Guide to Choosing the Ideal Laptop for Your Needs
This comprehensive guide helps you choose the best laptop suited to your needs, covering operating systems, screen sizes, budgets, and features. Whether you're seeking portability or powerful performance, find valuable advice to make an informed decision. Learn about Windows, Mac, and Chrome OS options, and discover budget-friendly and high-end choices for various uses and price points.
Guide to Choosing the Ideal Laptop for Your Needs
Selecting the perfect laptop can be challenging, but these tips can help you identify the best option to suit your requirements:
Operating System: Windows, Mac, or Chrome OS?
Most laptops on the market run on one of these three operating systems. Your choice depends on your usage habits and preferences, as each offers distinct features.
Windows
Windows laptops, currently running Windows 10, are highly versatile, offering the most customization options. Price ranges vary from around $150 to several thousand dollars, with features like dual graphics, touchscreens, and fingerprint scanners available.
The latest Windows version enhances user experience by seamlessly switching between desktop and tablet modes and features a redesigned Start menu with live tiles. Cortana, the digital assistant, allows natural language searches, follow-up questions, and stylus support for scribbling. These improvements have been introduced since July 2015.
Apple
MacOS Sierra is the latest operating system from Apple, compatible with all MacBooks.
A notable budget-friendly option is the Lenovo 100S Chromebook, which operates on Google's Chrome OS. Its interface resembles Windows, with a desktop, app menu, and window dragging capabilities. The primary app is the Chrome browser, though offline use of web apps can be limited.
For activities like browsing the internet, emailing, social media, and online messaging, Chromebooks are lightweight, portable, and offer excellent battery life—making them a great choice for basic tasks.
Screen Size Considerations
The display size provides clues to a laptop's portability:
- 11- to 12-inch models are the lightest and thinnest, weighing around 2.5 to 3.5 pounds.
- 13- to 14-inch laptops offer a good balance between usability and portability, especially if under 4 pounds.
- 15-inch models are popular, ranging from 4.5 to 6.5 pounds, suitable if you prefer a larger screen and don’t plan to carry it around often.
- 17- to 18-inch models are ideal for desk-bound use, offering higher processing power for professional workstations.
Budget Options
For budget-friendly choices between $150 and $250, you can find Chromebooks and entry-level Windows laptops with minimal storage and slower processors, such as the Lenovo Ideapad 100S or HP Stream.
Mid-range options between $350 and $600 include laptops with Intel Core i5 or AMD A8 processors, 4-8GB RAM, and 500GB storage, providing good performance at a reasonable price.
