How to Choose a Laptop: Basics to Remember
Choosing a computer is challenging, especially if you’re looking for a laptop. It’s a finished product, and you can only add memory to it. How not to make a mistake while choosing?
Choose A Laptop With A Different Verities
The range of modern laptops is huge. Also, the prices and features of different models vary. Modern models are divided into several categories.
Types Of Laptop
1. Traditional Laptops
Performance varies in a fairly wide range. There are models at the level of “typewriter” for documents, playing the simplest games at Tonybet, and Internet surfing. There are powerful models for complicated work. Most laptops have average battery life.
Performance models are often equipped with discrete graphics cards: they allow you to play modern games on low or medium settings. In general, you can pick up a classic model for any need.
2. Ultrabooks
These are thinner and lighter models. They hold a charge longer. Most laptops in this category don’t have discrete graphics cards. These models are poorly suited for gaming.
For mobile work, ultrabooks are just right. And they are convenient to carry, the autonomy is excellent, and the speed is enough. But you will have to pay for compactness and lightness. With comparable performance, ultrabooks are more expensive than conventional models.
3. Gaming Laptops
They are suitable for any game and complex tasks. These laptops have a high performance and big screens. In general, they are a good replacement for gaming PCs. The main disadvantage of these models is portability. Most gaming laptops are large and quite heavy. Power consumption is high, battery life is low.
These are the most expensive models. There is no sense to take such a laptop for office work. But if you are an avid gamer or need a powerful laptop, gaming models are the perfect solution.
Screen and Dimensions
You need to determine the size of the model you need. First, it depends on the screen diagonal.
Diagonal and Resolution
Classic and miniature laptops with a diagonal of 10 to 12 inches today are practically no more. Modern models in terms of screen size can be divided into several categories.
1. Compact
Models with a diagonal of 13-14 inches. Sufficiently small, lightweight, and comfortable. However, the screen space is small. The category includes followers of netbooks and some ultrabooks.
2. Standard
Models with a diagonal of 15-16 inches. Optimal balance between portability and screen space while maintaining a moderate size and weight. Most modern laptops fall into this category.
3. Large
Laptops with a diagonal of 16-17 inches. The price for a large working space of the screen – the dimensions and a decent weight. This category usually includes gaming models that don’t claim to be very portable. Rarely do you find ordinary laptops of this size.
The screen of the laptop, besides the diagonal, has a number of characteristics. The first of these is the resolution. It determines the size of the workspace. The higher the resolution, the more space on the screen for application windows and their interfaces. Another advantage of a large resolution is the possibility to apply a scaling. It allows you to work more comfortably with text and small elements in a smaller workspace.
1366×768 is the basic screen resolution in inexpensive models. It’s enough for working with documents, browsing, and watching HD-video. Typically, these screens are equipped with budget laptops with a diagonal of only 15 inches.
1600×900 in modern models is uncommon. Visually, it slightly expands the workspace in comparison with the basic resolution.
Resolutions of 1920×1080 and 1920×1200 are optimal for comfortable work with multiple windows, games, and FullHD videos. In fact, this resolution is the “golden mean” for a modern laptop. These screens can be equipped with models from any category, regardless of diagonal.
A resolution above 1920×1200 is found in gaming laptops and premium ultrabooks. Provide the smoothest picture with the largest workspace size. These include many variations from 2560×1440 to 3840×2160 (4K).
Pixels Per Inch PPI
The higher the density of dots on the screen, the clearer and smoother the picture you can see. It’s measured in Pixels per inch (PPI).
The standard pixel density for Windows is 96 PPI. Laptops ranging from 1366×768 to 1600×900 are close to this figure. It ranges from 100 to 118 PPI.
The most popular models with a resolution of 1920×1080 and 1920×1200 have PPI from 127 to 165.
Top models with high resolution give the smoothest picture. Their pixel density is from 170 to 283 PPI.
Type of Matrix
1. TN+Film
The simplest type of matrix. It occurs in the most budget laptops. It provides a normal quality picture when looking directly at the screen. At angles there is a distortion of colors.
2. SVA and WVA
In spite of similar names they have nothing in common with VA-matrixes of PC monitors. Both types of matrix are an improved TN+Film with slightly larger viewing angles. Other characteristics don’t differ from their predecessor. They are installed in budget models.
3. IPS
Natural color rendering in combination with large viewing angles. The most common type of matrix in modern models. An improved option of IPS with mini-LED backlighting technology is used in Apple Macbook laptops.
4. OLED
OLED screens are the most advanced. They can be found only in expensive models. With a stunning picture, they have one obvious disadvantage – a gradual burnout during a long static image.
