Choosing a laptop - how to buy a good laptop. Selecting a laptop wisely

It lies in the list of tasks that will have to be solved on it. For modest office documents, a netbook will be enough, which will cope with such tasks with a bang. More serious requirements are put forward for multimedia systems where you plan to listen to music and watch movies. If you need a mobile gaming PC or such a device should be much better. Therefore, first of all, you need to decide what you need a laptop for and what you will do with it. It is the answers to these questions that determine both the technical characteristics and the final cost of the device.

Appearance

Let's start answering the question of how to choose the right laptop with the simplest thing - appearance. The body must be matte. Due to this, the initial quality is preserved much longer; it is more resistant to the appearance of dirt, scratches on it are almost invisible (which cannot be said about the glossy finish). Although quite rare, there are still such mobile PCs with a cut-off keyboard. It’s also better not to buy them. It is not very convenient to work on it, and the technical specifications leave much to be desired. That is, it is necessary to have an extended keyboard with a number block on the right. The last factor to pay attention to is the location of the touchpad. You will often have to work on it. Therefore, it should be in the most convenient place for you.

Screen

The larger the screen diagonal, the more comfortable it is to work. But this reduces the operating time of the built-in battery. The minimum diagonal that experts currently recommend is 14.1 inches. If there is more, it will be better. The second important factor, which also plays an important role in how to choose the right laptop, is its resolution. More the better. For text, 1024 x 768 will be enough. But for games or graphics packages there should be a minimum of 1920 x 1080, that is, HD quality. The last point to pay attention to is the type of matrix installed. The most common are TN (outdated option) and IPS (this solution is more preferable).

Filling

It is necessary to choose based on future tasks that will be solved on a given computing device. For example, let's find out how to choose a laptop for school. For text, spreadsheets, and basic programming, a low-performance processor with integrated graphics will be sufficient. It can be either from Intel - Celeron (or Pentium) or from AMD - A series CPU. It must have at least 4 GB of RAM and one 320 GB hard drive. But if more serious tasks are to be solved, for example, volumetric 3D modeling, then you simply cannot do without a Core i5 and an external video card of the GeForse 650 or Radeon 7790 series. In this case, the RAM must be at least 8 GB, and there must be two drives - an SSD for the system and an HDD for user data. The size of the first must be at least 128 GB, and the second - from 320 GB.

Battery

The battery capacity affects only 2 points: battery life and the weight of the mobile computer. The larger the first parameter, the heavier the battery, the more weight the PC has. The minimum time without recharging today should be 4 hours. The best laptops in this regard provide up to 12 hours of battery life.

Manufacturers

Now let’s figure out which brand to choose, that is, which brand. The largest number of mobile PCs are sold under the Lenovo brand. But quantity does not mean quality. It’s better to overpay and buy a device from brands that have proven themselves in this market segment: HP, Asus and Samsung. Acer, Dell and LG have slightly worse quality. But these are still devices with a sufficient level of quality. And it is their products that are best to pay attention to when choosing a laptop.

Conclusions

Within the framework of this article, basic recommendations were given on how to choose the right laptop. First of all, you need to decide on the range of tasks to be solved, and only then pay attention to the price and technical characteristics. After all, the last two factors directly depend on the first, and this should always be taken into account when choosing.

Choosing a laptop for work is a pressing problem for a person who is forced to spend a lot of time at the computer and combine this with constant travel. In order for you to be able to work comfortably, we have formulated recommendations for selecting such a laptop, which will certainly pay for itself again and again.

What to rely on when choosing?

What should you pay attention to when choosing a laptop for work? Below are the main technical characteristics that you should pay attention to when choosing a laptop:

• Hard disk capacity
• RAM
• CPU frequency
• Video card
• Opening hours
• Availability of connectors for different purposes

If you don’t want to go into details, we offer you the optimal assembly of laptops for work:

What should be the size of the hard drive?

This parameter is especially important for designers, photographers, music video directors, etc. If you work mainly with office documents, then a large hard drive will only unnecessarily increase the price for something you will never use.

Hard drive capacity can be divided into three categories:

• 0-160 - work with documents.
• 160-500 - working with documents, working with images and videos in a small volume, watching and storing movies and music, computer games.
• 500-3000 - professional work with complex video and photo tools. Large amount of movie and music storage. Ideal for gamers, designers, architects, video makers, programmers.

For reference: a text of 40 pages fits in 150kb. On a regular laptop (500GB) you can fit around 3 and a half million documents, 40 pages each.

What kind of RAM should it be?

RAM is an equally important component. It largely determines how “fast” your laptop will work. This is where all the information that is used by the laptop at the “current moment” is stored.

Which choose a laptop for working with office documents? Laptop with at least 1400 MHz.

Integrated or discrete video card?

The video card is responsible for the quality of graphics. To watch TV series on the Internet, you will need a video card from almost any laptop. If your work involves image or video processing, or you are going to play modern demanding games on your laptop, then you need to choose a more powerful video card.

Most laptops use "integrated graphics cards" which help save power consumption. Such laptops are cheaper, but their parameters are quite sufficient for all basic purposes: office work, watching movies and various videos, playing games (at medium and low settings). Most Intel models have just such video cards. If you want to choose a cheaper laptop for work, we recommend that you pay attention to laptops with built-in graphics cards from Intel.

Discrete video cards (they are not built into the chipset) have more powerful performance, but they also cost more. In this case, it makes sense to overpay if you often work with graphics applications or videos, or if you are an avid gamer. Now on the market, the best of this series are considered to be ATI (AMD) Mobility Radeon series video cards and NVIDIA GeForce series.

If you want to learn more about it, follow the link.

