How to choose a laptop - expert advice. How to choose the perfect laptop: from office to gaming

For example, I took a Lenovo V580 laptop worth about 22,000 rubles (in 2014:). In general, you can take home either a regular laptop or a gaming laptop with a very “interesting” price tag. For the purposes of this article, we’ll look at regular laptops.

So, let's see what characteristics Yandex.Market shows us:

A long line of incomprehensible letters and numbers immediately catches your eye. These are the main characteristics by which we can immediately imagine what kind of “fruit” is in front of us and decide whether it is worth looking further. And then comes the decoding of these parameters. Well, let's see.

Type, laptop size

The very first thing is the type. Here it is clear whether this is a laptop or a netbook. I don't recommend netbooks unless you need a small, compact computer to carry with you all the time. Netbooks have a small screen (with a diagonal of up to 10″ (one inch = 2.54 cm), no DVD drive and technically modest hardware. In general, netbooks are an endangered species, which is actively being replaced by tablets and “transformers”.

Comparison of laptop and netbook sizes

Installed operating system

Pay special attention to this point, because... the price and your headache in the future directly depend on it. Laptops come with Windows, Linux or DOS operating systems. True, there are also “MacBooks”, i.e. laptops from Apple running Mac OS, but I am not taking them into account in this article. To buy a MacBook, you just need to come to the salon and choose a model that is suitable in size and price.

To save money, look for laptops with free Linux or DOS operating systems. The mere presence of these operating systems does not mean that you will have to work with them. These are “nominal” systems that no one actually works with. You will have to use such a laptop or invite a specialist. There is nothing complicated about installing Windows, and you can verify this by reading my article.

But, if your time is valuable to you and you don’t mind spending an additional $50-100, then take a model with the Windows 10 operating system installed. But keep in mind that when a new version of Windows is released, it will still need to be installed manually. Regarding the choice between Windows 7 and Windows 8/10, I will say that there is not much difference. Seven and eight are still normal operating systems at the moment, but the tenth version is rapidly gaining popularity, i.e. “what happens, cannot be avoided.” Windows 10 is designed for tablet computers with a touch screen, and many people don’t like it, but soon everyone will get used to it)

A fast processor is the heart of a laptop

Let's go further and look at the processor. It makes sense to consider laptops with modern Intel or AMD processors. There is a strategic point here: Intel processors are faster than AMD, but AMD processors come with more powerful integrated graphics.

Therefore, if this is a laptop without a discrete video card (more on this below), and you want to play games every now and then, then it is better to choose AMD A-series, but for comfortable work it is better to use Intel, because They work faster in office programs and on the Internet. For the home there is no point in looking for six- to eight-core processors; 4 cores are enough (for games), and in general even two cores. Phew, I hope I laid out the deck clearly!

Intel processors

Modern Intel processors for laptops are:

very budget Atom and Celeron
medium Core M3, M5, M7 and Pentium
powerful Intel Core i3, Core i5, Core i7
TOP Core i9
secret Xeon, for narrow tasks

Models one episode(first letter and number) differ only in the clock frequency at which they operate. For example, the Pentium B960 operates at a frequency of 2.2 GHz, and the B980 at a frequency of 2.4 GHz (this difference is almost not noticeable in operation). The more cache of the first (L1), second (L2) and third (L3) levels, the better. But this is tied to the model and does not change within one series, incl. look only at the processor code.

For leisurely work at home, you can opt for a laptop with an Intel Celeron or Atom processor (x5, x7). But the Pentium (N4200 is preferable to the N3710) or the energy-efficient Core M, which operates without a fan and is quiet, is better. Their performance is quite enough to solve most everyday tasks.

Intel Core i3 has almost no advantages over its younger brothers, so for more comfortable work it is better to immediately take a platform with a Core i5 processor. Core i7 processors are even more powerful, but also cost significantly more. Intel Core i9 is very expensive, it is the fastest processor for a laptop. Within one line, the arithmetic of choice is simple: the more expensive and the more numbers in the model, the better.

AMD processors are:

E series (legacy E-350, E-450) and E2 (9000, 9000e)
A4, A6, A8, A10, A12 with good video card
FX series, no video at all
top Ryzen series

I do not recommend paying attention to ultra-budget laptops with AMD “E2” and especially “E” series processors. It is impossible to work comfortably on them! First, pay attention to the “A” series processors. Next in the name are numbers in which the frequency of operation is encoded. For example, A4-4300M means a processor that operates at clock speeds of 2.5-3.0 GHz.

Please note that if you take two Intel and AMD Ax processors with the same frequency, then Intel will be faster! But AMD has a faster graphics core, which means that games from several years ago will run. True, Intel processors with Iris Pro graphics are also good.

AMD FX processors have a good price/speed ratio and do not have a discrete graphics card, so such laptops always have a separate video processor installed, which makes them moderately suitable for gaming applications. If you buy a laptop with an FX processor only for work, then you will normally overpay for the video card. In this case, it is better to look at Intel Core i5, i7.

Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 processors follow on the heels of Intel Core third, fifth and seventh series, respectively. These are top processors from AMD with the AMD Radeon RX Vega video chip. But earlier versions do not have a built-in video core at all, just like FX. In this regard, laptops with early Ryzen processors are equipped with a discrete graphics card, ranging from not the worst to the top-end. In this case, it turns out that Ryzen 3 makes almost no sense, because... It's a little weak for games, but you'll have to pay extra for video, i.e. Better then Intel i3, because it carries built-in office-grade graphics.

Graphics adapter type

There may be a built-in video chip (for example Intel HD) or a discrete video card (read). The model of the built-in video core practically does not matter. Laptops with a discrete graphics card are significantly more expensive and are needed only by those who like to play modern games.

If the model in question has an NVidia GT 910M installed, then this is a very weak video card that is only slightly better than the built-in solution. Taking such a model does not make sense for financial reasons. You can take from NVidia GT 840M, 920M and higher. Among laptops with AMD cards, you should not pay attention to the Radeon 5xx, HD 7420G, 7470M models, and the amount of video memory does not matter.

More complete information about video cards can be found in this comparison. By the way, keep in mind that you won’t be able to play on a discrete video card using a battery anyway, because... it may simply not turn on.

Memory won't hurt us either

It's simple: the more, the better! For comfortable work on Windows 7/8/10 systems, 4GB of RAM is required. You can work on two, but I would not do this. All modern laptops are equipped with DDR3/4 memory, but it can operate at different frequencies, for example, 1600 or 2133 MHz. The higher the frequency, the better.

Pay attention to the maximum memory size and the number of module slots. You can choose a laptop with 2GB or 4GB of RAM, and then add as much as you need. The memory itself does not cost much, but memory sticks can be replaced or added at the service center for a small fee. If you are planning to do this yourself, I warn you that not every laptop allows easy access to the memory slots! Some simply have the back cover removed, while others require serious disassembly, so check this detail in advance.

The screen is the Achilles heel of inexpensive laptops

Let's look at the following screenshot:

The fact is that inexpensive home laptops are equipped with disgusting screens! Immediately be prepared for unusually poor viewing angles and unclear color reproduction. Even the cheapest home monitor will show better than the screen on a laptop that is considered good.

I don’t know what this kind of marketing is connected with, they say that good, economical matrices are expensive (and all the components in laptops are energy-efficient), but before they installed normal screens! A person who bought a Sony laptop 6 years ago cannot find even the SAME screen today.

Screens are divided into glossy and matte. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the vast majority of laptops are equipped with matrices (screens) with a glossy finish. Such laptops look very advantageous on store shelves, but nothing more. Everything is reflected on the screen as if in a mirror! If you plan to walk around with such a laptop, then immediately get ready for the painful choice of the screen position in which you can work normally. Also, when working with glossy screens there is more.

