Last updated: April 4, 2024
The laptop market is very large. There is something for everyone. There are also good and bad deals. Here are some keys to know how to choose your laptop in 2022. .
What use?
This question may seem very simple but is nevertheless very necessary. Indeed, few people ask. Then take the time to sit down in front of your desk with a sheet of paper and a pen in your hand (yes it sometimes feels good to leave the screen and the keyboard).
Note then why you want to buy a laptop.
Is it for me, for a member of my family. Ask yourself after the following few questions:
- Do i need a laptop to carry several times a day. Or on the contrary do I need a computer which must be able to move easily but can be heavier.
- Am i looking for a Laptop PC for gamers or a desktop PC?
- Do I go play all the new games on it where am I going use Excel Office software 85% of the time and my Outlook mailbox.
There you are, there are plenty of essential questions to ask. You can complete the list by researching the Internet.
Sometimes after making this list, we can realize that we were not looking for a laptop or a desktop computer but rather a smartphone for example. We can also realize that we do not need an additional computer at the moment.
Which OS?
The second key is the question of operating system (Operating System in English - OS).
There are 4:
- Linux
- MacOs
- Windows
- Chromebook under Google.
First of all, know that Linux is very rarely installed on a laptop. We are therefore not going to talk about it in this guide.
Then there is Windows. This is the most widespread service. It offers multiple functions and a lot of software, the majority of which is available there.
Then MacOs and Chrome Os are more closed services which are therefore supposed to be more secure. Thus, less software is available there.
Note that on chromeOs, everything is done on the chrome browser. This can work offline for tasks like Google Docs, Google Slides, etc.
What performances?
Here are some terms to know to understand the technical data sheets of laptops and make your choice without needing to be a specialist in new technologies. You will be able to take advantage of the good offers while ensuring that you have a sufficiently fast and efficient machine.
Processor
Le processor is the most important element in a computer. The performance of a machine is closely linked to the processor performance. Its power is expressed in Gigahertz (GHz). Two manufacturers share the market (Intel, AMD).
At the moment, the best processor models are the Intel models. They are divided into 3, from best to worst:
- Intel Core i7 : with 4 or 6 cores, these processors are the most efficient on the market. They are perfect in all areas.
- Intel Core i5 : Core i5s only have 4 cores. The performances are always very interesting. One of the best price / performance ratios for games.
- Intel Core i3: These are Dual Core processors perfectly suited to office automation and everyday tasks.
RAM
La RAM (also called RAM) is also a very important element in the speed of your computer. The more capacity you have, the more comfortable and fluid the operating system is, the faster your computer will go.
4 GB should be sufficient for all your day-to-day needs. On the other hand, if you are using memory intensive programs such as games, photo or video applications, you may need 8 GB of RAM.
Graphic card
The graphics card is a card that will produce the image before sending it to your screen. This is a key element if you play video games or 3D animation that are very demanding in this area. On the other hand, this component is not very important for office use. Indeed, for Word no significant graphic calculations are necessary.
At the moment, the best graphics cards are made by Nvidia, (the GE Force model), but there are many types.
Hard disk
The hard drive is a component that the computer uses to store data. There are two types of hard drive, SSD and HDD.
To put it simply, an SSD is much faster than an HDD, but an SSD is also much more fragile and costs much more.
If you want to have a lot of space to store films for example, it is better to choose HDD because you will easily find computers with hard drives from 500 GB to 1 TB. For SSDs, you will hardly find 128 GB to 256 GB and will have to pay more.
What Budget?
The budget is very important because it is he who will most often limit the ambitions of a future client. It is therefore necessary to determine what is the budget that you are willing to spend to buy this new computer. The most expensive laptops are most often gaming computers and MacOs computers. In "exchange", very good performance is guaranteed.
Seek advice - It might sound obvious, but many people limit themselves to rankings and tests on the Internet. Get out of the house, ask sales people, your friends, computer repairers for advice. Cross the information and you will discover how to choose your laptop.
Now it's up to you to get started, I wish you good luck in completing this quest!