While shopping for a laptop can and may be overwhelming at times, don’t let it ruin the fun in the fact that you’re out shopping (or shopping online) for a new laptop! Although you will be faced with numerous choices, many brands and prices that will vary, this laptop buying guide will help you navigate between all the models, styles, and functioning systems.
Buying a laptop is not a simple decision, but we will show you the basic steps you need to have in mind to ensure that you’re buying the best laptop for you!
The deciding factors for a laptop begin with the pre-planning. It essentially comes down to three simple things that you need to keep in mind.
- Determine your price range. This is important, as this will allow you to know what to look for and stay within your budget.
- What are you going to use your laptop for? Will it be used for work, school, gaming, or university etc? The laptop that will be the best for you, will be the one that does exactly what you need it to do.
- Where will you use it? Are you using your laptop at your desk for majority of the day, or are you a busy professional moving from meeting to meeting? Establishing the use of the laptop will determine the portability of your laptop.
Once these steps have been decided, you can start looking at the next set of functions that will make your laptop custom to you!
First, you need to pick and figure out which operating system you would like, and which would work best for you. A laptop’s operating system determines the way that the interface will look, how it operates and the types of software that you can use. Taking the time to think what type of software you want to run on your laptop and on which system will help in your decision on choosing the hardware that you need.
Most laptops come with one of three operating systems: MacOS, Chrome OS or Windows. Deciding on which is the right one is a personal preference. Each system has their own strengths and weakness, make sure you are well researched on each system beforehand so that you choose a laptop that runs well with the system.
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MacOS
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PROS
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CONS
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MacOS comes with free productivity apps that are preinstalled in the Mac devices, or which can be downloaded from the App store.
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MacOS is exclusive to MacBook laptops and iMac desktops, which are very expensive compared to other operating systems and hardware.
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Clean and user-friendly interface. Those who are familiar with the IOS in Apple products will notice the similarity of MacOS to that found within the iPads and iPhones.
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The operating system is not compatible for those who are interested in and currently in the gaming market. MacOs has limited game titles and there are restrictions on the options for hardware upgrades and customisation.
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Chrome OS
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PROS
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CONS
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Due to the compact design of Chrome OS, the operating system is the most affordable out of all the other operating systems. Chrome OS is most compatible with a Chromebook.
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Chrome OS constantly needs internet access to edit and have full access to documents. This means that if a Chromebook is offline, then you can’t access to documents or your Google drive.
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Chrome OS has an expected battery life of between 9-11 hours. This means that a Chromebook is good for if you are on the go or travelling due to the expected long battery life.
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The storage on Chrome OS is only 32GB which means that your storage is limited. However, you can save to your Google Drive and Google Docs, but only if you have an internet connection.
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Windows
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PROS
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CONS
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Windows has great software support. The system is best suited for any game and software developers and since Windows has a large audience, developers prefer to make utilities, games, and software for Windows operating system.
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There is a high amount of hacker attacks on Windows operating systems. The security of Windows is vulnerable to hacking and so Windows users must constantly update their anti-virus software, and, in some cases, they may have to pay monthly charges for improved protection.
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Windows is made for both touch screen devices and desktop computers and the interface is user-friendly.
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On Windows you may have to constantly reboot your system. If your system is running slow or you have too many programs open at the same time, this can create a delay and hangs up. The solution is too reboot.
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These are just some of the features, functions, and systems that you need to keep in mind for when you are choosing your new laptop. Deciding on the brand of your laptop may be overwhelming we encourage doing some extensive research, read reviews and even browse through brand’s social media pages to get an accurate overview on what products they have to offer.
Memory (Ram)
This is random-access memory (RAM) which is an important specification in your decision for a well performing laptop. RAM stores the processor computing tasks where the processor picks up these tasks and makes them happen. When a laptop or computer has more RAM, then the overall general performance of your laptop will be improved. If you have demanding software, then RAM will allow the processor to take on more tasks at once.
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Using the Internet
Updating social media
Watching and streaming video clips
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4 GB and over
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Studying (researching and writing essays)
Creating spreadsheets and documents
Creating and working on presentations and office admin
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6 GB and over
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Streaming HD films and tv series
Gaming
Editing programmes for amateur photos and videos
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8 GB and over
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Graphic design
Editing programmes for professional photography, videography, and music production.
CAD Design
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16 GB and over
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Storage
When it comes to the storage of your laptop, there are four types that refer to the amount of space available on your laptop. The space will be able to store anything from documents, images, software, and everything else. When choosing the right storage, you will have to make a choice between eMMC, SSHD, HDD and SSD drives. Each will be specific to your type of storing option tailored to you and/ or your profession such as if you are a professional photographer or videographer, you would want to look at getting a laptop with a large enough storage to safely keep your images and videos.
Battery Life
If you are planning to use your laptop at home or the office, you will want to make sure that your laptop has a battery that will be able to last for at least 7/8 hours. If you are a young university student, moving from lectures to lectures, you would need to have a laptop with a battery life that would sufficiently last you for majority of your schedule. Make sure your laptop comes with an easily accessible charger, so that should you need too, you can have a quick access to keep your laptop’s battery alive.
Connectivity
Connectivity is an essential need for any laptop, this refers to how well your laptop connects to the devices around it. This includes the internet, external storage, and screens. When looking at the connectivity of your laptop, there are several factors to keep in mind.
WiFi: This is the fastest way to connect to the internet. A laptop that has WiFi can connect with any fibre optic broadband which can give you the fastest internet connection possible. This is perfect for those who need the internet for school or work, streaming videos and even gaming online.
USB Port: Laptops with an USB ports allows for your laptop to connect to multiple devices and laptop accessories. This includes if you need an external mouse, a printer, your mobile phone and even your camera.
HDMI: An HDMI connection is an easy addition to any laptop that allows you to connect your laptop to any modern TV or a monitor. This means that the HDMI cable allows to transmit full HD video signals, so you can enjoy what’s on your laptop, including video and audio, on any TV or HD monitor.
Make sure to get in contact with us, Oasis Intelligent IT Solutions, if you need more assistance in choosing the right laptop for you. Once you have chosen your laptop, we can assist you with all your infrastructure needs under one roof, as Oasis offers hardware, software, consumables, stationery, and support.
Contact us for IT Services today!
Oasis Intelligent IT Solutions.
Telephone: 011 784 9167
E-Mail: info@theoasis.co.za
