What you need to know when choosing a laptop. How to choose a laptop according to parameters

It lies in the list of tasks that will have to be solved on it. For the 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 coating). Although quite rare, there are still such mobile PCs with a cut-off keyboard. It’s also better not to buy them. It’s not very convenient to work on it, and 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. 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 The most common are TN (outdated option) and IPS (this solution is more preferable).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, initial programming will be sufficient with a processor with low performance and integrated graphics. 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 storage devices - 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

Battery capacity only affects 2 things: duration 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.

You will need

• - user manuals different models laptops;
• - descriptions on the Internet, lists of technical characteristics;
• - special literature.

Instructions

Decide on your own needs. A laptop is, first of all, a convenient portable computer technology, providing the user with many opportunities for work. That is why it makes sense to buy it only if there is a need for mobility. In other words, if you take it with you on the road or are going to use the laptop for presentations “on foreign territory”. Portable equipment will also come in handy if there is a desire to change the place when working with it. For example, many people like to work with a laptop while lying on the sofa or sitting comfortably in a rocking chair in front of a fireplace spreading waves of heat. But for the role of the main computing device A laptop is absolutely not suitable, especially if high quality audio and video is required for work related to video editing, real-time audio processing, mixing tracks and other complex tasks. This requires a powerful desktop computer.

To perform most office tasks, a low-power, inexpensive laptop or even a netbook will be sufficient. However, you need to keep in mind that in some cases digital data can be useful. additional section keyboard, which is missing on netbooks and some cheap laptops. At the same time, such devices allow you to watch videos, play simple games and surf the Internet, although without much comfort.

Great value to work with a laptop has an operating system installed on it. When choosing a device in the salon, you must pay attention to this. The operating system must be the most up-to-date as developers strive to improve their software products, and with each new version the system becomes better, more reliable and secure. Therefore, buy gadgets with Windows 8, and also better - Windows 8.1. However, Microsoft provides users with the opportunity to upgrade for free to latest version. You should not buy a device with a pre-installed Linux system - Ubuntu or FreeBSD, since they do not provide even a hundredth of the capabilities of a Microsoft system. In addition, for example, a Wi-Fi module or a webcam will not always work. Under no circumstances buy a laptop without a pre-installed system, even though it costs a couple of thousand less. You will still have to buy a system, look for necessary drivers or entrust it all to a master. You can, of course, use a pirated copy of the OS, but this is illegal and therefore not an acceptable option for us.

Pay attention to the screen diagonal and picture quality. A large screen in a number of cases is much more convenient than a small one, and high image quality means increased comfort in work and less eye fatigue. Good clarity, sufficient brightness and color are the key to pleasant communication with a laptop computer.

There are other things to consider when choosing the best laptop (for you). Comfortable keyboard, better than the island type, the presence of a BlueTooth module, Wi-Fi, the location of headphone jacks, ports, controls - everything needs to be evaluated. And finally, the most important thing. This is the amount of RAM, the amount hard drive, number of cores and clock frequency processor.

Personal computers have become an integral attribute in our lives, like televisions, mobile phones, coffee makers and other household appliances. Previously, the abbreviation PC meant desktop computers, today it means laptops and laptops.

Owners of desktop computers, when upgrading their PCs, prefer multifunctional, compact and lightweight laptops

System units with monitors remain only in specially equipped places.

The buyer needs to make a difficult choice regarding the number of models and manufacturers that are presented on the market. The optimal choice for all parameters and configuration of your laptop can only be made by the future owner.

Important laptop parameters

There are a number of criteria for choosing a laptop. If you will actively use a laptop, then the most important thing when choosing is its purpose. Once you decide on its use, you can move on to the configuration. Choosing a laptop based on its characteristics is not easy.

According to their purpose, laptop computers can be divided into groups:

1. For home (small screen and basic set tools: office applications, Internet mail). Compact, not heavy, moves freely around the living space;
2. For work (depending on the work). They are distinguished by their design, increased energy capacity of batteries (up to 12 hours), low weight and dimensions;
3. For games (large screen, powerful configuration, small battery life, stands on the table and almost never moves). Used instead of a desktop computer. Has good monitor, high quality sound system, large weight and dimensions;

Users combine laptops according to their intended purpose, the balance is conditional, the decision depends on the owner. If you have enough money, it is better to buy several computers that will satisfy your needs and needs.