In addition to their beautiful appearance, glossy screens visually increase the contrast and color rendition of the image, so they are more preferable for multimedia applications (photos, films, games). Matte screens do not look like a mirror and are more comfortable to work with. Therefore, all corporate laptops are equipped with only matte screens. But the contrast and color rendition of such screens are slightly worse than those of glossy screens (if we take them at the same level). However, you can find decent options inexpensively.

Comparison of glossy (left) and matte (right) screens

I read that in America people took to the streets with banners to protest against the total installation of glossy screens in MacBooks. And this despite the fact that MacBooks have normal gloss, which does not glare so much. My opinion is that glossy screens will soon pass just as the fashion for glossy coatings is passing.

However, special films for glossy screens are sold that eliminate glare. But not every film will be applied smoothly to the screen, without bubbles, and will not degrade the image quality. Therefore, immediately choose the type of screen that suits your needs.

Another funny thing is that the quality of the screen somehow does not directly depend on the price of the laptop. It’s just that there are both successful models and outright G. The right option is to come to the store and see everything with your own eyes. You should not trust reviews on the Internet, because... Identical laptops of different production series can have different matrices installed.

In addition to the screen type, pay attention, of course, to the matrix size. The 15.6″ diagonal has become the de facto standard for office laptops. Compared to the usual 19″-21″ home monitor, this is not enough, but that’s why it’s a mobile computer. By the way, if you decide to buy a laptop just as a home computer, then think again, maybe it’s better to buy a normal computer? Screens with a size of 17″ will be significantly more expensive, they are inconvenient to carry with you, the battery will drain faster, and still this is not enough.

Light-emitting diode (LED) backlighting is already used in almost all laptops. There is another characteristic that is not always mentioned - the maximum screen tilt angle. The small tilt angle will not allow you to tilt the screen cover enough to work with the laptop on your lap. Choose a laptop with a lid angle of 130 degrees or more.

Nowadays it is not difficult to find a laptop with a good matrix with the abbreviation IPS, they are much better than cheap TN Film ones. However, it is better to play dynamic games, such as shooting games, on TN matrices, because they have faster response times, or on expensive IPS.

Hard disk and DVD drive

Consider whether you even need a drive to read discs. Many users have not used DVDs for a long time; everyone has switched to flash drives. As an alternative to expensive ultrabooks, there are thin laptops without a DVD drive that cost less and weigh half a kilogram less. If you need a disk drive, then note that you can find models with a BlueRay drive, which will read not only regular CD/DVD discs.

Large volumes of hard drives today are not needed as much as before. Few people store music and movies on disk anymore; everything can be watched and listened to online, and even worked with. But they still don’t install less than 500GB, and I think this is more than enough. The type of disk: HDD or SSD will have a much greater impact on the comfort of work.

Solid-state drives (SSDs) work many times faster, but the cost of capacious SSDs is still high and they are not installed in home laptops. You can independently buy an SSD drive and install it instead of an HDD, and enjoy life

And if you don’t want to choose between speed and free space, then there are laptops with both HDD+SSD drives. In such cases, the operating system is installed on an SSD, and the data is stored on a regular hard drive. I don’t recommend hybrid drives, because you’ll have to overpay, but there’s not much point.

In the budget segment you can find laptops without HDD at all, but simply with eMMC flash memory. You can only install an operating system on such a device.

Communication with the outside world and connected devices

When choosing a laptop, you should make sure that you have all the necessary communication means and inputs/outputs for external devices.

Network and Wi-Fi

All laptops have a network card for connecting to a wired network, usually of the Gigabit LAN standard with connection speeds of up to 1000Mb/s. Today, all models are also equipped with an interface for connecting via Wi-Fi, but there is a catch.

Don't fall for older models that have a Wi-Fi adapter that uses the Wi-Fi 802.11n standard. You need a newer Wi-Fi 802.11ac because it supports faster speeds, better stability, and greater signal coverage. No. There's nothing wrong with the "n" standard, they're good adapters and you're unlikely to notice the difference at home. But why choose an “n” adapter if “ac” is available everywhere?

And if you come across a good laptop, but with 802.11n, then note that some Wi-Fi network modules only support speeds up to 65-72Mbps, and not 150-300Mbps. Moreover, this does not affect the price in any way, just such modules and that’s it. Presumably, the maximum speed is hardwired into the module parameters and is not a hardware limitation. Such a “trick” has been noticed in Broadcom modules.

Next comes Bluetooth, almost all laptops have it. It happens that a BT module is stated in the specifications, but in reality it is not there! But this is the exception rather than the rule. Bluetooth is needed for a wireless connection between your phone and laptop, as well as for connecting wireless headsets and speakers.

USB and video

Modern laptops have USB 3.0 and 2.0 connectors. Unlike the more common version of USB 2.0, the “troika” is an order of magnitude faster, but to take advantage of all the delights of fast data transfer you will need the same high-speed, and expensive, device! Therefore, you should not chase the presence of a large number of USB 3.0 ports.

More important is the total number of USB ports. 3-4 USB ports can be considered optimal. For example, a wireless mouse radio module is connected to one, a flash drive to another, a USB headset to a third, a printer to a fourth, and so on. If there is a shortage of ports, you can purchase an additional USB hub (splitter).

VGA (D-Sub) and HDMI output is available on all laptops and allows either an external monitor. Please note that laptops are widescreen, and the external monitor you connect must be widescreen. But this is in the case of duplicating the laptop screen image. And if you use it as an additional, expanding desktop, then it doesn’t matter which one, the main thing is that it is convenient.

Audio

And here is the next “trick”. It's a hobby of manufacturers to install a combined headphone output with a microphone input! Well damn, there are simply no words, they optimized it! We saved three kopecks, and people go around, suffer, buy adapters for 10 dollars to connect a microphone to such a miracle, but it still doesn’t work, because everyone’s standards are different. See right away that if you need to connect an external microphone or a headset with separate jacks, then choose a laptop with separate input and output.

Combined input/output (left) and separate (right)

The combined input allows you to connect a headset with a four-pin plug, but not every one will work. All that remains is to buy an external USB audio device or an expensive USB headset. I understand that they would have made a combined input/output on the basis that you could use the microphone built into the laptop, but they manage to make it so that it becomes almost useless!

There is no need to worry about the sound quality; it is approximately the same average on cheap and expensive models. However, in laptops of above average quality and gaming ones, there may be a good headphone output. Also note that there is a digital S/PDIF output if you need it. Regarding the built-in speakers, they can be either very disgusting quality or more or less normal. Unfortunately, you won't know this from the characteristics.

But you can find out how high-quality the webcam is. The lowest quality cameras come with a resolution of 0.3MP. The good ones have 1.3 or 2 million pixels (may say 720p).

All laptops have a slot for memory cards. Just make sure it reads all the necessary, rare formats you work with. The memory card slot can be open or come with a cover.

Battery and ergonomics are not in last place

Let's look at the latest screenshot with the characteristics of the experimental laptop:

Do not pay attention to the battery life specified by the manufacturer, because... it is obviously overestimated. Refer to the indicated battery capacity. Laptops have lithium-ion batteries with an average capacity of 4400 mAh. A laptop with a screen diagonal of 15.6 inches will work on average for 4-4.5 hours on such a battery.

Pay special attention to the ease of use of the keyboard. It is clear that the location of some buttons will be unusual - you will get used to it. The main thing is that the keys are pleasant to the touch, easily distinguishable, with clearly marked English and Russian layouts.

Nowadays laptops are equipped with practical and comfortable island-type keyboards, i.e. when each key is located on a separate substrate. The proprietary AccuType keyboard from Lenovo (IBM) is recognized as the leader. There are keyboards with and without backlight.

Decide for yourself whether you need a full keyboard with the usual number pad on the right. The fact is that a stripped-down keyboard (without a number pad) has more buttons and a larger distance between them. Make sure that the keyboard does not bend too much under the pressure of your fingers.