If the nature of your work involves constant travel or you simply have nowhere to charge your laptop, no matter where you are constantly away from home, then stock up on models with larger batteries that can withstand at least 6 hours of battery life. If you just want to work while lying on the sofa or in a chair on the balcony, where there is an outlet nearby, then you can take a less “hardy” laptop. Recommended time is at least 6 hours.

What connectors does a laptop need?

Determine for yourself what will need to be connected to the laptop during work. A mouse, an external hard drive, a couple of flash drives - this already requires at least four USB ports. Do you like to use an additional monitor? Check for the correct connector.

What else is important to check before finally choosing a laptop for work? We recommend that you test the laptop in use immediately upon purchase. Try typing some text and see how comfortable the keyboard is. Read something from the monitor to determine if your eyes are hard on you or if you are getting tired. Listen to the sound through the speakers. Also make sure that you have an optical drive - some models are already available without one.

Recommended characteristics of the optimal laptop for work

In our opinion, the most optimal criteria for choosing a laptop for work will be :

• Hard disk capacity: 160 - 500
• RAM: 4GB
• Processor frequency: 2GHz - 3GHz
• Video card: integrated from Intel
• Working time: at least 6 hours
• Availability of connectors for different purposes: 4 usb, Hdmi, monitor connector

Additional purchases: In addition to a laptop for work, we recommend immediately purchasing the following items: mouse, bag or case, installation discs with software, monitor wipes. I hope we helped you figure out how to choose a laptop for work.

It happens that a person buys a laptop “just to have it.” This is not very reasonable. Unless you have a clear reason for purchasing it, a brand new laptop will most likely be collecting dust somewhere on a table or a distant shelf.

A versatile laptop for every day

Dell XPS 13

This category includes laptops from the middle and high price categories. Productive and balanced hardware allows such laptops to cope with a wide range of tasks, including not too demanding games at medium and even high settings. Thus, gamers who do not prioritize graphics can save themselves from significant expenses on a full-fledged gaming laptop with a powerful discrete graphics card.

The best laptops of 2017 according to TechRadar:

1. Dell XPS 13.
2. Asus ZenBook UX305.
3. Razer Blade Stealth.
4. Asus Chromebook Flip.
5. HP Specter x360.
6. Razer Blade.
7. Samsung Notebook 7 Spin.
8. Acer Aspire S 13.
9. Samsung Notebook 9.
10. Surface Book.
11. HP Specter x360 15.
12. MacBook.
13. Asus ZenBook Flip UX360.
14. Apple MacBook Pro 15.
15. Lenovo Yoga 910.

The rating of the best laptop manufacturers was compiled by Laptop Mag based on a combination of six key criteria: reviewers’ ratings, design, quality of technical support and support, innovation, range of laptops offered, and loyalty of warranty conditions.

1. Lenovo.
2. Asus.
3. Dell.
4. Acer.
5. Apple.
6. Razer.
7. Samsung.
8. Microsoft.

For serious games

Razer Blade

Gaming laptops are very powerful and very expensive. This feature allows you to use gaming laptops for any work, including design, video editing, 3D graphics and engineering.

The video card is the most important part. In 2016, Nvidia introduced the tenth series of GeForce GTX video cards, which are not only much more productive than previous generations, but are also great for installation in laptops because they do not require a bulky cooling system.

If Nvidia previously released heavily stripped-down mobile GeForce GTXs with the letter M in the name for laptops, now you can install a full-fledged video card in a laptop: like in a desktop PC, but with slightly lower frequencies.

That is, if you buy a gaming laptop with a GeForce GTX 1050, 1050 Ti, 1060, 1070, 1080 or 1080 Ti, you will get the performance of a desktop gaming PC with a similar graphics card.

The problem is that there are still a lot of outdated gaming laptops in electronics stores, and they cost as good as new, and sometimes are even more expensive. The consultant may try to sell you such a laptop. Don't be fooled and choose a gaming laptop only with a GeForce GTX 10th series.

The older models of Intel Core i5 (for GTX 1050 and 1060), base Core i7 (for GTX 1070) and older Core i7 (for GTX 1080) are traditionally chosen as a processor for a gaming laptop. The amount of RAM usually ranges from 8 to 32 GB.

Top 10 gaming laptops according to TechRadar:

1. Razer Blade.
2. Asus ROG Strix GL502.
3. Alienware 13 R3.
4. Razer Blade Pro.
5. Gigabyte Aero 14.
6. Dell Inspiron 15 Gaming.
7. HP Omen 17.
8. Origin EVO15-S.
9. Gigabyte Aero 15.
10. Origin EON17-X.

For maximum mobility

If your lifestyle or the nature of your work forces you to constantly move, then mobility comes to the fore when choosing a laptop. The smaller, lighter and thinner the better. Such laptops are often called ultrabooks.

Top 10 ultrabooks according to TechRadar:

1. Dell XPS 13.
2. Asus ZenBook UX30.
3. Razer Blade Stealth.
4. HP Specter x360.
5. Samsung Notebook 9.
6. Acer Aspire S 13.
7. Surface Book.
8. Acer Swift 7.
9. Lenovo Yoga 910.
10. HP Spectre.

For maximum autonomy

If you spend most of your time away from a power outlet, then the determining factor when choosing a laptop is the battery life.

We bring to your attention a rating of the most “long-lasting” laptops according to Laptop Mag. The indicated operating time is valid for constant web surfing in a browser via Wi-Fi without using other resource-intensive applications.

