Laptops , just like conventional desktop PCs, can serve many purposes . The very wide price range, the various and varied performances, the multiple screen definitions… you quickly get lost, especially when faced with a salesperson tempted to take advantage of your lack of knowledge and your hesitations.
But also for common multimedia uses such as streaming your favorite series, or reviewing your vacation photos in Martinique…
More advanced use concerns ultra-mobility needs, video editing, or advanced multimedia use. Finally, the ultimate use is reserved for video game aficionados.
If you intend your purchase for basic use, it is not necessary to turn to a large configuration. Conversely, for a gamer, a solid installation dedicated to the game is preferable.
Autonomy
Whether on a walk, on the train, in the waiting room of an airport, you will not necessarily have an electrical outlet at hand .
If you intend your new toy for mobility, you need a good autonomy in order to avoid the anxieties of the empty battery. This will also be the case if your daily use requires a lot of resources from your bike:
In addition, the automies described by the manufacturers are (always) overvalued. So remember to subtract 10 to 20% of the autonomy announced in stores; for example for a self-proclaimed autonomy of 6 hours, understand rather between 4 and 5 hours.
The weight
When choosing a laptop , the weight of the beast can be a major concern. If your intention is to travel with it often , on public transport for example, the weight is essential. There are very light ones, hybrid PCs or ultra books , but you have to be aware that the miniaturization of computers is done to the detriment of other qualities: A reduced battery leads to low autonomy, a thin chassis dissipates heat less well, a limited connectivity can be frustrating.
screen size
For laptops intended for mobility, the screen can be a dilemma. The larger the screen, the more weight you will feel in your bag, but the more comfortable the viewing will be . A 14 or 15 inch screen is ideal for all classic daily or professional tasks (office, word processing, internet browsing and watching videos). For games, movies with a good resolution or graphic tasks, prefer screens of at least 16 inches. 21 inches or even 24 inches will not be too much.
Another selection criterion at screen level is its definition . Today, a Full HD definition is the norm: don’t choose less, at the risk of degrading your reading comfort. Of course, higher definitions exist if your use requires it: do you do photo editing, web design, graphics, gaming…? If so, bet on a high quality screen definition. We recommend LED screens , which do not heat up, offer better contrast and consume less power.
The graphics card
The role of a graphics card (or video card) is to manage the display of images on the screen and their quality (definition and fluidity of the image). The best known brands are Nvidia (and its famous Ge force series), Radeon or GE Force.
What operating system?
Only Apple computers run on macOS. So you have no choice if you want to use this system. For the rest of the galaxy, the bulk of the battalion is natively equipped with Windows 10 from Microsoft . Google’s recent Chrome OS operating system is still rare but little by little the bird is making its nest, supported by
Don’t forget the connection
Often forgotten during the purchase, the lack of variety of connectors could make you regret your choice sorely. Again, consider your future activities to determine what outlets you are going to need on your machine. How many USB sockets would you like? Do you want HDMI video output? Or will you need more diversity to plug your peripherals into? Obviously, the multiplication of sockets implies an increase in the size of the machine, but the connection remains a criterion to be assessed correctly.
Today, from 500€, you will find laptops for basic use that are both versatile and efficient . If your budget allows you to exceed a thousand euros, the computers currently on offer are already developing great power, and are able to satisfy you in advanced use and even for gaming.
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