Search results
People also ask
Why should you buy a laptop?
Should you buy a cheap laptop?
Should you buy a laptop or a desktop PC?
Should you buy a business laptop?
Nov 3, 2018 · 1. Better resale value. Desktop PCs hold little resale value – but laptops hold a lot more. Even old and obsolete laptops in good condition are worth some fraction of their original...
Sep 2, 2024 · Scott Gilbertson. Gear. Sep 2, 2024 8:32 AM. How to Choose the Right Laptop: A Step-by-Step Guide. Shopping for a laptop can be infuriating. Here’s how to sift through the acronyms, storage...
- Buying The Cheapest Available Laptop
- Paying Too Much
- Buying A Laptop “For Today”
- Ignoring Ports and Compatibility
- Not Trying Before Buying
- Thinking Size Isn’T Important
- Becoming Obsessed with One Specification
- Assuming A 2-in-1 Is The Same as A Laptop
- Misunderstanding Laptop Graphics
- Focusing Too Much on Storage Space
There are some great budget laptopsout there, but just because they’re cheap, that doesn’t mean they’re going to do the job you want or have all the features you need. Let’s say you’re deciding between a dual-core and quad-core processor. You want to run many applications at once, but you chose the dual-core processor because it’s a little less exp...
Conversely, the the most expensive laptops might tick every box, but if you pay for features or hardware you don’t need, you’re just wasting your money. The chances are good that if a laptop strains your budget, it has something that you don’t need. A new MacBook Pro with top-specifications can cost over $6,000 — but very few people need 4TB of sto...
It’s an old bit of advice, but it still holds. Unless you are obsessed with getting the latest tech, a new laptop should last a few years, and likely more if you want to save money on another purchase. Instead of buying a laptop exclusively for your needs right now, you should buy one for where you think you’ll be in a couple of years. You might be...
Not all laptops include the ports you depend on. Many modern laptops, like our favorite Dell XPS 13, only have Thunderbolt 3and USB-C ports. If you need USB-A or an SD card reader, make sure your chosen laptop has those specific ports before buying, or budget for an adapter.
If you can, always give the laptop you’re considering a proper test drive before buying. Many everyday laptops are available for testing at big brick-and-mortar stores such as Apple, Best Buy, and the Microsoft Store, allowing you to fiddle with the touchpad, keyboard, software interface, and other components that substantially differ from model to...
A bigger display allows for a more expansive and often better viewing experience, but it also cuts into the portability factor. A laptop’s size often determines the size of the keyboard and trackpad, meaning you’ll likely be cramped when opting for a laptop measuring less than 13 inches. The best way to figure out what you need is to consider how y...
Tunnel vision is bad news when buying a laptop. While it’s fun to pit spec sheets against each other, avoid picking out one particular specification as your favorite and only looking at that factor. While you should have a baseline specification in mind — to ensure that you get the performance you need — don’t obsess over maximizing any single spec...
Tablets, 2-in-1s, and laptops are distinct categories. They aren’t interchangeable. While you can perform many tasks with a tablet and keyboard as you can with a laptop, the similarities soon end. Tablets remain far more constricting when it comes to multitasking, fast web browsing, using complex apps, or running demanding software. Their keyboards...
Laptop graphics are important if you plan on using your laptop for a lot of entertainment or gaming, but their graphics systems aren’t always well understood. Don’t just look at the amount of video memory in gigabytes (GB) when comparing graphics cards because this does a poor job of telling the full story. Instead, first look to see if the GPU is ...
Most of the industry has jumped on SSD storage, but you can still find laptops with traditional hard drives kicking around your local Best Buy or Micro Center. Spinning hard drives are cheaper, so you’ll often find laptops with more storage space for less money. But an SSD with a lower capacity is almost always better. It’s important to remember th...
- Jon Martindale
Jul 12, 2024 · This laptop buying guide tells you what to look for in a laptop and things to consider before you buy.
- Mac or Windows (or something else)? If you’re already familiar with macOS or Windows, the easiest choice is to buy a computer that runs that operating system.
- For most people: The best ultrabook. Our pick. HP Spectre x360 13.5″ The best ultrabook. The Spectre x360 offers excellent battery life, a tall touchscreen, and a reliable keyboard and trackpad.
- The best Mac laptop. Our pick. Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022, 13″) A better MacBook. The MacBook Air has a comfortable keyboard, great performance, and a reasonable amount of storage—things that haven’t always been offered in previous MacBook Airs.
- The best business laptop. Our pick. HP EliteBook 840 G9. For the corporate world. The EliteBook 840 is slim while staying repairable and has a nice selection of ports, good battery life, and an updated webcam.
Apr 11, 2024 · If you're unsure about what you need in a laptop, this laptop buying guide can help. In our breakdown, we'll explain specs, pricing, model types, and more.
Aug 2, 2021 · If you don't know exactly the kind of hardware you should look for, don't worry, we're here to help show you how to buy a laptop that will give you the best performance for your money, whether...