Full-size AccuType keyboard (bottom) and slimmed-down keyboard (top)

Laptops, in addition to the keyboard, are equipped with additional input devices. This is the usual “touchpad” (touch panel) and “trackball”. Touchpads are also different. Modern laptops are equipped with multi-touch touchpads that allow you to work with two fingers, for example, to zoom in on a photo.

On some models you can find a trackball (touchpoint) - this is a special wheel that can be controlled by the mouse cursor:

Trackball in a Lenovo ThinkPad laptop

But these are all the characteristics of the filling. I also advise you to pay attention to the external quality of the laptop. So that nothing creaks or crunches anywhere, so that the screen cover is well fixed in the installed position and does not dangle at the slightest shock (for example, on the road). The metal finish of the case will give a more solid look and add durability to the laptop.

conclusions

I chose the main criteria for a home laptop: the type and quality of the screen, a comfortable keyboard and a fast processor. Everyone will have a picture of an ideal computer, but most likely this does not exist. Somewhere you will have to make a compromise. Do not buy used laptops at a reduced price, because... they often start to glitch over time and usually have a dead battery.

Finally, I suggest you watch a video from a colleague:

Modernity never ceases to pamper people with various technological innovations. The rapid passage of time forces us to become more mobile and in any difficult situation to have at hand a reliable technical tool with which we can quickly influence the course of events. Oddly enough, a seemingly simple question: “How to choose a laptop?” - actually very complex.

Because the final result must meet expectations. In other words, when paying tribute to one or another modification of the device, the buyer should take into account the harmonious combination of many factors. After all, the realities of the present are literally saturated with convincing facts that eloquently prove: people buy something that is not at all what they need, often unjustifiably betting on the wrong “horse”.

So, to all those who want to thoroughly understand such an important question: “Which laptop to choose?” - dedicated...

A few parting words

The material in the article is intended to free the reader from the oppression of commercial temptations, and will also help to avoid common mistakes when buying a laptop. The available recommendations are simple and easy to apply. For those who have little understanding of the technical terms of the IT industry, this article will be a kind of revelation. And if the information presented does not make every reader an expert, it will certainly contribute to the right choice.

Object of desire - laptop

Let’s say you finally realized that the unlimited nature of our desires and the demanding circumstances of the present call for a trustworthy, and most importantly, effective assistant. A stationary computer cannot meet the needs of today, since such devices lack compactness and autonomy. As a result, the question “how to choose a laptop?” in its decision it must first of all meet the requirements of the highest comfort.

Of course, the quality of the product is a fundamental point in the further use of the purchased device. A well-known name (brand), “authoritatively” placed on the panel of a laptop PC, does not always correspond to the truth of the polyphonic advertising: “Our products are exactly what you need!”

Cunning marketing techniques sometimes simply neutralize consumer freedom of choice... Exclusively for the above reason, even advanced users find themselves in the position of a “fairytale hero”, allegorically contemplating the cornerstone problem “by what parameters to choose a laptop?”

A few words about the subject of conversation

Of course, a compactly implemented electronic machine is still the same computer, albeit somewhat transformed. The fact is that miniaturization requires some “technical sacrifices”. A striking example of this is netbooks. For the sake of its small size, the device does not have an optical device for reading and writing information (CD/DVD drive). However, the main problem of compact gadgets is the efficiency of cooling systems. After all, the “power” of a laptop is determined precisely by the internal electronic filling, and the operation of the processor is accompanied by considerable heat generation. By the way, a good gaming laptop is also equipped with a powerful video card, the performance of which also depends on the productivity of the implemented cooling circuit.

The brightness level of the screen, the operation of resource-intensive programs and the number of simultaneously used communication modules directly affect electricity consumption. Since a portable device by definition is a mobile computer, the battery is the autonomous operation of the laptop. It is the manufacturability of the battery, its capacity and the energy efficiency of the system components that determine the life span of a portable device. Then everything is much simpler.

How to choose a laptop: no room for error

In order to indicate a certain guideline for their preferences, the consumer should pay attention to a number of important issues.

For what purpose is a laptop purchased?
In what mode will it be used?
How much money is the buyer willing to spend?

These are probably the most important criteria for optimal choice. However, a significant addition to all of the above will be a number of recommendations that will help the reader more clearly define the boundaries of his “want” and actual need.

Classification of laptop computers

Laptop manufacturers offer a fairly wide range of their products. As a rule, the range of laptops is divided into several main classes:

Office.
Multimedia.
Gaming.
Professional.

Each branch of the classification has its own distinctive features. The ultimate level of performance and operational comfort lies in the features of the configuration. Various configurations of laptop PCs determine the scope of their application, and also serve as the basis for the user at the moment when it is necessary to select a laptop according to its parameters.

Electronic beauty

The design of the device is probably the first thing everyone who decides to buy a laptop encounters. However, not every laptop that attracts the attention of many is gold that glitters. Before you blindly believe that the object of your consumer “lust” is exactly the thing that will serve you faithfully, think carefully. Know this: impulsiveness at the moment of practical choice is your worst enemy.

The body of budget laptops is usually made of plastic: hard or soft. Relatively cheap manufacturing technology, as a rule, suffers from natural consequences: fragile - cracks, soft - scratched.

The middle price segment is higher quality plastic of varying complexity. For example, multilayer coating allows you to keep the color or texture of the laptop surface practically unchanged for a long time.

Professional models are, above all, reliable devices. Therefore, in search of an answer to the question: “How to choose the right laptop?” It should be borne in mind that business-class portable devices have “titanic” body properties.

Competing manufacturing companies are quite inventive. The original design and ergonomics of manufactured laptops today are truly unpredictable. So even an office laptop may well look like a top-class device.

The structural part of the top cover interacts with the main part through special mechanisms, which, in general, is understandable. However, quite often there are models in which the tilt angle of the display part of the body is strictly 45°, and this, as practice shows, is not very good. By the way, the pliability of the lid should have a certain degree of rigidity, and at the same time it should open without much effort with one hand.

Display

Agree, video looks much more impressive on a big screen than on a small one. At the same time, the choice of a suitable display resolution and the manufacturability of its implementation depend solely on the needs of the user. If you are a photographer and don’t know how to choose a laptop for work, then this paragraph should be studied thoroughly, since visual perception is the main point of your profession. However, the rest of the group of readers will also not be left without attention. After all, a lot depends on the type of screen...

An IPS matrix is the most acceptable option for almost any solution. However, a portable PC equipped with such a display cannot have the “affordable” characteristic. Perhaps in the near future, budget class portable electronics will also be able to boast fantastic realism of the picture.

The TN matrix is a reasonable compromise between quality and favorable visual sensations. Surfing the web, editing texts, watching videos and using many other options is a completely competent choice for both beginners and advanced users.

Which laptop should I choose for gaming? This is an issue that requires a multilateral approach. However, the size and resolution of the screen, as well as the mass of visualization parameters associated with them, still have a certain objective scheme of preference.

The higher the screen resolution, the better!

The 16:10 aspect ratio is most preferable for Internet surfing, working with office applications and graphics editors.

The optimal gaming option is a vector ratio of 16:9. By the way, for watching high-resolution videos, this aspect ratio is more than acceptable.

The display diagonal, in fact, is not a critical indicator of the “omnipotence” of a compact PC, but, nevertheless, it qualitatively affects the perception of the information displayed on the screen as a whole: be it a video, a game, or viewing and editing graphic content. If you are faced with a peculiar dilemma: “Laptop or tablet, what to choose?” - then preference should be given to the device that is closest to your lifestyle.

After all, a miniature gadget is quite enough to read e-books, view correspondence and run non-resource-intensive games. It is worth noting that today some hybrid-type computing devices have appeared on the mobile device market, in which two representatives of portable technology “coexist” harmoniously: a tablet and a laptop. However, the functionality of one depends on the capabilities of the “partner”.