The second important parameter is the laptop configuration:

• CPU. The processor in a laptop plays a vital role. The speed of processed information and, in general, the performance of the entire system depend on its power. AMD and Intel are considered popular models.
  It has been noticed that Intel processors work faster with office applications and programs

AMD processor, due to the powerful built-in video adapter, works faster with games and video graphics

AMD or Intel is up to the owner to choose.

The AMD processor, due to its powerful built-in video adapter, works faster with games and video graphics.

• Laptop diagonal. The size of the desktop depends on it. Monitors with a large diagonal are not suitable for business trips, but those with a small diagonal are suitable for watching movies. The laptop screen can be glossy or matte. Glossy monitors are used to visualize images; they optically increase contrast and color saturation (it’s nice to watch videos or play games). The problem with glossy monitors is glare from bright lighting. On matte screens, the picture is visually worse, but they do not have reflections and the eyes are less tired; they are pleasant to work with. When choosing a diagonal and screen type, come to the store and choose which one suits you. Pay attention to the angle of the monitor. When working with a laptop on your lap, a roof opening angle of 130° or more will suit you;
• RAM. To work normally with modern operating systems, you need at least 4GB of RAM. There is no such thing as too much RAM; the more you have, the less loaded the other components of your computer will be. When choosing a laptop, it is better to immediately purchase the required amount of memory. If you are buying for a possible upgrade, then pay attention to the expandability of the laptop. Please note that replacing or increasing RAM slots is not always easy (to get to the expansion slots, you have to disassemble the entire laptop). Due to the low price of RAM, equip your computer with all the necessary volume at once;
• Hard drive. Huge information storage for a laptop is no longer relevant. Video and music are in online viewing on the Internet, working with documentation in the “clouds” is becoming commonplace, storing photos is also external. It also makes no sense to install a hard drive less than 500 GB (for a gaming computer, the “weight” of the game is 15-30 GB and at least 10 GB for installation). For a hard drive, an important parameter is the type of HDD or SSD.
  Solid State SSDs The drives operate many times faster, are less noisy and emit less heat. But due to its price, it is not yet fully available to users;
• Video card. It is needed for a gaming laptop. There are three types of it in a computer: built-in (built into the processor), discrete (separate device) and symbiosis (built-in and discrete at the same time). A built-in video card is used in home computers, and a discrete one in gaming ones. Simultaneous use Both video cards reduce the power consumption of the laptop (when working in office applications, the built-in one works, when working with powerful graphic editors and gameplay discrete switches on);
• Availability of DVD drive, Wi-fi, Blutooth, necessary connectors. Laptop owners no longer use DVDs to store information and, accordingly, do not use DVD drives, but flash drives are used. Before equipping your computer, determine whether you need it. If you need it, then pay attention to BlueRay drives with the ability to read any disc formats. When purchasing a laptop, make sure that it has all the necessary network tools on board to communicate with outside world and the necessary equipment ( network card, Wi-fi and Blutooth adapters). As for the connectors, you can note USB (3-4 pieces should be enough, if there is a shortage, you can buy an additional splitter), D-SUB for connecting an external one - for connecting to LCD monitors. The rest, as a rule, are equipped as standard: audio output/outputs (one connector combined for headphones and microphone. It is better to take separately), card reader, and others;
• Battery capacity. This parameter regulates the duration of the laptop operation. Accordingly, the larger it is, the longer the computer will work autonomously. A capacitive battery increases the weight of the laptop. Please note that the laptop’s performance without recharging, as specified by the manufacturer, is overestimated. As the batteries wear out, the operating time between charges decreases.
• Keyboard and more. Here, when choosing, look and feel the buttons. They should not cause discomfort, with clearly marked symbols in two languages. The location of the buttons does not play a big role, you will get used to it over time. If you often use numbers, then a keyboard with a number pad may be suitable for you. On a keyboard without a block, the buttons are larger. The digital block is purchased as a separate device and connected to a USB connector. Standard keyboards have LED backlight, which turns off. Keyboards have a touchpad or multi-touch touchpad. The multi-touch touchpad allows you to operate it with two fingers. A high-quality camera has 1.5 million pixels. The sound quality on a laptop cannot be determined until you listen to it. The characteristics in the description will not say anything about this.

Laptop for home

A portable computer for the home is small in size, and thanks to its not average components, it has a long battery life.

