You may have noticed my specs sheets on these laptops were pretty light. That’s because when you’re buying laptops, you have a number of choices to make about your build beyond landing on a name and pointing at “that one.” Each of these components plays a part in the power and speed of your overall PC. Here are the most common choices you may have to make when buying a laptop.
Processor: This is the most common choice to have to make. The processor is what does all the data processing and, Wi-Fi connection aside, it’s what determines how fast your computer operates. Do you want an Intel i5 or i7? A 10-core or 12-core Snapdragon? What does any of this mean?
Generally, you can intuit based on numbers. Typically, all models of a laptop use the same type of processor, just more or less powerful versions depending on which you buy. As a rule of thumb, a processor with a higher number in the name and the higher price tag is going to be faster.
Hard Disk Space: This is pure storage. It never hurts to opt for extra. Before you do, though, you might want to check whether or not you can easily upgrade or swap the SSD on your prospective laptop. The answer will determine how much stock you need to put into prioritizing hard disk space.
RAM: This is also measured in gigabytes, but RAM is much different from storage. This is your computer’s short-term memory and it impacts performance. How easy is it to multi-task and use multiple intensive programs at once? How many tabs can you have pulled up at one time? These are the type of things determined by RAM.
Screen Size: Often, you will have a choice of screen size that will determine pricing. Bigger screens on laptops are nice, although it’s worth noting that all the two-in-one style touchscreen laptops sport a 16:10 aspect ratio. This gives you a bit of extra vertical space, even on a screen that is measured the same size in 16:9. That means you don’t have to go quite as big as you think with these.
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