1. Lenovo ThinkPad T470 - 17 hours.
2. MacBook Air 13 - 14 hours.
3. Microsoft Surface Book - 12 hours.
4. Dell Latitude 7280 - 12 hours.
5. Lenovo Miix 310 - 12 hours.
6. Dell Latitude 5280 - 12 hours.
7. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon - 12 hours.
8. Dell XPS 13 - 11 hours.
9. Dell Latitude 5480 - 11 hours.
10. Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming - 11 hours.
11. Acer ChromeBook R 13 - 11 hours.
12. Lenovo Yoga 910 - 10 hours.
13. Apple MacBook Pro 15 - 10 hours.
14. Asus ZenBook UX330UA - 10 hours.
15. HP Specter x360 - 10 hours.

Instead of a tablet

HP Specter x360

Nowadays, transformers that combine a laptop and a tablet are very popular. The design of this hybrid allows you to unfasten the keyboard, rotate the top cover, or literally turn the device inside out so that the screen is on top. A mandatory attribute of the transformer is a touch display. “2 in 1” laptops are very compact, lightweight and can completely replace a tablet.

Top 10 convertible laptops according to TechRadar:

1. HP Specter x360.
2. Microsoft Surface Book i7.
3. Samsung Notebook 7 Spin.
4. Microsoft Surface Book.
5. Asus ZenBook Flip UX360.
6. HP Specter x360 15.
7. Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1.
8. Lenovo Yoga 910.
9. Lenovo Yoga 900S.
10. HP Elite x2 1012 G1.

To work on the Internet

If you only use a browser, then pay attention to Chromebooks - more affordable laptops designed for working on the Internet.

1. Asus Chromebook Flip.
2. Samsung Chromebook Pro.
3. Dell Chromebook 11.
4. Acer Chromebook 15.
5. Acer Chromebook R11.
6. HP Chromebook 14.
7. HP Chromebook 13.

As a more compact and aesthetic replacement for a desktop computer

A large system unit, monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers and a bunch of tangled wires do not add beauty to the interior and take up a lot of space. The laptop solves the problem easily and gracefully.

Undrey/Shutterstock.com

The configuration and cost of such a laptop will depend on what you usually did on the old desktop computer and what you plan to do on the new one.

For special work

This includes design, video editing, sound work, 3D graphics, engineering and other specialized activities.

The configurations of such laptops greatly depend on the tasks being solved and the software used, and the cost ranges from tens to several hundred thousand rubles.

If you need just such a professional laptop, then this guide is unlikely to be useful to you. It is better to look for information about the correct configurations for narrow-profile laptops on the relevant sites and forums. Only there you will find experienced specialists ready to help with advice.

What's worth paying extra for?

Now you will learn about really useful things that justify every ruble invested in them.

Latest generation processor from Intel

There are no good laptop processors from AMD yet. Perhaps the situation will change with the advent of the Ryzen mobile line, but now the only reasonable solution is to buy a laptop with Intel Kaby Lake on board (Core i5 7xxx or Core i7 7xxx).

You can buy a laptop with a previous generation Core i5 or Core i7 (fifth or sixth) and get slightly less performance, but the trick is that the cost difference between them is minimal or non-existent. Accordingly, it is better to choose the latest technology.

A powerful processor turns the laptop into a multitasking machine that not only works quickly, but also allows you to play not too demanding games, do video editing, graphics, and so on.

SSD instead of HDD

In order not to burden you with unnecessary words, we will simply leave here the indicators of the time required to launch some applications on a laptop with an HDD and SSD, all other characteristics being equal.

8 GB RAM

You've probably heard how memory-hungry the Chrome browser is, and it's not the only program that requires a lot of resources to run quickly.

RAM is cheap and greatly affects the performance of the computer. Don't skimp on it.

Full HD screen

A laptop with a Full HD screen at a standard distance from it makes the pixels invisible to the human eye. Thanks to this, the picture becomes much better. Full HD accommodates more content, making working with desktop applications and the Internet more comfortable and convenient. High-resolution matrices, as a rule, are manufactured using more advanced technologies and have better characteristics than their younger HD counterparts.

GeForce GTX tenth series video card

If you are buying a laptop with an eye on new games, then choose a model with a discrete graphics card GeForce GTX 1050, 1050 Ti, 1060, 1070, 1080 or 1080 Ti - depending on your budget.

Do not under any circumstances purchase laptops with GeForce GTX series nine or earlier. Saving just a little money will get you a much less powerful laptop with no power reserves for the future and no proper VR support.

Wi-Fi 5 GHz

Now Wi-Fi points are everywhere, but a side effect of such a ubiquitous presence is a drop in the quality and speed of communication. Roughly speaking, wireless routers jam each other.

The solution may be to move to the 5-gigahertz Wi-Fi band, known as 802.11ac.

Unfortunately, to use 5 GHz Wi-Fi you also need a router that supports this technology, but as a reward for spending extra money you will get super-fast and stable wireless Internet.

By the way, 5 GHz Wi-Fi support is useful not only for a laptop, but also for a smartphone.

USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 connectors

USB-C is the inevitable future, coming sooner than you think. In the next few years, this standard will become the only universal interface for charging and connecting any peripherals to a laptop.

The symmetrical design allows you to connect USB-C from either side, and therefore the familiar problem of “doesn’t fit, turned it upside down - doesn’t fit” will become a thing of the past.

The famous USB paradox

Advanced Thunderbolt 3, in addition to being compatible with USB-C, has sufficient bandwidth to connect a 4K monitor, an external drive with read and write speeds comparable to an SSD, as well as a full-fledged external video card.

What you shouldn't overpay for

Not all manufacturers are distinguished by their ability to create balanced laptops. In addition, some of the features found in laptops are often downright useless.