Convenient: for study, transportation in public transport, business trips, vacations.

Based on the characteristics given in the section above, a laptop for the home is a highly mobile device. Waking up in the morning, you went to have breakfast, while simultaneously checking your email or news on the Internet.

Main characteristics for home computer are considered basic power for working with office applications. The processor power is not large, the screen diagonal is from 10.1" to 15.6". RAM capacity is 2-4 GB, hard drive up to 200 GB. The video card is built-in.

Laptop for work

A laptop with a diagonal of 14" or 15.6" is suitable for work.

The laptop is equipped with a powerful configuration and can be used as a home laptop, and with a discrete graphics card installed, as a gaming laptop.

The screen diagonal allows you to perform typical tasks and participate in the gameplay, with undemanding software.

Laptop for gaming

For games, large-format monitors with a diagonal of 17.3" and higher are used. They are equipped with a powerful configuration. This type laptops are expensive. They are considered large and heavy. Not suitable for transportation. Install once and do not move.

Used to view video files, powerful games and replaces a regular desktop computer

When working with graphical interfaces, gaming laptops make noise and get very hot. It is recommended to immediately purchase additional cooling stands for them. When working under load for a long time, without sufficient cooling, gaming laptops fail after 2-5 years.

WATCH THE VIDEO

It happens that a person buys a laptop “just to have it.” This is not very reasonable. If you don't have a clear reason for purchasing, then a brand new laptop will most likely gather 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 on average and even high settings. Thus, gamers who do not prioritize graphics can save themselves from significant expenses on a full-fledged gaming laptop with powerful performance. discrete video 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: reviewer ratings, design, quality technical support and provision, innovation, range of laptops offered, as well as 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 company introduced the tenth series of video cards GeForce GTX, 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 give in to persuasion and choose a gaming laptop only with GeForce GTX tenth series.

Seniors traditionally choose the processor for a gaming laptop. Intel models Core i5 (for GTX 1050 and 1060), base Core i7 (for GTX 1070) and senior Core i7 (for GTX 1080). 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 the 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 a transformer is 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 consider a Chromebook - more affordable laptops, tailored 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

Big 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 highly depend on the tasks being solved and the used software, 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 gluttonous Chrome browser in terms of memory consumption, and this is 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 best characteristics, than their younger HD brothers.

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 GeForce video card 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. By saving just a little money, you'll get a lot less productive laptop without power reserves for the future and normal VR support.

Wi-Fi 5 GHz

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

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

Unfortunately for Wi-Fi usage 5 GHz also requires 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 compatibility with USB-C, has sufficient throughput for connecting a 4K monitor, external storage 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 a sufficient pixel density, we will not see them from a typical work with specific device distances. 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

Intel Core i7 last generations- this is true 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.

In recent years, the laptop has become one of the purchased types of computer equipment. It has earned popularity thanks to its mobility indicator, which makes available opportunity its operation without being tied to a stationary location. Despite the fact that most computer users already own laptops, the question of choosing and purchasing them will not become less popular.

Choosing a laptop is a difficult task not only for beginners, but also for knowledgeable people. The huge range of products confuses even advanced computer users. For many buyers, the decisive factors when choosing a device are such indicators as design and execution, however, in order to ensure that the purchased product does not disappoint its owner during operation, maximum attention should be paid when purchasing it to the functional indicators of the equipment. In this article, we will consider how to choose the right laptop so that it best meets the user’s requirements and can also perform the functions that the consumer needs.

Before you go directly to a computer hardware store, you should carefully study the current range of products offered, namely their parameters and characteristics. It is necessary to work in three directions:

1. Study the performance of computer components such as RAM, hard drive, processor, video card and battery, which directly affect their functionality.
2. Research the availability of additional components, namely an optical drive, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules, a card reader, a webcam.
3. Consider the design features of the product body, the type and parameters of the display.

An integrated approach to choosing a portable device based on the above parameters will guarantee the purchase of a laptop of exactly the quality that the consumer needs for comfortable use of the device.

Functional characteristics of laptops

Start selection good laptop For yourself, you need to determine the type of processor, which is considered the brain of the device and is responsible for its performance. They come in two types - Intel and AMD. Laptops with Intel processor, they complete tasks faster and provide maximum productivity when working with office applications and on the Internet. If computer equipment is purchased primarily for the purpose of playing games, then it is better to choose the second type, which is characterized by advanced integrated graphics. Here you also need to pay attention to the number of cores. Processors with one core are considered weak; the laptop begins to slow down even when opening several tabs on the Internet. For work or study, they are considered the most acceptable dual core processors. For heavy gaming and work with computer graphics Devices that have four cores or more are suitable.

