So you’ve decided that it’s time to get a laptop. Congratulations! You’re about to take your productivity and performance to the next level with one of these devices.
But before you rush out and buy something, there are some mistakes with choosing laptops and how you can avoid them. Almost everybody who has ever purchased a device has regretted it for a while. Let’s make sure you don’t.
We’ll walk through 10 things that could cause problems down the line for your new device. We will also cover what steps you need to take to prevent those issues.
Let’s dive deep into this valuable consumer information, so join in and keep reading.
1st Mistakes With Choosing Laptops: No Specific Use in Mind
Not knowing what you need your laptop for is the greatest mistake.
Research the type of laptops that are right for different uses, and prioritize those as you look at each option. Now knowing where to look is another thing.
You can also research people who have experience with the same work or school tasks, such as journalists or graphic designers. Do this to see which brands they recommend based upon their needs.
Mistake 2: Not Doing Enough Research Into How Much Storage Space Is Needed
Buying too little memory will slow down performance quickly over time. This is due to the lack of available room for files and programs to be stored efficiently.
You will also waste system resources when launching them regularly.
First, prioritize the storage needs of your laptop. For example, gamers will need more than office workers or students who do schoolwork and basic browsing on their PC.
Second, research how much space you’ll need for different tasks and what types of programs you’ll be running regularly. This determines if a solid-state drive suits your usage type (which can improve boot-up time). Otherwise, you might need an extra hard disk drive, which would make sense instead.
Mistake 3: Not Checking the Hard Drive Speed
Low hard drive speed can slow down data transfer speeds and cause problems while installing or running programs.
Ensure your laptop features a minimum of 100GB of space on an SSD for modern storage. This is much faster than traditional spinning platter drives at reading and writing files.
It’s also essential to look at advertised read/write times and other factors that affect actual-world performance. For instance, the controller chip is used with the memory system installed into your laptop model.
Slower flash-based storage will never match even SATA II speeds due to design reasons. This is more true when compared against newer PCIe lanes added directly onto a CPU die, if available within the platform you’re buying from.
Mistake 4: Skimping on Ram or Processing Power
Not having enough memory will slow down your laptop and render it nearly unusable after only a short period.
This is applicable if you’re going for an older model that uses DDR-based system memory instead of more modern options—for example, GDDR type video card graphics modules.
Make sure to have at least 16GB of single-channel RAM, unless the device has been specifically optimized to be useless for a better battery. Some mobile usage scenarios disable specific background tasks. Those types of laptops can have less RAM.
In cases where performance is essential, you need to be considerate. If there’s no way around choosing lower specs vs. paying more money, try to find a model that uses an Intel Core series processor over one from AMD.
The latest Kaby Lake Refresh CPUs are the fastest for single-threaded performance. They still offer good value for your money.
Mistake 5: Choosing a Laptop With a Low-Resolution Screen
A resolution of 1920×1080 or higher is recommended if you want to use your laptop comfortably. It would help if you had this for basic web browsing and document editing without squinting.
Make sure to check the native resolution of the laptop screen before making your purchase. A good rule of thumb is that the higher the price, the higher resolution you should expect to find on the built-in display. Comparing laptop prices is a good start.
If you’re unsure and don’t want to spend much time investigating, go for anything with at least a 1920×1080 pixels count. It’ll be future-proofed for a few years at least.
Mistake 6: Buying From Unauthorized Resellers or Auction Sites
There’s always a risk when buying electronics secondhand. This is more evident when one doesn’t purchase them directly from an authorized retailer like Amazon or Best Buy.
Try to only buy new laptops (and other devices) through reputable sellers, and avoid any deals that seem too good to be true.
If you’re not sure, do some research online to see if other people have had good or bad experiences with a particular store or reseller.
It’s also important to remember that warranties are usually only valid when purchased from an authorized dealer. In most cases, buying a used laptop and then trying to claim warranty service would be very difficult (if not impossible).
Mistake 7: Not Considering the Port Selection
A lack of ports can be a genuine inconvenience if you regularly need to connect your laptop to external devices. Avoid these mistakes with choosing laptops and enjoy the correct device for your needs.
Make sure the laptop you’re interested in has all the ports you’ll need. This includes one USB-C connector for fast data transfers and video output. Other standard ports include HDMI for external monitors, SD card readers, and audio jacks.
Mistake 8: Not considering the input devices included with your purchase.
If you’re purchasing a laptop that isn’t meant to be used regularly on the go, it’s essential to make sure the keyboard is comfortable. You should be able to type on over extended periods without experiencing discomfort or pain in any part of your hands/fingers.
Make sure there are no sharp edges around where the palm rests against the underside of the chassis frame. This is a widespread mistake by manufacturers regarding cheaper laptops made from plastic instead of metal parts.
You should also test out the keyboard and trackpad before making your purchase, if possible.
Some laptops have keys that feel a bit too stiff or require too much force to press, which can quickly lead to discomfort over time. Finally, make sure the touchpad is large enough for your hands and has an accurate pointing device (such as a Microsoft Precision Touchpad).
Mistake 9: Not Considering Future Operating System Updates
These days, laptops have built-in support for fingerprint scanning and facial recognition. This is used for logging into the system without having to type in a password every time.
If this is something you’re interested in, make sure to double-check the laptop specifications before making your purchase. You should also try out any authentication methods you’re interested in at a local electronics store.
Not all biometric scanners are created equal, and some can be finicky. This depends on where they are (such as trackpads vs. external fingerprint sensors).
Mistake 10: Not considering future operating system updates
Upgrading to Windows or macOS is pretty simple for most people who aren’t entirely new to either platform. However, it’s still something worth considering since every upgrade cycle means learning how an OS behaves once another version has been installed.
Suppose you’re not sure whether you’ll want to upgrade in a year or two. In that case, it might be safer to go with a laptop that comes preloaded with Windows Home or macOS Mojave – this gives you the option to install the latest OS update without having to worry about losing any of your current data or programs.
Extra Mistake: Choosing an Incompatible Operating System for Your Needs
If you need a laptop for work and intend on using specific software that’s only compatible with Windows systems, then choosing a macOS-based laptop would be a mistake.
The best way to avoid this is by researching what software will be used most often and making sure the laptops you’re considering the support that particular app/service to avoid compatibility issues down the line.
Your New Laptop Purchased
Your purchase should be successful now that you know how to avoid the most common mistakes with choosing laptops.
With these guidelines in mind, you can find the best device for your needs and get started on your work or projects with ease. Happy shopping!
If you’re interested in diving deeper into the world of computational technology, check out some of the other articles curated on the sidebar.
Teresa Garlick