Backlit keyboard

The laptop is a complete device, and its screen always illuminates the keyboard. Accordingly, additional backlighting of the keys is not needed.

The only reason to choose a backlit model or to pay extra for this modification is the habit of working in complete darkness with minimum screen brightness.

Screen with resolution higher than Full HD

The capabilities of the human eye are limited. With sufficient pixel density, we will not see them from a typical distance for working with a specific device. Such screens are best known as those used in Apple products.

For a laptop with a 13-inch screen diagonal and Full HD resolution, the distance from which the pixels cease to be distinguishable is 51 centimeters. Our eyes are approximately at this distance when working on a laptop. Thus, increasing the screen resolution, and therefore the pixel density, does not make sense.

If someone persistently tries to prove to you that QHD and even more so Ultra HD (almost the same as 4K) are cool and necessary, then either you are dealing with a consultant in an electronics store, or you are faced with a victim of marketing.

In addition to being pointless in terms of picture quality, displays with excessive resolution consume more battery power and require much more resources to render the picture, which negatively affects performance.

Mandatory Intel Core i7

The latest generation Intel Core i7 is a really cool processor, but there is such a thing as sufficient performance.

Simply put, you don't need a Nissan GTR if you use the car for commuting to Auchan and on busy roads.

Core i7 is good for heavy computing, video editing, graphics work and top-end gaming computers. The average user will not use even a fifth of its performance, but will pay the full price.

Required discrete graphics card

A separate video card is needed for hardcore gamers who want to play new games with cool graphics, as well as for individual specialists. For web surfing, office work and watching movies, the power offered by the integrated graphics is sufficient.

32 GB RAM or more

If you don't know why you need so much RAM, then you don't need that much RAM.

If you are not a gamer, then 8 GB of RAM is enough for you, and if you play heavy games, then 16 GB is enough.

Fingerprint scanner

It is now fashionable to install fingerprint scanners in laptops as a more convenient alternative to entering a password. It may save you an extra second, but is it worth the money that manufacturers are asking for this feature?

Touch screen in an ordinary laptop

A touch screen is required for transformers - hybrid devices with a removable keyboard that combine a tablet and a laptop.

For an ordinary laptop, a touchscreen is not only useless, but also a downright harmful excess, increasing the cost of the device, battery consumption and sometimes worsening the quality characteristics of the screen itself.

Other guides to choosing equipment from Lifehacker.

Recently, laptops have been losing their popularity. It so happens that they are confidently crowded by tablet computers, the difficulties of choosing which have been written about. However, these devices cannot completely disappear from store shelves. The fact is that some people simply cannot work without a laptop. A laptop computer allows you to carry out calculations, write text, edit photos and videos without being tied to an outlet. Also, people who regularly change their place of residence or often go on business trips make their choice in favor of laptops.

Any laptop is a set of screen, keyboard and many computer components. Choosing a laptop is another problem. If you don't read the technical specifications, you risk being left with a poorly functioning device. To prevent this from happening, read this article, it will definitely help you.

Main selection rules

Decide on the purpose of the laptop

Before going to the store, you need to understand: why do you even need a laptop? Perhaps a desktop computer will suit you? After all, it is much cheaper, especially in the case of self-assembly. You should only take a laptop if you plan to move it regularly. For example, it can be used as a workhorse when you are on a business trip. Or the laptop will be used at different points in your apartment to write texts. There is no point in purchasing a laptop computer if you do not need its portability at all.

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the technical specifications!

You can’t choose a laptop at random, just by glancing at several models located on the counter. This is a serious device, the appearance of which is not the most important thing! You want to use your laptop for several years in the future, right? In this case, it is necessary that it meets all modern requirements. Its operating system should not slow down, and several applications should be running in the background. For this, the device requires decent components. It is their list that is indicated in the technical specifications. You can read more about all the main components below.

Don't save money

Unfortunately, you won't find a decent laptop at a very low price. Manufacturers cannot perform a miracle - in order to reduce prices they need to save on components. Even if the technical specifications suit you, it is likely that some components will begin to function poorly after just six months. High-quality components cannot be cheap. Also, budget laptops are not able to provide long-lasting performance on a single battery charge.

Windowsor Mac OS X?

Photo: cache.gawkerassets.com

It must be recognized that most people do not face the problem of choosing an operating system. The fact is that Mac OS X only has Apple products at its disposal. And its cost makes many consumers look towards Windows-based laptops. Let's look at the positive and negative aspects of these operating systems.

Windows

A huge number of laptops operate using software developed by Microsoft. This operating system is now considered the most popular. It has existed for several decades, during which time an incredible number of applications have been released for it. Also, it is in its favor that gamers make a choice, since games for a competing platform are released very rarely. The downside of the operating system is its lack of thought. An untrained user may not understand exactly how programs are removed. Not to mention more complex system settings hidden very deeply. The system also regularly encounters bugs that can be very annoying.

Pros: maximum number of compatible applications, affordable price, large number of games.

Cons: unstable operation of some laptops, difficulty in mastering, minimal battery life, the need to install an antivirus.

Mac OS X

Mac OS X does not have the problems described above. What can I say, the Apple product does not have any serious problems at all, if you forget about the not very large number of compatible games. Laptops from the MacBook series are protected from viruses, so there is no need to deal with them. It is convenient to work on such devices: ergonomics are excellent, and the stable functioning of the OS does not force you to waste your nerves. Of course, after using Windows you will have to get used to the new interface and changed key combinations. But it's worth it! It's a pity that MacBooks are obscenely expensive.

Pros: stable and high-speed operation, decent battery life, ease of updates.

Cons: very high cost, minimal number of games.