The RAM or built-in memory of a laptop is one of the most important parameters choice. The memory will determine how quickly the device can cope with the tasks assigned by the consumer. The built-in memory of modern laptops ranges from two to sixteen gigabytes. If a consumer needs an inexpensive laptop for working with text applications and by email, then a model with two gigabytes of RAM will suit him, but for comfortable work with modern heavy applications it is better to buy devices with at least four gigabytes of RAM.

For consumers who choose a laptop not only for office work, but also for entertainment purposes, it is worth paying attention to the presence of a video card. In the simplest and most inexpensive devices, it is not necessary; the user will only need a controller built into the processor, but for working with graphics and operating a laptop for gaming purposes, this module is important.

It is also worth paying special attention to the hard drive of the product, its size and type. Today there are two types of disks: HDD and advanced SSD drives. The second type is considered a more powerful and reliable data storage, but the cost of devices with such a drive is higher. SSD drives differ from their predecessors in quality, which increases the boot speed of the computer itself. If you are buying it for gaming purposes, you should pay attention to models with an SSD hard drive type. The disk capacity has virtually no effect on the performance of a laptop computer; only the amount of information that can be stored on the device depends on it. Since today there is no need to save a lot of heavy films and videos on your device, most users watch them online; the optimal hard drive capacity is five hundred gigabytes.

Not on last place When choosing a laptop computer, there is a battery, namely its capacity. The laptop can work directly through the power supply from the network, at this time it charges a little, but the battery does not participate in supplying power to the device, and also remotely from the battery, which makes it mobile. The capacity of the battery determines how long a laptop computer can operate without recharging. If the device is purchased more for stationary use, then you can pay attention to an inexpensive laptop with a weaker battery, for mobile people- how more powerful battery, the better, the more time you can work offline.

When choosing a laptop computer based on its characteristics, it is also worth checking whether it has an installed operating system. Some device models are sold bare-bones, so after purchasing them the user will have to buy a licensed operating system and install it, which costs a lot of money.

Additional components

The components of a laptop computer do not directly affect its performance, but the presence of some of them simplifies the work and makes operation more convenient.

A webcam is a module that allows you to communicate online via video conference. In inexpensive models it is missing or a weak 1.3 megapixel camera is built-in, which gives blurry image, there is no sense of reality when communicating. If communication in video mode is important for the user, it is worth paying attention to models of portable devices with a good and powerful camera.

Users have mixed feelings about the presence of an optical drive. It is designed to read and write CDs and DVDs. Since most users have long switched to more convenient flash drives, the presence of a drive is not mandatory.

Regarding modules such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, their presence is desirable on the selected laptop computer. Using the built-in Wi-Fi module the user will be able to connect to sources wireless network, and Bluetooth allows you to transmit information wirelessly from other devices.

When choosing a laptop based on its parameters, it is worth finding out about the presence of a card reader, which is found in almost all modern devices and provides the ability to read flash drives of any type. Inexpensive models of older devices may not have this module, which makes working with some drives much more difficult or even impossible. It is also important to pay attention to the type of USB connectors for connection external devices. Most models have only 2.0 type connectors for connecting external units; modernized 3.0 type connectors with higher data transfer rates are present only in newer models. Since a laptop is bought for more than one year, and the development of computer technology is moving rapidly forward, it is advisable to ensure that at least one connector is of an improved type.

Location of laptop interface connectors

Appearance and performance

Of course, choosing a laptop based on appearance and design is nothing less than stupid, since a very beautiful device can be non-functional and impractical to use. However, you should not completely discount the external indicators and characteristics of a portable device.

An important feature when choosing a laptop is the material of its case. It has no effect on the operation of the device, however, cheaper models of devices have a plastic body, which is susceptible to damage. And also, fingerprints are very noticeable on such cases; devices wear out faster when carried frequently in a bag and take on an unpresentable appearance. It is better to buy a laptop that has a body made of good plastic and metal or a combination of both, despite the fact that the price of such models is slightly higher.