Perhaps, dear reader, you have heard or read that the matrix may have dead pixels. The mentioned term is quite simple to explain - this is when the display dot does not change its color even when the dynamics of the image require it. For this reason alone, it is worth paying attention to the quality of the displayed image.

A simple run of color palette diagnostics will help you identify defects in the paint spectrum. It would be useful to provide for the “light” area of use of the laptop if there is an integral condition for future use - bright sunlight. Most likely, you'll want a laptop with a matte display finish.

By the way, sometimes it is worth paying attention to the acceptability of the viewing angle. Agree, not everyone will like it if someone nearby unceremoniously looks at the photos you are viewing or unhinderedly reads the confidential information displayed on the screen of your laptop.

CPU

In order to choose a laptop according to its parameters, you need to be aware of the boundaries of what you want. In other words, understand the main purpose of purchasing a device and be firmly confident that the installed central processor has the necessary computing resources to solve future problems.

Two solutions

Well-known leaders in the development and production of CPUs are Intel and AMD. For the information of those who are somewhat behind the pace of development of the IT industry in the field of high technology, you need to understand that, despite the identity of aspirations, Intel Corporation has been somewhat more successful in the above area. However, Advanced Micro Devices offers its consumers more reasonable prices for its products. And if you are faced with the problem: “Which laptop to choose for school?”, American AMD can offer you a good budget-class option.

Now in order:

Any 2-core processor, the clock frequency of which will not exceed 2,000 MHz, is suitable for solving office tasks.

Resource-intensive programs will require four or more cores, and 2,500 MHz will be exactly the indicator that will allow the user to effectively “deal” with the inexorable onslaught of the endless pressure of data.

Don't forget about the ultra-fast microprocessor memory. The larger the cache size, the faster data processing occurs.

The newer the socket type, the higher the bus frequency, which determines the speed of data exchange with the motherboard.

Well, the last reasoned argument in favor of a productive solution to the question “how to choose a processor for a laptop?” - software of the future and the Core intel i3 processor - a promising tandem of “mutual understanding” between the software product of the relative future and the ability of the installed processor in the present. Average price and great opportunities... The choice is yours!

Of course, for those who consider themselves a confident user, this article is not “what the inquisitive mind of a connoisseur was looking for,” but you, dear reader, should take into account that the capabilities of a computer do not always correspond to their intended purpose. Why does a schoolchild need the colossal resources of an 8-core CPU, or who said that to play Warcraft you need to enlist the support of a 3.2 MHz processor?

If the buyer expects to use the equipment for a long time, then it is necessary to anticipate such a thing as the unstoppable “evolution” of software... In this case, it would not be superfluous to have a new CPU on the portable device - Intel i7. After all, upgrading the hardware of a laptop is associated with a lot of inconvenience, since in most cases it requires the intervention of a specialist.

RAM: the shortest excursion for the uninitiated

Solution to the question: “How to choose a laptop for home?” must be based, first of all, on prudence. Indeed, in the future, a portable device can become an assistant for every family member or will definitely be used in many ways. Therefore, the “safety margin” of the computer’s RAM must be appropriate.

A simple example. There are minor children in the family - they will download resource-intensive games, a small child will want to watch cartoons, the wife would not mind talking to a friend on Skype, and the husband cannot live without online football broadcasts. As you understand, the RAM must cope with all this so that the laptop does not slow down or freeze. Today, laptop computers are equipped with four gigabyte memory sticks, which, in general, is the standard configuration for a modern computer.

However, the user always has the opportunity to independently expand the amount of RAM. In order to add additional “gigabytes of speed”, you need to know what type of memory is used in your device and whether the operating system is capable of working with the established speed potential.

Graphic reliability

A good gaming laptop is always equipped with a powerful graphics card. Modern shooters, adventure games or simulators are quite power-hungry applications. And if the user expects to get maximum pleasure from virtual battles, then the graphics chip simply must meet the requirements of today's gaming industry.

As a rule, an average gaming laptop requires the use of a one-gigabyte graphics module. Representatives of the model range have two gigabytes of video memory, and even more. Of course, the nominal size of the video chip is not the only parameter of the productive ability of a compact computer. If you want to get a quality solution to the question: “Which laptop should I choose for gaming?” - then you should be guided by a few more concepts:

Memory bus width is measured in bits and is one of the important speed indicators of the graphics adapter's video capability.

Texture fill rate is the value of visual realism, so to speak. A unit of efficiency for a picture displayed on the screen, that is, a parameter that determines the number of displayed pixels per second of time.

The discrete nature of the video card allows us to count on forced upgrades in the future, since integrated graphics chips are practically impossible to replace.

The type of video memory also affects the efficiency and speed of the graphics reproduced by the laptop.

“Iron” data security: SSD for laptop

How to choose a hard drive, and what type of drive should you give preference to? Quite a serious question. After all, the user must count on the fact that his data will be securely stored, and the success of the work will be expressed in the high-speed ability of the installed disk - information storage.

SSDs are incredibly efficient and less power hungry than their mechanical counterparts. However, due to the significant difference in price and the minimized nominal volume, HDD technologies often lose out.

However, some modifications of laptops can accommodate two types of storage devices. For example, an SSD - 256 GB for the operating system and 1 TB HDD for data storage today is the best option for lovers of speed and relative unlimited accumulation of information arrays.

It is worth noting that for most buyers who asked the question: “How to choose a laptop for a student?” The most acceptable configuration is taking into account the SSD drive. Because the mobile lifestyle of young people is extremely dependent on favorable conditions for autonomy and speed of data processing.

Communication capabilities of the laptop

The number of connectors for peripherals can be completely different. Budget class laptops are necessarily equipped with several USB ports, and may also have COM and VGA connectors. In short, there are a lot of configurations. However, the optimal layout of communication connectors should be considered, which, in principle, is not difficult to do.

Internet for laptop

How to choose the most suitable model from the variety? Simple enough! The main thing is the presence of a network card. It is desirable that the device has at least one wireless communication module: Wi-Fi or Bluetouch.

Multimedia

To watch high-quality videos on a large screen, your laptop must be equipped with an HDMI connector. For lower resolutions, S-Video or DVI port can be used.

Extended capabilities

If it is necessary to use external drives, the user can count on a comfortable connection via an e-Sata connector. The presence of a built-in card reader will also be a definite plus, since today literally all portable devices use memory cards of various formats.

"Energy independence" of the laptop

The most important advantage of portable equipment, of course, is autonomy. The type and nominal capacity of the battery determines how long the device can operate when an external power source is unavailable. The cost of a laptop often depends on the technology of the energy saving scheme used.

The compactness of the device and the duration of autonomous operation are two warring camps of the general “usability war”. The resolution of the screen and its diagonal are the main consumers of the life-giving energy of the battery. However, the operation of mechanical drives, the autonomous use of an optical drive and the number of simultaneously running programs - all this inexorably leads to energy loss. The only effective way to maintain “electrical independence” is to lower the brightness of the display, disable background applications and, of course, provide a comfortable transition to an additional autonomous power source.

Practical accessory and alternative energy source

Question: “How to choose a laptop bag?” - directly related to the above paragraph. After all, the operating potential of the battery depends on the ambient temperature. Transporting a laptop in a string bag in winter is a funny example, however, a laptop bag without insulation is practically no less effective. Although it saves you from reprehensible laughter from the outside. The capacity of the accessory should be regulated by the size of the portable device.

Reliable straps, straps and impact protection pads will significantly increase the chances of getting out of a crowded minibus with your device intact. It is worth noting that some bags for carrying laptops are equipped with special additional batteries, and can also be equipped with gadgets of different operating principles that are capable of generating electrical energy. Therefore, it makes sense to purchase not only an aesthetic extension of your laptop, but also to secure some technological energy support.