CPU

Photo: www.overclockers.ua

Modern laptops are equipped with central processors from AMD and Intel. The first company is favored by a good quality-to-price ratio. As for Intel, its products are interesting because of their high power. Also, when choosing a laptop, you should focus on the number of cores of the installed processor.

Dual-core processors

You should buy a laptop based on a dual-core chipset only if you need to strictly save money. Such laptops can already be safely called obsolete. With a dual-core processor it is impossible to work normally in Adobe Photoshop and other heavy programs. And you should definitely forget about games. However, such a solution also has its advantages. Dual-core chipsets do not consume the largest amount of electricity, which affects battery life. In short, laptops with such a chip can be used to solve simple tasks - watching movies, writing text or browsing websites.

Pros: low cost, fairly low energy consumption.

Cons: minimum performance.

Quad-core processors from AMD

These are already more productive solutions. Depending on the graphics card installed, laptops with a similar chipset can even allow you to play games while enjoying 3D graphics. Also, the chip power should be enough for stable operation of a graphics editor or other heavy programs.

Pros: good performance, not the highest cost.

Cons: high energy consumption.

Quad-core processors from Intel

Intel products benefit from the best technology available. Typically, quad-core chipsets from this company have more power. Although this must be checked by familiarizing yourself with the clock frequency. But such a product also costs much more, and therefore the price of the laptop will be higher.

Pros: high performance.

Cons: high cost.

Octa-core processors

Solutions with eight computing cores are still rare guests in laptops. This is explained by their increased energy consumption - and for a laptop, battery life is a very important parameter. The main advantage of such a chip is its very high power. This is where the list of advantages ends. Therefore, gaming laptops are usually equipped with eight-core chipsets, for which the above parameter is the most important.

Pros: very high performance.

Cons: very high cost, increased energy consumption, abundant heat generation.

RAM

Photo: katalog046.ru

When choosing a laptop, you should pay attention to the amount of RAM built into it. Budget models receive only 4 GB - this is not enough to run several heavy programs in the background. What can I say, even a graphics editor will have great difficulty working on such a laptop. And you can completely forget about video editing. You should only buy a laptop like this if it supports memory expansion without voiding the warranty. This will allow you to add another 4 GB of RAM in the future, making your work more comfortable.

More expensive laptops get 8 GB of RAM. Most often this is quite enough. And only gaming models can please you with twice the volume. 16 GB of RAM is required not only for running a large number of programs in the background. This volume will be useful if you regularly work in video or photo editors.

Graphics accelerator

You should think about having a video card in your laptop if you are going to use it for games. It is also useful for video editing, but to speed up this process certain graphics adapters are required - this should be taken into account.

Simple discrete video cards do not affect the weight of the laptop too much. But they are deprived of power, so games will only run on minimum graphics settings. Another thing is top models. In terms of power, they will not be inferior to expensive video cards that are installed in the system unit of a desktop computer. But the laptop with it will weigh 3-4 kg - you will get tired of taking it out of the house every time very quickly. Not to mention the fact that the price tag for gaming laptops is extremely high.

In some cases, you can do without a discrete video card. If you are not going to play on a laptop, then pay attention to those models that have a built-in processor with an integrated graphics core. This laptop is ideal for solving simple problems. And it will be much easier to carry it with you, because some models are close to tablets in terms of thickness and weight. It’s not for nothing that they were called ultrabooks for a long time.

Screen

Photo: tetext.ru

The size and ease of use depend on the display built into the laptop. Models with the smallest screen are called netbooks - they are intended only for working with documents and surfing the Internet. There are also particularly large copies - they are usually purchased to replace a desktop computer.

10-11 inches

The above-mentioned netbooks are equipped with this screen. They were very popular in the late 2000s. But now they are being forced out of the market by tablets, which have a similar display and are much more convenient to transport. A netbook is worth buying if you don't plan to use it for many years. It must be remembered that such a device is only capable of working with simple applications. Even browsing websites can be much more convenient on a tablet - the netbook screen does not have a touch layer or high resolution.

Pros: compact size, low cost of such laptops.

Cons: minimum resolution.

12-14 inches

Typically, the diagonal of an average laptop is in this range. If you don’t go wrong with the resolution (ordinary HD may not be enough), then such a screen will contribute to comfortable work. Of course, this is still a laptop not for video editing and professional work with photographs, but user orientation in other programs will definitely not be difficult.

Pros: relatively compact, good overview.

Cons: difficulties when using professional programs.

15-16 inches

People working in the field of programming or video editing usually buy laptops with a 15-inch screen. Most often, such a display has Full HD resolution, thanks to which all the interface elements of complex programs fit on it. But you need to understand that such a laptop will have a decent size, and its heavy weight will not allow you to regularly carry a laptop computer with you.

Pros: great review.

Cons: Large size, high cost of such laptops.

17 inches or more

Finding a laptop with a 17-inch screen in stores is not as easy as it seems. Most often, gaming models are equipped with such a display. Such devices weigh prohibitively, so they are usually used only at home. But this allows you to get rid of your desktop PC, which takes up even more space.

Pros: maximum comfortable operation, ideal size for games.

Cons: huge size and weight, very high cost.

Other selection criteria

Photo: www.3dnews.ru

When choosing a laptop, pay attention to its design. If budget models do not surprise you, then more expensive ones may interest you with a rotating screen or some kind of unusual touchpad. The display with a rotating mechanism can turn the device into a tablet - this action comes to the rescue in those moments when you just want to surf the Internet or read a magazine. This technology works ideally if the screen has a touch substrate.

