Best Laptop Selection Process

Best LaptopHaving virtually taken over the computing world, the high demand for laptops has resulted in companies flooding the market with quality specialized laptops. Best Laptop selection process has become more and more challenging with the exponential increase in the number of models in the market today. This guide is intended to provide information about various aspects of Laptops that would ultimately effect your choice. Once equipped with the knowledge, you will be able to choose the best Laptop for rental or to buy.

Operating Systems

An operating system (OS) allows for the interaction with the computer in a visual way eliminating the need for codes that are the computer’s language. The OS does management of the hardware and software, and that includes memory, files, and connected devices. The principal operating systems today include:

Mac OS This operating system designed for Apple  Mac computers is one of the most impressive in the market. The elegance and ease of use that matches Apple’s sleek designs make it a formidable force in the industry. It also has fewer issues with malware and viruses and therefore safer to use. However, the laptops running it are more expensive, and most of them do not offer the desirable touch feature.

Windows- The revolutionary Microsoft windows operating system is currently the most used OS all over the world. Unlike Mac OS limited to Apple laptops, it is used in virtually every other laptop brand. It offers an intuitive interface that includes the latest touchscreen features and others. Laptops running windows are more affordable than their Mac OS counterparts.

Chrome OS- The newer kid on the block is Chrome OS run on Chromebooks. It comes with the advantage of custom apps and cloud-based programs, allowing for seamless surfing and social network management. These laptops are however not suited for data-intensive tasks. For more information refer to laptop guide.

Choosing Laptops Based Upon its Use

Among other factors, Laptops are often selected based upon their utility. The specifications to focus will vastly vary for business laptops, gaming laptops, touchscreen laptops, ultra portable to 2-1 laptops.

Business Laptops

They often don’t require serious processing power and features and a laptop with modest specs can efficiently manage spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations. For software testing and engineering designs, a higher processing power may be needed.

Gaming Laptops

For gamers, a powerful processor probably core i5 or higher and a powerful GPU, for instance, NVIDIA graphics card comes first. The RAM and ROM need to be big enough for seamless running and storage of gaming files respectively. The screen size and resolution need to allow for clarity. Laptops that support 3D are an added advantage when it comes to gaming. Virtual Reality support is also another luxury feature that gamers can go for when selecting the best laptop.

Touchscreen Laptops

The latest trends are these laptops that use touch input, bringing a lot of convenience to interaction with the computer. They are often the more portable type. When opting for touchscreen laptops look out for a 1080P or higher resolution and a longer battery life.

Ultra Portable Laptops

Ultra portable computing is another latest trend with very light and powerful laptops with long battery life. They are the best option especially for business travelers, and their sleek design makes them very desirable. They are the future of computing.

2-1 Laptops

2-in-1 laptops are the other option that gives users access to both a laptop and a tablet in one laptop. There is a critical need for consideration of the performance, battery power, and display before settling for one of these laptops.

Screen Size, Resolution and Graphics

These three features determine the quality of the display.

Screen Size

It is measured in inches along the diagonal line between two corners of the screen. Laptops range from the small 10.1” to the large 17” and above screen sizes. Several factors determine the size of the screen to settle for:

  • The laptop use where processing of documents personally will need a smaller screen than gaming laptops
  • Portability where laptops with larger screens are less portable than those with smaller screens
  • Personal preferences that predispose someone to a certain screen size

The best size, however, is 12.5” to 14” that balances usability and portability.

Resolution

The number of pixels available for the formation of an image on the screen determines the resolution. Higher number pixels will result in higher resolution. Laptops range from a resolution of  720P, 1080P, 1440P (2K), 1800P (QHD+) to the ultimate 2160P (4K). A higher resolution allows for sharper images and a better user experience.

A good laptop is one with a resolution of 1080P or higher and will allow for a fantastic display. Higher resolutions may be more expensive, but they are worth it.

Graphics

Best Laptop The processed data on a laptop is rendered into a video signal for display by the graphics card. They allow for better viewing, and especially for gamers, an NVIDIA or AMD graphics card is crucial. For regular laptops, however, the Intel graphics is enough. They can render high-quality display for every other purpose. Inbuilt graphics card, however, occupies space on RAM, therefore, reducing the available space.

Memory, Hard Drive, and Inbuilt CD/DVD

Best laptop needs adequate memory to run programs or store files. Focusing on the following memory capabilities can help make an informed decision when selecting the best laptop.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

Running programs utilize this form of memory, and therefore it needs to be sufficient for the smooth running of a laptop. A higher RAM means better performance and ranges from 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB to 32GB.

ROM (Read Only Memory)

This memory is where files are stored. For gamers, the storage size needs to be bigger than what a business laptop has. There are two forms of storage technology used today:

  • HDD which have more significant storage capacities up to 2TB or more and are suitable for gaming laptops although they are larger, slower and easily get damaged
  • SSD (Solid State Drive) which is the better option for thin laptops as they occupy less space and are three times faster than HDD but have smaller storages of 128GB, 256GB or 512GB. Refer to Cnet laptop guide for more details.

Built-In CD/DVD

Laptops featuring inbuilt DVD drives are bigger and often more cumbersome and are quickly being replaced by the thinner laptops with no DVD drives. When there is a need for this feature looking out for newer thinner models with quality performance is essential. according to Laptop Magazine For more powerful laptops where the size is not an issue, an Inbuilt CD/DVD drive is crucial and will eliminate the need for external DVD drives that increase the cost and occupy more space.