And finally: common mistakes in the selection process

Of course, the material in the article only scratched the surface of a complex and important moment - buying a portable device. The main criteria for making the right choice have been mentioned and, most likely, will be taken into account by you in the future. However, the list of typical mistakes made by the average buyer may make you take a slightly different look at the question: “How to choose a laptop?”

You should not buy a portable device to please fashion trends. Believe me, a laptop loses significantly as a banal replacement for a desktop PC.

You can't pack super versatility into a compact laptop shell. In any case, something will be missing from it! Let’s face it, there’s a lot... So don’t indulge yourself in the illusion that a “sophisticated” laptop can solve literally all of life’s problems.

The screen diagonal must strictly correspond to the situation of use. Why carry a heavy 17" laptop with you when a 15" laptop is enough? If we assume that you need the device to view email, surf the web and communicate on social networks, then it makes sense to go with the energy-efficient 12”.

The battery life can be increased, but if you knew how inconvenient it would be to use the device. Additional power will reduce operating comfort and add weight for transportation.

Question: “Laptop or tablet, which should I choose?” - may seem a little strange. With a clear advantage in compactness and ease of use, a touchscreen gadget can significantly lose to a laptop in performance and functionality. However, only the price can dot the i's. Powerful modern tablets have long surpassed budget laptops in all respects.

Now the choice is yours!

How to choose a laptop so that it meets all your requirements? Or just not to make a mistake in choosing the price-quality ratio?

Laptop– a self-sufficient computer and a mistake in choosing will be more painful than choosing a separate component for your home computer.

With the help of this guide, you will learn all the necessary characteristics that you should pay attention to when choosing a laptop. Also, this article will help you not to overpay money for functions you don’t need, and perhaps also tell you where you can safely save money in your case.

Laptop is selected for different purposes. Of particular priority: long battery life, home computer replacement(or as a second computer), for multimedia(movies, music) or just All In One*.

* all in one

Laptop for work and travel , must combine such characteristics as: large working hours on battery, low level heat release, good display, robust structure and wear resistance, compact size, extended communication capabilities.

Laptop as a replacement for a home computer and for stationary use, it must have such characteristics as: a large display, a variety of communication ports, a comfortable keyboard, a good processor and video card, a capacious hard drive and a lot of RAM.

Laptop for multimedia tasks - must combine such things as: a large and high-quality display, a powerful processor (for playing movies in HD), a good sound system and a capacious hard drive.

AllIn One – quite rare specimens that combine all the characteristics from these categories, thanks to competent power management and the overall thoughtfulness of the laptop design. They often have a video subsystem from two video cards(built-in and discrete), which allows you to significantly increase the battery life of the laptop. These laptops are equipped with processors that have advanced technologies to reduce power consumption when running on battery power. As a rule, they have rechargeable batteries with O more sections and increased capacity.

All-in-one notebook by Asus:

High-quality display, advanced communication capabilities (including a variety of ports), high-quality finishing materials, interesting design, a well-thought-out hot air exhaust system - all this also applies to this class of laptops.

The only disadvantage of such versatility is their price. Not everyone is ready to part with so much money if most of the opportunities are not used.

Let's start with the manufacturers.

Laptop manufacturers .

The quality of the installed components and the durability of the laptop depend on the manufacturer. Even if they are identical in content. After all, it is the manufacturer who thinks through everything, from the cooling system to the quality of the display and the Bios firmware.

A very good indicator of the quality of a laptop is if the manufacturer also produces motherboards, cooling systems, displays or possibly other electronic components ( ASUS, MSI , Toshiba, Sony, Samsung and others). In such laptops, in most cases, you can be sure that most of the hardware and cooling systems are well thought out. It is also worth paying attention to the manufacturer’s experience in producing laptops, but this is not a guarantee of quality. Some manufacturers produce low quality products very consistently.

Also, each manufacturer has its own peculiarities, which are often used in laptops of all price categories. For example: attractive appearance and high-quality display (Sony); non-staining, scratch-resistant glossy case (Asus); better reception (Lenovo); non-heating keyboard (Asus) and so on.

Display.

If you want to sit in front of a laptop for more than 2 hours a day, then you should make sure that the laptop has a high-quality display. This is also worth thinking about if you work with graphics or just want high-quality color reproduction and wide viewing angles.

In these cases, you should look towards laptops with matrices. They provide accurate color reproduction and high viewing angles. You can read about the types of matrices in our material:

Now there is a tendency to produce displays for laptops only with, when instead of cold cathode lamps, backlighting is used. This allows you to make the top cover of the laptop much thinner and significantly reduces power consumption.

On the one hand, this is significant reduces energy consumption, increases brightness level and makes the laptop cover much more thinner. On the other hand, there is more light from diodes irritates the eyes, due to the light being more unusual for the eye and the flickering frequency being lower than that of classical backlighting (cold cathode lamps). However, there are still more advantages and they are much more significant for a mobile device. Therefore, it is increasingly used in laptops LED display backlight.

Another important factor for the ability to work on a laptop for a long time without eye fatigue is a matte display. Many people often face a choice - matte or glossy.

The only plus of the glossy display is a clearer picture and slightly more vibrant colors.

Of the minuses - very strong soiling(your prints will last for a long time); glare which constantly force the eyes to focus on different points, which certainly leads to faster fatigue; the worst viewing angles(again due to glare); inability to work if there is someone behind you bright source Sveta.

Hardware or internal filling of a laptop.

Availability powerful(multi-core, with high frequency) processor primarily affects: the overall speed of the OS and its interface, video encoding, speed of working with photos, archiving, painless launch of several applications at the same time, increased performance in games and other applications that depend on processor resources. You can read about choosing a processor in our material:

It is also worth noting that in laptops – not used logic sets on IntelAtom. If you have your eye on just this one, it is . Which, although it will faithfully serve for Internet surfing, office applications and at the same time hold a charge for a long time, it is not capable of more (there are, of course, exceptions, but they are always very close in price to a full-fledged laptop).

It's always better to get a full-fledged budget laptop than an expensive netbook. After all, even the weakest, full-fledged dual-core processor (the same Celeron CULV 1.2Ghz), will be more powerful than the most powerful 2-core Atom with technology Hyper-Threading.

If you are going to periodically use the laptop for gaming, encoding music and video, watching high-definition video ( HD), work in Photoshop and other graphics programs, then in any case you cannot get by with built-in graphics solutions from Intel (X 3100, Intel GMA****, 4500HD and so on).

For such purposes, it is necessary to have discrete(not built into the chipset, with its own own video memory) from manufacturers such as AMD And NVidia. This is a guarantee that your laptop will play without problems HD-video, have good performance in graphic editors ( Photoshop, Flash etc.) and feel good in modern games (depending on the video card model and graphics settings). At least games from 2 years ago will be within his power in any case.

Quantity- primarily affects the speed of simultaneously running applications and the speed of operation and loading of the OS.

Lack of RAM ( RAM) can lead to slow operation of the OS, “sluggish” execution of “orders” and slowdowns in games due to constant access to the swap file. As you know, there is no such thing as too much RAM, but still, if it is not enough for you in the future, its quantity can be expanded by simply adding memory modules, if the laptop chipset allows it.

RAM- practically the only component other than the hard drive that can be replaced in a laptop. Sometimes you can change the video card, but with one that is similar in terms of characteristics. A laptop processor can rarely be replaced, as it is often soldered directly to the laptop motherboard. Although recently there has been a tendency to place processors in mobile sockets and this is very good.

About hard drive capacity and the presence or absence of such things as CD-Rom, I think everything is clear and at your personal discretion. The more disk space, the better. In terms of speed characteristics, mobile hard drives differ by a maximum of 10%.

