Laptop Buying Guide

Processor

The processor, also known as Central Processing Unit or CPU, is the hardware that allows software, programs and apps to run on a computer. Every task that the computer does requires processing power. A powerful processor can multitask, run larger or more complex software, and also handle larger files easily.

Processors also have multiple cores – up to 8 cores on a single high-end processor can handle multiple programs more efficiently than single- or dual-core processors. There are two major manufacturers of multi-core processors – Intel, with its range of Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 and Pentium processors, and AMD’s APU processors.

Types of Intel processors

Types of AMD processors

Conclusion

The type of processor you need depends on your usage and your budget.

OS

An operating system manages the hardware and software resources on a computer, while also providing common services that are essential to all software on the system. All other programs depend on it for resources.

For laptops, users have many OS choices – Apple’s Mac OS X, Windows 7 or 8, Ubuntu based on Linux, Google’s Chrome OS or the classic DOS.

Apple Mac OS X

Features:

• Great user interface
• Applications run smoother
• UNIX-based code makes the OS more secure
• Exclusively installed on Apple computers
• Limited choice of applications

Windows OS

Features:

• Most widely used
• Compatible with most hardware and software
• Supports third-party programs
• User interface can be customized

Linux OS

Features:

• Stable 
• Compatible with most hardware and software
• Good for servers
• Free

DOS

Features:

• Free
• Any other operating system can easily be installed along with DOS
• Can be time consuming to understand as it is not a graphical interface

Chrome OS

Features:

• Available only on Chromebooks
• Limited offline capabilities
• Web-based applications

Conclusion

While Windows and Mac are the most popular choices, Google’s Chrome OS works well for users who don’t require many offline features. Ubuntu has also gained popularity over recent years. In addition to being a free OS, Ubuntu also delivers flexibility, as you can run most Windows programs on it. 

RAM

RAM, short for Random-Access Memory, allows data to be stored temporarily. This means that more RAM allows for better, more efficient multitasking. Web pages load faster and larger files open quicker when more RAM is available.

RAM required based on usage

User Type	Primarily usage	Ideal RAM (GB)
Basic users	Browsing, email, social media, multimedia, MS Office	2 to 4 GB
Intermediate users	All of the above, plus editing photos and videos	6 GB
Advanced users	Run several programs at once and play games	8 GB
High-end users	High-end gaming and graphics design.	12 GB and above

Graphics Card

A graphics card controls the display on your laptop. A powerful graphics card can render videos and graphics-intensive games easily, making them suitable for power users such as professional gamers or programmers.

There are two kinds of graphics cards – integrated graphics cards, which are built into the system’s mainboard, and dedicated graphics cards, which are separate units. Dedicated graphics cards, with up to 3 GB graphics memory, usually perform better than integrated ones.

For users who don’t play graphics-intensive games, edit videos or edit images, an integrated graphics card is ideal.

Picking the ideal graphics card

Type of user	Usage	Ideal Graphics Card
Basic users	Everyday use like browsing the web and multimedia	Integrated graphics card
Intermediate users	Graphics-intensive tasks such as gaming and image editing	Dedicated 1GB
Advanced users	Better frame rate, gaming experience or video editing.	Dedicated 2GB
High-end users	Professional gaming, animation, 3D rendering	Dedicated 2GB and above

Screen Size

If you want to watch movies or videos, or play games, opt for a bigger screen. Though larger laptops with big screens usually have less battery backup and are bulkier, making them comparatively less portable, they are better in terms of performance.

Ideal screen size

Laptop screen aspect ratio

Aspect ratio refers to the width and height of the screen. 16:9 would mean 16 units wide and 9 units high, indicating the common wide screen. 4:3 or 5:4 would be much closer to a square display.

Aspect Ratio	Ideal for
16:9	Multimedia users, hardcore gamers, graphic designers
4:3	Frequent travelers and everyday users

Laptop Types

Variants such as Netbooks, Ultrabooks, Notebooks and Hybrid laptops cater to users’ different needs.

Netbook

Usually small and lightweight, these portable laptops vary in screen size from 10 to 11 inches. They have no optical drive and are ideal for budget users and students.

Ultrabook

Ultrabooks are slim, stylish and lightweight. They have high-end configurations and some may even have touchscreens. Ideal for travelers and advanced users.

Notebook

These perform all the functions of a desktop. They come in mid- and high-end configurations, with large hard disk capacities. These systems are built to meet entertainment and graphics-intensive requirements.

Hybrid Laptop

Hybrid laptops can also be used as tablets as their touchscreens are detachable. Usually small in size, lightweight and portable, these laptops have screens that vary from 11’’ to 15.6’’. The added portability of these laptops makes them ideal for frequent travelers who are looking for a mobile device that is powerful.

Touch Screen

Touch Screen

Touch screen laptops are intuitive. They make computer interfaces simpler. Just as you would on a smartphone, you can tap to select, hold and drag to move items, swipe to scroll and pinch to zoom. This feature is currently available on select Windows laptops and select Chromebooks.

Storage

Storage

This is where all saved files are stored. Hard Disks vary by storage capacity – from 60 GB to 1.5 TB (1 TB is 1024 GB). If you plan on storing many files that take up a lot of space, consider a hard disk with a larger capacity.

Note

The usable storage capacity of disks will vary depending on the OS installed. Usually, a part of the drive's space is dedicated to the OS and hardware drivers. For example, a 500 GB drive is equivalent to 1,00,000 images or 38 hours of video files or as many as 1,25,000 music files.

HDD or SSD

Difference between Hard Disk Drive and Solid State Drive

In addition to these, there are Hybrid Drives that combine the capacity of a hard disk with the speed of a solid-state disk. 

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