Battery Life and Weight Considerations

The fantastic features of the laptop are not enough, the overall design and battery life matter a lot. How long the computer will work without plugging into power and its weight impact on the portability and convenience associated with the model.

Battery Life

With time, newer releases of laptops come with more powerful batteries that last over 8 hours without charging. This feature is especially suitable for those who travel a lot or those who want to use the laptop away from sockets. A long battery life also reduces the need to carry around the power adapter hence cutting down on weight.

Weight

Ever since portability became a feature of focus, light and portable computers sell more than their heavier counterparts. After deciding to rent a laptop or buy one, consideration of the weight together with the specifications will help prevent unnecessary fatigue and straining and fatigue when carrying it around. As per LifeWire, the inclusion of the power adapter weight is vital because most manufacturers do not consider it under the laptop weight.

Keyboard, Touch pad and Ext Mouse

These features form the basis of the interaction with a computer and need to be optimal for laptops that have no touchscreen capabilities. But what exactly should be the focus in these features?

Keyboard for Best Laptop

A perfect keyboard allows for flawless typing which is vital for almost any computer user. There are several factors to consider when assessing which keyboard is the best.

  • The type of the keyboard is essential with the QWERTY being the most common and the best
  • The size of the keyboard where too small ones makes it hard to type while large ones make the laptop too big hence a medium size one is favorable
  • The key travel which refers to how deep the keys can go, a longer key travel is better
  • Keyboard lighting that makes typing even in the dark very easy

Touchpad

The touchpad on a laptop replaces the mouse on a desktop. It is the most used input in non-touch laptops besides typing. Responsiveness is key and the more the sensitive the touchpad, the better. The size is also significant but not a big issue.

Ext Mouse

The mouse offers better manipulation and interaction with the laptop mainly for designers and the running of specific programs.

  • The regular mouse has a cable to attach to the laptop
  • The wireless mouse is the better option giving freedom of movement while occupying less storage space

Cost

After deciding what exactly is important in the laptop that one needs, the value has a substantial determining power on the purchase. Powerful laptops with high-end specifications are the most desirable laptops; however, their cost makes them out of reach for many people. The better the specs, the higher the laptop will cost.

Budget

When selecting a laptop on a budget, there is need to focus on what is more important among all the features. It means that there will be a compromise on some elements to get a laptop within the budget. There is a vast variety of budget quality laptops available today and getting one is not a problem.

Laptop Rental

Because of the prohibiting prices of high-quality laptops, the best way to access them is by renting Notebook laptops from event rental companies. Whether it’s renting a Notebook, MacBook, Surface Pro, Dell laptop or a powerful Lenovo, ETR has best laptop for every need. Regardless of the company size or the event, there is a laptop suitable for an affordable price.

The laptop utilization needs to be worth the amount spend and therefore comparing several laptops to arrive at the best quality at the lowest price is essential. Whether renting or buying, the cost needs to remain within the budget as a rule of thumb.

Best Laptop Rental Accessories

Best Laptop To fully utilize the power of laptop computers consider accessories such as- Laptop chargers, External mouse, Carrying case, External Dock, Laptop lights, Cable locks and USB drives. Laptop chargers are essential so that you will not run out of battery power during long presentation. Cable lock is an important accessory to prevent theft for laptop rentals at events where Notebooks are left unattended during the night. Make sure to order External mouse for applications requiring frequent interaction with the computer. These accessories are designed to enhance the computing power of laptop and provide protection against damage and theft.

Brand and Warranty

To some people, the label may be the most critical factor they will consider. However, as far as performance is concerned, focusing on the specifications before the brand can help in making a better decision. Leading brands like Apple, HP, Dell, and Lenovo are loved by most laptop users because they assure quality. NEC and the forerunner IBM are also leading laptop producers although not as sought for as the above brands.

Design

How a laptop looks may be the reason why one sells while another doesn’t. Leading brands have invested in sleek designs that are appealing to the eye and are quite items whose possession calls for pride and a particular identity.

Warranty

An essential factor to consider when choosing a laptop is the warranty and what is covered. Often it goes beyond a year and includes all the issues which the manufacturer is responsible for instance the inability to boot. Problems resulting from mishandling or installation of harmful software are not usually covered. If a laptop drops and breaks, the responsibility is on the user and hence the warranty does not apply. The terms vary from brand to brand and therefore careful assessment of the conditions can help avoid running into problems.

Laptop Cost

Similar specs in different brands do not mean same prices. The cost varies from brand to brand. That means that it is not wise to stick to a particular brand while compromising on performance. However, personal preferences should not be ignored entirely in the name of affordability.

Conclusion

With the right information on what to look for in a laptop, how to select best laptop becomes an easy task. The range of laptops with high-end specs is more expensive and therefore renting laptops is the best alternative. Regardless of whether buying or renting a laptop computer, knowing what is crucial and what can be compromised makes the search easier and faster.

About the Author:

Jim Jain is SVP at Event Technology Rentals, a leading national provider of Video Walls, Projectors, iPads, Laptops, Tablets & Computer rentals for Events, Trade Shows and business meetings.

About the Author