It’s a huge plus if the laptop uses it as a system drive and has a hard drive in addition to it. Or the only one SSD large capacity storage device. The use of solid-state drives significantly increases the speed of loading and operating the OS. The response time, installation of programs and unpacking of archives are reduced.

Communication capabilities.

Almost every laptop has a module. Exists several standards this wireless connection. The more supported standards, the greater the chance that your laptop will catch almost everywhere in the coverage area. Typically, standards switch themselves, depending on the type of access point equipment.

Existing standards: 802.11a/b/g/i/n. Usually enough b And g standards, but availability 802.11n adopted in 2009 g – welcome.

It’s also nice to have on board ( 4G) or 3 G module.

Networks at these frequencies have very large coverage areas, but in any case you need to have a subscription to them (there is no free cheese). If in your city and your region where you would like to use a laptop, there are no networks Wi-Max or 3G, then you shouldn’t buy a laptop with their support (the extra charge is about 3-5 thousand rubles). And don’t despair if these modules are not provided in your laptop. There are a lot of inexpensive external ones on the market 3G/4G modems connected via .

When carrying a laptop over distances of more than 100m, use laptop bags with security framework. They really save laptops in some cases.

That's all. We hope you choose a laptop that suits all your needs.

You can get confused looking at the many models presented. Cost is not a determining factor - you can choose a suitable device taking into account any budget. Therefore, you need to decide on your preferences. Without sufficient experience, it is difficult to understand what qualities and functions you should pay attention to first. Let's figure out what you need to consider to make your purchase as useful and effective as possible.

Frame

The appearance of a laptop is its calling card. A beautiful model may be less technologically advanced, but it looks impressive in any environment and pleases the owner’s eye. However, usually much less attention is paid to design than to technical characteristics for a very understandable reason. The buyer wants to get maximum opportunities with minimal investment. Therefore, often available models are made of plastic, have an impressive weight and a modest finish. Glossy cases look more impressive than utilitarian shells with a matte finish. However, the delicate finish is easily scratched and loses its luster. In addition, fingerprints easily appear on the surface when touched by fingers. This is a problem not only with gloss, but also with the metal finish of laptops of a higher class.

Models in higher price categories usually sport unibody cases. This is a monolithic and non-separable design, which deprives the user of any chance of upgrading or repairing on their own. The body of such laptops most often consists of aluminum or alloy.

For example, Lenovo is actively developing a line of carbon fiber laptops. This is a very durable, but at the same time lightweight material. There are other options: Acer uses Gorilla Glass 3 in the finishing of some of its models. The option is beautiful, but you should be very careful with it. Although a fall on the asphalt will end sadly for any laptop, regardless of the finishing material.

In recent years, the class has been actively developing. These are models that can easily transform from a tablet to a laptop or take on some intermediate state. The advantage of this model is that it also has a flexible mechanism that will help you choose a comfortable position for the laptop depending on the current task. Similar devices can now be found from most manufacturers: or they will offer enough options. The prices for such devices are comparable to conventional models without a rotating screen mechanism.

The comfort of a keyboard often depends not on a specific manufacturer, but on the chosen model. Considering the variety of devices on the market, the user can determine the type that is comfortable for him. The travel length of the buttons and their response vary.

Having decided on the size, you need to look at the display resolution. The higher the pixel density, the sharper and better quality the picture will be. If we are talking about this, then a Full HD screen (that is, a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels) will be sufficient. But even a similar aspect ratio will also look very decent.

The vast majority of entry-level models now come with HD screens. The resolution may vary depending on the aspect ratio, but most often it will be a 1366x768 pixel image. This is normal in an inexpensive device. When a similar screen is installed in a multimedia laptop, it is better to look towards other models.

Nowadays, there are mainly models where the screen aspect ratio is 16:9 or 16:10. The first option will be convenient if the laptop is often used to watch movies. In this case, the video on the display is played without black bars at the top and bottom.

Another very important aspect is the type of matrix used. There are also screens. The first ones are good because they have less glare. They are considered more convenient for professional use. However, glossy matrices of the latest generations, thanks to effective anti-reflective coatings, have begun to behave much better than older displays of this type. With their help, you can get a more impressive picture without losing quality.

Sound

Typically, the quality of a sound system directly depends on the size of the device and its price. You shouldn't expect powerful bass and a wide stage from a thin ultrabook; it is not intended to serve as a home media center. But a larger 15- or 17-inch model may offer a more advanced system. Typically, such gadgets are developed in collaboration with a well-known manufacturer: JBL, Beats, Harman/Kardon, Bang&Olufsen and others. To create a comfortable acoustic environment, a number of models are equipped with built-in or external subwoofers.

Battery

The operating time of a laptop is affected by many third-party parameters. Even a balanced system with a capacious battery will not be able to work for long in gaming mode. Don't demand the impossible from your device. Increased heat transfer and high screen brightness can quickly drain an 8-cell battery, not to mention a 4-cell battery.

It is worth considering that when purchasing a Unibody model, the possibility of further battery replacement in the future automatically disappears.

A number of devices have replaceable high-capacity power supplies that significantly increase the operating time of the laptop. Now the record holders for operating time are those from Apple, which are able to last away from the outlet for about 12-14 hours.

operating system

Currently, most of the new models on sale are running . If necessary, this system can be updated to a more recent version free of charge. For the corporate market, devices with Windows 7 inside are still being produced, but their number is very small. However, Microsoft is not the only one developing its own versions of operating systems for customers.

Buying a laptop is a pretty serious undertaking. Therefore, you should be fully prepared for it. First of all, study the assortment provided by various stores. Compare prices for your favorite models from different brands. Since it very often happens that the cost of the same model from different sellers can differ significantly. It is also important to decide what functions the purchased laptop will perform. And this is precisely what you should primarily focus on when choosing a specific model.

There are several classes of compact PCs - gaming, work, multimedia centers. Each has its own specifics and different operating parameters. For example, if a device is purchased for work, there is no point in choosing a computer with a very powerful video card and a large amount of memory. If, on the contrary, it will be used for games, a powerful processor and a good discrete card for video processing are required. Therefore, before you run to the store for a new computer, you should think it over carefully and decide on the right model. Our step-by-step guide will shed light on the question of how to choose a laptop that will become an indispensable assistant in resolving work issues.

Choosing a laptop: step-by-step guide

The first thing a buyer should decide on is the brand. So which brand is best? When choosing a model, you should carefully study the components used during assembly. Since their service life depends on their quality. The main suppliers of such parts are companies such as NVIDEA (video cards), ATI (video cards), AMD (processors), Intel (processors, integrated video cards). Some individual products from these brands are more reliable, some less so. But overall their quality is comparable.

You should not choose a laptop with “gray” components. Since the reliability of a computer is determined by the reliability of its weakest link. Therefore, you should not buy a model equipped with a famous processor and video card if they are located on a motherboard of unknown origin. Another important criterion when purchasing is authorized service. Usually there is a proportional relationship between the cost of the device and the availability of warranty service centers. Giants such as Samsung, Asus, HP have official repair shops in almost every city. Models from lesser-known brands - Nec, BENQ and others like them usually cost slightly less than their classmates. But giving them to an official service center is quite problematic.