You should also meticulously evaluate the laptop case. Are there large gaps on it where accidental moisture can get in? Will the paint begin to fade after just six months? It is best to purchase a laptop with a metal body. However, not everyone can afford such a purchase.

An important factor is the type of drive. A 500 GB hard drive is an ideal option if you buy a budget laptop designed only for working with documents and watching videos. If you are going to play regularly, then it is better to look for a model with a larger hard drive. After all, the weight of modern three-dimensional games can reach 50-60 GB! If you want to get a laptop that never slows down, then everything is much more complicated. In this case, you may need a laptop with an SSD drive (preferably paired with a traditional HDD). Only this design will allow the device to instantly load programs and avoid lag. Need I say that the presence of a solid-state drive significantly increases the cost of the final product?

Finally, don't forget about data transfer. Any laptop has a wireless Wi-Fi module. But the supported standards may vary. Expensive models offer the user the opportunity to use Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, and even in two bands (2.4 and 5 GHz)! If you live in a large city, where the standard range is literally filled with devices connected to it, then this standard will be useful to you. Everyone else won't notice much of a difference. If you are chasing modern technologies, then the presence of other modules will not hurt you: Bluetooth 4.1, NFC and LTE. However, they are not very common in laptops.

The most popular laptop manufacturers

Lenovo

The history of the Chinese company Lenovo Group Limited began in 1984. At the start of its existence, it was engaged in the development of encodings for hieroglyphs and the supply of computer equipment. Our own production of laptops was launched a little later. The impetus for the development of the corporation was the purchase of a division of IBM, which was engaged in the creation of personal computers. And now Motorola Mobility is under the company's wing.

Acer

The Taiwanese company Acer was founded in 1976. Its first computer, intended for export, was designed three years later. Then product improvement began. The company now produces both low-cost laptops and mobile products. You can also find Acer monitors in many offices in most countries in Europe and Asia.

ASUS

ASUSTeK computer Inc. founded in Taipei Republic of China on April 1, 1989. As the name implies, throughout its history it has specialized in the production of computer components. In particular, its motherboards, sound cards and graphics adapters are very popular. ASUS laptops can also be found on store shelves.

Apple

Apple is very different from other laptop manufacturers. Its products operate using the Mac OS X operating system, which is considered invulnerable to viruses and works more stable than Windows. The MacBook brand regularly shines on TV shows, series, games and feature films. Apple products are used by a huge number of Americans. It puts some consumers off just because of the inflated price tag.

HP

The history of Hewlett-Packard Company began in 1939 with the production of measuring equipment. But now we know this company for laptops and peripherals. In particular, printers, scanners and MFPs are in great demand. Laptops are quite popular due to their reasonable price tag.

Toshiba

The Japanese company Toshiba Corporation is well known for its excellent LCD displays. It is not surprising that Toshiba laptops also have high-quality screens. However, the corporation did not produce such devices throughout its history. It was founded in 1939 based on the merger of two other companies. Various electrical equipment and incandescent lamps rolled off the assembly line in those days. Now the Japanese giant produces both portable and tablet computers.

MSI

Taiwan Micro-Star International Co., Ltd was founded in 1986. It produces various computer components - in particular, MSI video cards can be easily found on the shelves of relevant stores. The company also creates laptops based on its own and externally purchased components. Products from the Taiwanese manufacturer regularly receive awards at international exhibitions.

DELL

The American company Dell has existed since 1984. More than 100 thousand employees already work for it. The corporation earns the most money through the production and installation of server equipment. The company also creates storage devices and laptops equipped with them. Such products are in greatest demand at home and in some European countries. The company came to Russia quite recently.

Samsung

Over its long history, Samsung Electronics has tried itself in many areas. It came in due time to the laptop market. These products were considered very reliable and almost elite. However, now everything has changed - laptop computers are in low demand, so the South Koreans have focused almost entirely on designing tablets.

Fujitsu

The history of Fujitsu Limited began back in 1935. The German company Siemens AG took part in the creation of the enterprise - it collaborated with it until 2008. Now the Japanese corporation specializes in the production of computer electronics. Fujitsu laptops can be found in many countries - they are always in demand.

Laptop for study

In this case, pay attention to:

1. Compact dimensions- a large laptop is difficult to transport.
2. Price- not every student is ready to pay over 20 thousand rubles for a laptop computer.
3. Display size- you should look towards laptops with a small screen.

A laptop designed for study doesn't have to be expensive. A student does not need advanced components unless he is studying to become a photographer or video editor.

Laptop for gaming

Gamers should pay attention to:

1. Graphics accelerator- it must be implemented in the form of a powerful discrete video card.
2. CPU- Requires at least a quad-core version operating at a clock frequency of at least 3.3 GHz.
3. Display size- it must be at least 15 inches.

A gaming laptop is an expensive pleasure. It must have powerful components. And its display must have Full HD resolution. It should be noted that video editing will be a joy on such a machine. Therefore, such laptops are purchased not only by avid gamers.

Laptop for work

It all depends on the type of work you do. But in any case, try to focus on:

1. Display size- Carrying around a machine with a 15-inch screen will be difficult, look for smaller options.
2. RAM- 8 or even 16 GB are required.
3. CPU- a quad-core solution must be installed inside the laptop.

The working machine should not be particularly powerful, but not weak either. It would be a shame if, due to a lack of RAM, applications close and the operating system slows down. Therefore, just try to forget about saving - comfortable work is much more important.

