Laptop Buying Guide, Part 2

If you’ve worked on those Ps & Qs we gave you in Part 1 of this blog series, you should have a good understanding of the way you want to use your laptop and a ballpark idea about how much you’re willing to spend. (If you haven’t seen it yet, you’ll want to check out that post here.)

NEXT UP – PREFERENCE:

Now it’s time to take what you’ve learned and start evaluating which of these features and options will best meet your needs in the laptop you choose.

1. Storage Drive – Solid State (SSD) vs. Hard Disc (HDD): Traditional hard disc drives are relatively inexpensive and offer huge data storage space. However, they also add significantly to a laptop’s weight and thickness. Solid-state drives (SSDs) are many times faster than hard disk drives, but typically offer far less storage space. SSDs offer incredible advantages in physical size, weight, and power efficiency. Prioritize disc space for the software you plan to run, and remember – you can always use external or cloud-based storage drives to store your personal files.

2. Size vs. Portability: Think about how the size of the screen or keyboard impacts the work you’ll be doing. If you’re on the go, you may want to sacrifice the larger screen and keyboard in favor of a machine that fits better in a backpack.

3. Screen Type: Many of today’s models have flip-top or detachable touchscreens that convert the laptop into an oversized tablet. This is a nice feature, but it may be one worth sacrificing in order to get one of your other must-haves.

4. Connectivity: The number and types of external ports on a laptop vary greatly from model to model. Think about the external devices you might need to use, and how you’ll connect them to your computer.

5. Battery Life

If you need to use your laptop where power cords won’t go, you’ll need a battery that lasts. You may need to sacrifice a larger display or another power-hungry feature to get longer life; just prioritize what matters most.

 

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT “P” OF ALL: PERSONAL SERVICE

If you have any questions or need assistance setting up your new laptop, Big Fish Technology is here to help! Beyond offering expert advice, we can:

• Provision your new laptop for optimal performance
• Install and maintain anti-virus software to protect what’s most important to you
• Back up your data and give you peace of mind; if something happens to your new computer, we will get you up and running again in no time

Give us a call at 678-528-7713 option 3 or reach us by e-mail at sales@bigfishtechnology.com