plus price range.
CPU
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the brain of your computer. This is where your laptop performs all of its logical and arithmetical operations.
The more powerful your CPU, the more tasks your laptop can handle at once. The type of CPU you choose will have a huge impact on the performance of your machine.
Some examples of current CPUs on the market include Apple M1, Intel 11th Gen, Intel Core, Ryzen 4000, and Ryzen 5000.
RAM
A low-priced laptop typically comes with 4GB of RAM. For a truly smooth performance, you are going to want a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM. When you upgrade to 16GB you will find there is nothing your laptop can’t do.
Beyond that, there are options for 32GB and 64GB of RAM. These laptops are going to be the most costly, but if you need the power they are worth it.
What To Consider When Choosing Laptops For Work
Choosing new laptops for work doesn’t have to be a headache. Take the time to set a budget and take into consideration how you’ll use your laptop.
You should also consider what specs you want. Think about design, storage, power, speed, and portability. When you know exactly what you want, finding it will be that much easier.
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