The modern market for mobile computers is so diverse that sometimes even a specialist has to spend a lot of time choosing a good and inexpensive laptop, so as not to regret the purchase later. Well, a person whose life is only indirectly connected with the development of the technological process will have to think carefully before deciding which laptop is best to choose for the home in 2016? After all, unlike a desktop computer, it won’t be much improved. Therefore, it is important to immediately choose a device that you can work on for at least several years. Next, I will tell you how to choose the right laptop for your home, which ones you should pay attention to when choosing for home use or work, and even games, but unfortunately, cramming all this information into one article is stupid, so there will be a separate article for the most necessary needs.In the meantime, you will need to get acquainted with these characteristics and the interesting video below:

Tips for dummies on choosing a good laptop

Screen

This is one of the most important characteristics of a laptop, because it is impossible to change it, and the cost will be very different. Therefore, this criterion should be taken with great responsibility.

What diagonal to choose for a laptop?

Of course, we’ll get to the “filling”, but first of all, it’s worth taking a closer look at the different laptop models in terms of display size. It is important that you feel comfortable working and wearing it comfortably. In specialized stores you can find them with screens from 10.1″ to 18.4″. Which laptop to choose depends on its purpose.

• If you need a laptop for mobile work in various conditions, then you should pay attention to models with a screen of 10.1 -13.3 inches.
• In cases where you need a laptop for work and home, it is better to choose options with a diagonal size from 14″ to 17.3. For this purpose, large screens are more convenient so as not to strain your eyes.
• Well, if you need a gaming laptop, pay attention to a diagonal of 15.6 inches or more, up to 18.4.

Screen resolution

The quality of the picture you see on the screen depends on its resolution; the higher this indicator, the better and, accordingly, the higher the price of such a laptop. If you see devices in a store of approximately the same price and screen size, in most cases they will have the same resolution. Below I will present options for screen resolutions in all sizes, which may be different:

• 10-11.6 - sometimes with 1024×600 and 1366×768 the picture quality is better, but if you have poor eyesight, taking such a small laptop with a large expansion is stupid, because all the icons on the screen will be smaller, and this is an extra burden on vision.
• 13.3 - available 1366×768, 1440×900, 1920×1080 Full HD costs only on ultrabooks for $800 - $1500
• 15.6 - 1366×768, 1440×900, 1920×1080
• 17.3 - 1600×900 and 1920×1080 in such Full HD diagonals is a very useful thing, but in most cases it is used in gaming laptops.
• 18.4 - only 1920x1080 and 4k these powerful laptops are only for games, prices start from $1000 to $4500

However, the difference in resolutions can be quite significant. For the same screen size in different models, the resolution may differ significantly as you can see in the list above. It is recommended to choose laptops with higher values ​​of this indicator. Although, of course, here we are talking about your financial capabilities.

Which screen to choose for a laptop?

In addition to these aspects, when examining a monitor, it is advisable to examine the surface of the screen; it can be:

• glossy
• matte

Choosing a device with a matte screen surface will drain your budget somewhat more than buying a cheaper one with a glossy one. However, these investments can be considered expenses for your own health. A matte monitor practically does not reflect in the sun, which minimizes its detrimental effect on human vision and fatigue. In addition, such a surface is easier to care for, but the saturation and brightness of the picture is lost, so the choice is yours. My advice is to choose a matte screen, it’s a pity that now it’s almost never installed on cheap and mid-segment laptops.

Which processor to choose for a laptop?

Now we have reached the main point that needs to be considered when choosing a good and powerful laptop. You can determine that the device you have chosen is a laptop or ultrabook by the letter “M, U or H” in the brand/model designation of this laptop computer. For example, names such as Intel Core i3-6200U or AMD Quad-Core A10-4600M indicate that these technological machines belong specifically to the laptop family.

If you want to purchase an ultrabook, then you should look for the letter “U” in the names of the presented mobile devices. Today, processors for laptop computers of this level are assembled only by Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 are already 6th generation, this can be recognized by the first digit of the marking, for example, now a lot of 4th and 5th generation processors are sold, it looks like this so: Core i3 5010U 2100 MHz and Core i5 4200H 2800 MHz. Their highlight is that during their creation, the engineers of this company managed to achieve a significant reduction in energy consumption. Due to this, the laptop or ultrabook acquired such thin forms and became noticeably lighter.

You need to choose your first laptop based on the processor power criteria based on the requirements that you place on it. For example, if your work requires a device with compelling computing performance, we recommend looking at processors such as Intel Core i3, i5 or i7. In order for your laptop computer to allow you to enjoy computer games, you need to look for an appropriate device with powerful discrete graphics.

You can also pay attention to laptops with processors from AMD A4, A6, A8, A10. Moreover, even here you will be able to save a lot if you do not need a super powerful gaming laptop, but you just want to take a model that can do the simplest and most popular things like: watch movies, type text, work with office programs and ordinary household tasks, then I would recommend AMD because of their good integrated video cards and of course the cost.

Today, the leading positions in the market of processing devices for laptops and ultrabooks in terms of product quality are occupied by Intel processors. The most common fruits of engineering are 5th and 6th generation processors. The presented devices differ in their technological process, 22 nm and 14 nm, respectively. In other words, the difference between 5th and 6th generation processors lies in the spacing between the transistors of the device and the graphics cores (video cards) built into them. Processor performance will increase in proportion to the decrease in this interval. Moreover, energy consumption in this case decreases and sometimes remains at the same level.

The first in the list of data is lithography, which is also a technological process. This has already been decided - this figure should be as low as possible. The next parameter is the maximum design power. It indicates the amount of energy consumed at full load. The smallest values ​​are also important here. The less the device requires to operate, the longer you can use it without recharging. Type of supported memory – large values ​​are important for this indicator. It will be easier to decide on the choice of processor for a laptop if you look at the specifications of several models in advance and compare them according to the specified parameters. It is advisable to look for this data on the manufacturer’s website; such information is not difficult to find on the Internet.