Popular laptop brands

When choosing a brand, you should proceed from the amount of funds that are available. If they are limited, but you want something more powerful, you can purchase a device from a little-known brand; all components for all laptops are produced at the same factory. But if it breaks, problems may arise. If your financial condition allows, it is worth purchasing a computer from a more well-known brand. The most common and popular brands in our country:

Acer;
Apple;
Asus;
Dell;

	Acer is a fairly well-known and well-established brand. This brand also owns eMachines, Packard Bell, Gateway (they are part of a concern called AcerGroup). Despite their relatively low cost, they are quite powerful and productive. The disadvantages of Acer include not very high-quality assembly, as well as poor quality of screen matrices.
	Apple is one of the most expensive brands. And for good reason. Models called MacBook Pro and MacBook Air not only offer excellent performance characteristics, but also extremely attractive designs. The body is made of aluminum, and the Retina display will delight you with the high quality of the displayed image. It is also worth highlighting the low weight - it is no more than 2 kg. But you have to pay for everything; the cost of such devices is usually more than 2 thousand dollars.
	Asus assembles computers of a wide variety of formats. From simple and inexpensive devices for working in office applications, to real gaming monsters. An important advantage of this brand is the full correspondence of quality to the price of a specific model. An important advantage of this brand is its authorized service centers in the most remote corners of the planet.
	Dell is an American brand. In its homeland, it is a real leader in the number of laptops sold among its competitors. It is also the leader in the number of returns - the build quality leaves much to be desired. As is the quality of warranty repairs. Plus, finding a Dell service center is quite problematic. But this brand has one very important advantage over its competitors - price. The cost is extremely low compared to similar models from other brands.
	HP is a famous brand with a rich history. The company values its reputation, therefore it offers its customers fairly high-quality equipment. In addition, its price is relatively low when compared with models from other manufacturers.
	Lenovo is a new brand of one of the oldest companies in the US IT technology sector – IBM. It does not pretend to be a leader in sales, but, at the same time, it offers its customers excellent workhorses at a relatively low price.
	Samsung is a very recognizable company. It produces excellent computers, built to last and quite powerful. Moreover, their cost is relatively low. The only exceptions are ultrabooks - the company's pricing policy for these devices is not entirely reasonable in the opinion of many experts.
	Sony Vaio is an extremely popular brand. And this is precisely the reason for the relatively high price of this manufacturer. Despite decent build quality and powerful hardware, this manufacturer has some drawbacks. These are not very high-quality screens and not a well-thought-out cooling system. Therefore, if you purchase, then you should choose a car from another manufacturer.

How to choose the best laptop for people with different needs?

In this article, we will help find the optimal laptop for 4 people whose needs coincide with the needs of the majority of people purchasing new computers. So, meet:

Sabina (30 years old): “I work as a designer and often travel. I need a computer powerful enough to run graphics programs. I also want to take it with me on trips.”
Rita (42 years old): “I’m looking for a notebook for comfortable Internet use, watching movies and communicating via Skype. I would also like it to not be very expensive.”
Pasha (18 years old): “I am passionate about games and I need a powerful laptop on which I can play all modern games. It is desirable that the screen diagonal be as large as possible.”
Nikolai (60 years old): “I work as a security guard in a warehouse. In order to stay awake at night, I need a small and simple computer that I could take with me to work to watch my favorite TV shows, listen to music and just while away the time.”

As you can see, all these people need completely different devices. Perhaps your requirements for a laptop are somewhat the same as those stated above. Next, we will step by step choose a laptop that will satisfy all your needs.

To choose the right new laptop, we will use the following algorithm:

We express all our requirements and wishes for the computer, trying not to miss anything.
We choose the class and design: will it be thin and stylish or large and scary.
We select the appropriate screen diagonal.
We select the optimal configuration. You will have to work hard here, because this is the most important step, consisting of several small steps.
We choose additional features: at this stage you may have to deny yourself some desirable but useless functions, or vice versa.

Step 1: determine the device requirements

Before buying a laptop, you need to imagine what functions you will assign to it. Whether it will be for work travel or a replacement for an outdated desktop PC, an office workhorse or a powerful gaming machine, or maybe all at once. You also need to decide whether you need an optical drive in your new computer, what dimensions and weight it should have, and what it should look like.

Step 2: select the class and type of structure

A classic laptop is distinguished by its solid size and weight. This is an ideal choice for those looking for a decent desktop replacement. The large case easily fits a power-hungry video card, several hard drives and a full-fledged processor with a high clock frequency. Also, the classic one is the best choice if you need a simple office computer.

An ultrabook is a thin and light multimedia device. Its main features are a thin body, a processor with reduced frequency and power consumption.

Convertible laptops can be equipped with a removable touch display, a rotating display, or hinges with a 360-degree opening angle. Such features allow you to turn it into a tablet.

– small and cheap. The low cost is due to the not very powerful hardware. However, they are not without advantages. Thanks to their ultra-low power consumption, netbooks can last almost all day on battery power, and their light weight allows you to take them with you wherever you go.

Step 3: choosing the optimal diagonal and other display parameters

What is the difference between laptop displays? First of all this:

Size
Manufacturing technology
Permission

There are more than 2,000 laptop models available on the market today. Display sizes range from 10 to 18.4 inches and even larger. They are manufactured using two technologies: IPS and TN+Film. The first one is more progressive. These displays have slightly higher contrast and wider viewing angles, but TN displays are cheaper to produce. Also, screens can have different resolutions: from 1024x600 pixels to ultra-clear 3200x1800.

The length of the diagonal directly affects the weight and dimensions. Therefore, if you need a mobile computer that is lightweight and fits in a bag or briefcase, then you should choose models with a small diagonal. 10.1 or 11.6-inch models weigh on average no more than 1.2 or 1.3 kilograms. This weight is not very noticeable when compared with the weight of a classic laptop (2.8 kg). Therefore, if you need a computer to carry in your bag every day, think about purchasing a medium-sized laptop or netbook. This solution will be optimal for Nikolai and will satisfy all his needs.

For designer Sabin, mentioned above, this may not seem enough. Since she travels often, the ideal option for her would be a diagonal: 12.1 or 13.3 inches with high resolution, made using IPS technology. A larger high-definition screen makes it easier to work with graphics applications, and the weight of 13-inch Ultrabooks is not much different from their slightly smaller counterparts. You can also choose a model with a touch screen for ease of use.

Those who do not plan to take their laptop out of the house can look towards more impressive models. For example, for those who play games, like the aforementioned Pasha, or like to watch movies and communicate via video, like Rita, screens with a diagonal of 17.3" or 15.6" are suitable.

Step 4: select a suitable laptop configuration

Having dealt with the optimal diagonal, let's move on to the most important part of the choice - choosing a configuration:

Processor and its frequency

The processor is the brain of the computer. Of all the components, it has the greatest impact on performance. And if an ordinary Pentium or even a Celeron is enough to watch movies or surf the Internet, then to run modern video games, decode video files and work with 3D applications, you need an order of magnitude more powerful processor. Depending on your budget, you should choose between Intel Core i3, i5, or i7. Let's take a brief look at the advantages of each processor family.

Intel Atom and AMD C, E – processors for netbooks and tablets. They have low productivity and low energy consumption. Thanks to this, devices based on these “stones” are extremely autonomous. They usually have 2 cores, although there are also quad-core models, for example, Intel Atom Z3775.
Intel Celeron and AMD A4 are simple processors that are powerful enough for office applications and comfortable Internet use. There are only dual-core ones and are installed in simple office laptops.
Intel Pentium and AMD A6 are more powerful solutions with two and four cores for various tasks. In addition to working with documents, they are designed for processing photos, watching high-resolution videos, communicating via webcam and simple games.
Intel Core i3-4xxx and AMD A8, A10 are the golden mean in the processor range. Products from Intel are dual-core but quad-threaded, while AMD products are purely quad-core. They allow you to work comfortably in any program and play video games well, at the same time not as expensive as their “big brothers”. The i3-4xxx has a built-in hardware video processor, which allows you to encode and view video without using the processing power of the processor itself.
Intel Core i5-4xxx are dual-core processors that can provide good gaming performance. To achieve this, they are equipped with technology that temporarily increases the clock speed. The optimal solution for game lovers.
Intel Core i7-4xxx is the most expensive and productive solution. It has four physical cores, each of which operates in two threads. Provides a good performance reserve for the future.