The size of the laptop depends on the screen size. Models available in sizes from 13 inches and above. When choosing a good portable device, experts do not advise taking the smallest models, since they are not only not very practical in operation, but also negatively affect human vision. It is better to give preference to medium-sized displays. Small laptops also have a shortened keyboard, which in terms of ease of use is significantly inferior to full-size models.

Next, you need to study the laptop display parameters. Available for sale today laptop computers with glossy and matte screen finish. At first glance, a glossy coating may seem more perfect, but in practice such screens are very responsive to bright light sources, which is reflected in glare during operation. It is better to give preference to less contrasting models that are less responsive to light sources. As for screen resolution: the more pixels, the better and clearer the picture on the screen will be.

Choosing the right laptop for your needs

It is impossible to advise any single parameters for absolutely all users, since there is no universal portable device that is suitable for almost all people.

Select a laptop by parameters potential buyer necessary depending on your needs and the scope of its use. When choosing a laptop for stationary use, you should pay more attention to the screen and keyboard. We should give preference to models with a screen of at least seventeen inches and a full-fledged keyboard, which, although larger in size, are more convenient to use. It is also desirable that the laptop computer has a sufficient number of USB connectors to connect all external devices necessary for the home, RAM at least six gigabytes and good processor, which will allow you to fully exploit the laptop. When choosing a laptop for home, you can sacrifice battery capacity, since the power source is nearby.

When choosing a gaming laptop, you need to pay more attention to such characteristics as RAM, which should be at least eight gigabytes, which will allow you to play heavy games without slowdowns, and a processor with at least four cores. Good graphics, screen quality and the presence of video cards will provide the clearest and most detailed image possible.

If portable device mainly purchased for work or study, you can choose mid-range models that have four or more gigabytes of RAM, a decent processor and video card, or a decent built-in graphic editor, allowing you to work with standard graphic applications. If you plan to use the device on the road, you need to buy a device with a powerful battery.

For a schoolchild, it is better to buy an inexpensive budget model, since there is a high probability that a teenager will break or lose a laptop.

Having decided on the main ones for yourself technical characteristics product, you can proceed to a specific choice of model. Models of devices with similar characteristics from different manufacturers have a wide price range. The question of whether it is worth overpaying for a brand or whether a purchase can be guided solely by functional indicators interests many buyers.

There is no clear answer to this question; everyone must be guided by their own financial capabilities, especially since both expensive and budget equipment breaks down. And the opportunity to buy a laptop from the most popular manufacturer Apple Not everyone has it, given the cost of the company's products. However, it is also not recommended to give preference to unknown companies. It is better to buy products from well-known manufacturers that have their own service centers in the country and are popular. Don’t discount product consumer reviews, which can help you make the right choice.

Among the popular manufacturers are Asus and Aser, which are distinguished by their democratic pricing policy, are leaders in the sales market. Products of these brands have decent technical performance and are characterized as reliable devices.

Lenovo is considered an inexpensive company, specializing more in gaming and budget models, the price of which corresponds to the quality.

The price category of products from Dell and Sony is slightly higher, but their products are different high quality, long term operation and, accordingly, a long warranty period. Experts and users advise giving preference to these particular brands of goods, if financial capabilities allow.

Where is the best place to buy a laptop?

When buying a laptop, it is better to refrain from purchasing goods in spontaneous markets or secondhand. Today, many people prefer online shopping, but purchasing equipment through online stores has both pros and cons. The advantages include the cost, which is significantly lower than in regular specialized stores, convenient selection of devices at home, and a huge assortment. Disadvantages may include inconsistencies with the declared configuration or design on the website, possible damage during transportation, and incorrect execution of warranty documents. And also, in the event of a breakdown, the buyer will have to look for it himself. service center, where they can fulfill warranty obligations.

It is considered more reliable to purchase goods in specialized stores, where the buyer can inspect the device and control the execution of documents. Such stores are responsible for the laptop sold throughout the entire warranty period; in the event of a breakdown, it is enough to bring the laptop and documents to the store to resolve the problematic issue.

Conclusions

Buying an inexpensive, but good and reliable laptop today is not an easy task. The huge range of products offered makes you wonder even experienced users computer equipment.

In order to buy a device that will meet the needs of the consumer, you should choose a product not on the advice of friends, store clerks or appearance, but guided by their own requirements. A detailed study of the parameters and characteristics of the product will guarantee the selection and purchase of the laptop that best suits your wishes and style of use.