For an entry-level laptop, these processor models are suitable

• Intel- 3825U 1900 MHz or better quad-core Intel Pentium N3540 (2.16 - 2.66 GHz)
  
• AMD- A6 6310 1800 MHz, or better yet, find an AMD A8-6410

If you don’t have any special requirements for it, then these processors will cope with your household tasks 100%.

These models are suitable for a mid-level laptop

• Intel- Intel Core i3-5005U (2.0 GHz) or Intel Core i5-5200U (2.2 - 2.7 GHz)
  
• AMD- AMD Quad-Core A8-7410 (2.2 - 2.5 GHz) or AMD Quad-Core A10-8780P (2.0 - 3.3 GHz) - these are all 4-core processors
  

Well, for a gaming laptop the choice is obvious

• Intel® Core™ i7-5700HQ and Intel Core i7-6700HQ (2.6 - 3.5 GHz) are the most powerful processors that are installed in laptops and are good at pulling out all the new toys!
  

What amount of RAM should I choose?

When wondering how to choose the right laptop for work, it is also important to pay attention to the amount of RAM. It should be noted that for convenient operation you need at least 4 GB of RAM. Some craftsmen, however, manage to increase the memory by 2 to 4 GB with 2 GB. However, here you need to be able to work so that there is enough volume and there is no need to use virtual memory. Otherwise, the hard drive will work in enhanced mode, and the entire system will start to work much slower. At the moment, a standard 15 diagonal laptop has 2 slots for brackets and it will be better if they are all occupied by 4+4, which will give us 8 GB which will be enough for several years, but if you want to buy more later, this can only be done if you delay This process, it is worth knowing that over time their cost increases, especially after the release of a new generation of memory. In a word, the more the merrier!

Currently there are 3rd generation strips called DDR3 1333 Mhz and 1600 Mhz, but there is already a 4th DDR4-2133 MHz.

What hard drive size should I choose?

Large volumes are also important for this parameter. The larger the numbers indicating the amount of space on your hard drive, the more data you can store here. The weak point of the hard drive of any portable system is performance. It is possible to help correct the situation by adding RAM, or using a solid-state SSD drive that is 10-15 times faster than an HDD! By the way, if the thought of replacing your hard drive with a solid-state SSD drive comes to you even before purchasing, then, in principle, you can not pay attention to the volume of the hard drive, because this drive has a small volume of 120-512 GB, although models with 1 TB have already appeared, It’s just that their cost is still sky-high, although at the end of 2015 there is talk of a price reduction. Although some laptops have two disk connectors, so you can put an SSD and HDD in one unit, as is often the case when Windows and main programs and games that are often played are installed on a solid-state one, and important information is stored on the other.

Number and variety of connectors

For comfortable work on a laptop, 3 USB ports will be enough. Although there are devices with more and less similar outputs. It is desirable that at least one of them be USB 3.0, through which you can already connect an external hard drive and some other devices. Most laptop computers have an HDMI output for connecting to a TV screen. The standard situation for a laptop is a combination of headphone and microphone outputs in a single connector. If this point is important for you, look for an option with two connectors. In addition, all devices are equipped with a connector that allows you to connect to the Internet via cable, and a connector that allows you to connect a monitor to the device (VGA, D-SUB). In addition, they must “be able” to read an SD memory card. By the way, the performance of devices into which the entire body of an SD card can be inserted can be improved using Readyboost technologies for Windows 7 and Windows 8. In this case, you will no longer need to remove the card from the laptop during operation to achieve the maximum effect.

Well, between us, laptop manufacturers set everything to the standard and therefore everything is almost the same for everyone.

Most often you can find laptops that have 4-8 cell batteries with a capacity of 4400-5600 mAh. The higher this indicator, the longer the laptop will work without recharging, but you need to know that such a device will already weigh somewhat more. Therefore, you should choose what you need more: weight or autonomy. Plus, now the consumption of new spare parts is so low that even a 3-cell battery lasts up to 2-3 hours without recharging while reading. Yes, and we cannot choose this indicator, alas!

Rating of the best laptops of the year

The best laptops under 20,000 rubles

• HP 15-ac000 - recommended for home use
• ASUS X552EA
• ASUS X551CA - the best option with Windows for home use
• DELL INSPIRON 3542
• Lenovo G50-70

The best laptops under 25,000 rubles

• DELL INSPIRON 3521
• ASUS X502CA
• ASUS X552EA
• DELL INSPIRON 3542 is also an interesting model, but the design is not for everyone
• Lenovo G50-45
• HP 15-r100 - beautiful and reliable laptop

The best laptops under 30,000 rubles

• ASUS X554LJ is an excellent choice for work
• Acer ASPIRE E5-511G-P4Q4
• Lenovo IdeaPad S510p
• DELL INSPIRON 5558
• HP PAVILION 17-e000 is the best choice for this amount if you won't be moving around with it a lot

• ASUS X550LD
• Acer ASPIRE E1-570G-53334G50Mn
• DELL INSPIRON 3542
• ASUS X555LN - best buy
• HP PAVILION 15-p200
• Lenovo G50-70
• HP PAVILION 15-p000

Top best laptops under 40,000 rubles 2015

• HP PAVILION 17-g000
• ASUS X555LD
• ASUS K551LN - best buy
• Lenovo IdeaPad Z5070
• DELL INSPIRON 5558
• Lenovo IdeaPad G505s
• Lenovo THINKPAD Edge E555
• Acer ASPIRE E5-551G-T2LT

The best laptops under 50,000 rubles