So, each processor is targeted at a specific user and specific tasks. For those who play games, the best choice is Core i5/i7; for undemanding users, such as Rita, this is an Intel Pentium or Celeron. For Nikolai, we will choose one of the Intel Atom modifications with a low thermal package.

Video adapter

There are two types of video cards: integrated into the processor and discrete (separate). For most tasks, the power of the integrated adapters is quite sufficient. The processors of the Intel Core family also have smart functions that help optimize the load both on the processor itself and on the video chip built into it. Cards of this type do not have their own memory, and the donor for them is RAM.

Discrete video adapters allow you to run 3D games, 3D modeling programs and other applications that contain 3D visualization. As an entry-level video card, you can purchase NVIDIA GeForce 610M/710M or AMD Radeon HD 75 or 76 series. These cards allow you to play games at minimum graphics quality settings and work in some 3D visualization applications.

Mid-class video cards - models of the NVIDIA GeForce GT or Radeon HD 85 and 86 family. Such devices will provide normal performance in games at medium settings and will allow you to work in most programs. AMD Radeon HD 88, 89 and R7 series, as well as the high-end GeForce GTX line of video cards, will give you the opportunity to play any games at high settings. Also, any 3D applications are not able to stop such video adapters.

For the tasks of Rita and Nikolai, a video card is simply not needed. But for Pasha you should buy a good video card, depending on his budget. Sabina can get by with built-in video if she purchases a laptop based on Core processors.

RAM capacity

This setting also directly affects performance. The processor and memory are like husband and wife, interconnected and must suit each other. So, for low-power processors such as Intel Atom or AMD E, 2GB of RAM will be enough. Mid-class processors will perform more serious tasks, which means they need more RAM. Intel Celeron and Pentium will cope well with their functions if they are supported by 4 GB of RAM, and for processors of the Intel Core family this figure can reach 8 or even 16 GB, depending on the gluttony of the programs being launched.

HDD and SSD

The hard drive is the component on which all files are stored. This could be: videos, photos, documents, music or programs. In most cases, the hard drive does not affect the speed of operation. Only for the amount of data storage. However, recently drives with SSD cache have become increasingly popular. These drives can speed up boot times and speed up frequently used programs.

SSD drives speed up computer boot times several times. They also speed up programs and file operations. It is advisable to use such devices in gaming machines. However, they have one drawback - small volume. Typically, SSD drives are installed in high-end laptops, ultrabooks and gaming machines. If you are looking for a simpler computer, then pay attention to models with SSD cache.

Drive unit

Nowadays, drives have lost their popularity, and manufacturers are gradually abandoning these devices. This allows you to reduce the weight of the laptop and make it thinner. It is worth noting that all laptops with a diagonal of 13.3 inches and smaller are produced without an optical drive. Even many 15-inch models leave the assembly line without it. This can be explained by the fact that more reliable and faster storage media have appeared, such as USB drives (flash drives or hard drives). You can also use cloud storage systems to exchange information. If you need an optical drive, but need a small and lightweight laptop, then you can purchase an external DVD drive with a USB connection. Or buy a classic laptop with a built-in DVD.

Step 5: Additional Features

Touchscreen. This feature will be of interest to those who are looking for a small laptop that can be used in their hands or on their laps. A touch screen is also necessary for those who want to combine a laptop and tablet in one device.
Keyboard backlight is an indispensable assistant in the evening or at night. It can be useful for those who have to stay up late at the computer. So, by dimming the display brightness and turning on the key backlight, you can work quietly while your husband or wife sleeps peacefully.
eSata or USB 3.0 interface. These ports provide high speed file transfer to removable media. Will be useful for those who collect films or other multimedia data.
The Thunderbolt interface is an even faster interface for connecting devices to a laptop. The maximum throughput is 20 Gbit/s.
HDMI or DisplayPort are video interfaces that provide clear image transmission to a TV or monitor via a special cable. Such ports are often used to watch movies on a large screen while the movies themselves are stored on a laptop.

When choosing a laptop, make sure that you actually need these additional features or will definitely come in handy in the future. Otherwise, you will just spend extra money.

Step 6: Laptop Case Materials

Today, housings are made from different materials. Basically, it's good old plastic and aluminum. But there are rare masterpieces made of carbon or a combination of carbon and metal, for example, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. What a laptop is made of directly affects its appearance. Cheap plastic immediately catches your eye. On such a case you can often see fingerprints and other traces of use. If the plastic is of good quality, then this minimizes the appearance of fingerprints and abrasions.

Metal raises the price, so it is not used in cheap lines. However, it is pleasant to the touch, cools the palm and looks great. You can often find models in which plastic is combined with metal. For example, the lid is made of metal, and the rest is plastic. Such cases are the optimal solution for those who are looking for a compromise between appearance and price. Carbon bodies are used only in top-level models. Expensive carbon fiber is very light and durable. Such cases do not bend and are not afraid of falls. The choice of body finishing materials is a matter of taste. It is inappropriate to advise anything here, because everyone may have personal preferences. Therefore, choose a laptop case that is pleasant to look at and pleasant to the touch.

Step 7: Operating System

A computer without an operating system is a pile of metal. To take advantage of all the possibilities that a new laptop opens up for you, it must have an OS installed on it. Models with Windows 8 already pre-installed are slightly more expensive than bare models. However, purchasing separately licensed Windows 8 will cost even more. In addition, if you are not very experienced in installing software, you will also have to pay to install and activate the operating system.

Whichever option you choose, it is extremely unwise to try to install pirated versions of the OS. In addition to the fact that this is fraught with criminal liability, it deprives your computer of technical support from manufacturers, both the equipment and the operating system itself. And the cost of installing a pirated OS from craftsmen can cover half the cost of a licensed copy already pre-installed on a laptop. It is also worth choosing licensed software because after correct activation, the laptop will receive all the important and necessary updates. Also, when you buy a PC with installed programs, you immediately get a ready-to-use solution that won’t take a long time to set up.

Results

The time has come to finally make a choice. Having considered all the nuances, identified all the criteria and selected the necessary options, we can proceed directly to purchasing a specific model. Let's remember our 4 characters, whom we are helping today to choose the best laptop:

Designer Sabina needs a lightweight, mobile and powerful device with a good touch screen, and she also needs an HDMI output to demonstrate her work. Considering such requests, the most suitable solution for it would be the ASUS UX302LA-C4004H or Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro (59-402621). This model combines small size, weight and high performance. Both models have a touch display and a built-in video adapter with good power. In addition, Yoga 2 is equipped with unique hinges that allow you to open the lid 360 degrees, thereby turning the laptop into a 13-inch tablet.

Rita, who uses a computer to watch movies, browse the Internet and contact relatives, should think about a laptop with a 17-inch screen, with an average level of performance, and definitely with a DVD drive and a webcam. It is also important that the cost be modest. A good solution would be the Lenovo G700 (59-381085), HP Pavilion 17-e150sr (F5B78EA), or the slightly more powerful Dell Inspiron 5748 (I57P45DIL-34). All these models have large displays, with a minimum level of equipment, which allows you to save on cost. However, they have everything you need for comfortable use of the network, watching videos and communicating via the Internet.

18-year-old Pasha can recommend the MSI GS70 or GE70, which combine powerful quad-core processors with powerful video cards. It is also worth considering purchasing the ASUS G750JS, which is even more impressive with its characteristics: 16 GB of RAM, 3 GB video card, ultra-fast 4-core processor. In addition, it is equipped with all modern ports including HDMI and Thunderbolt and was specially designed for fans of heavy video games and provides excellent performance even at maximum quality settings.

ASUS G750JS
For people like Nikolai, who are looking for a small and simple laptop to just while away the time at work, listening to music or watching TV shows, the Lenovo IdeaPad S110 model is suitable, which will work without recharging for a very long time. It's a regular laptop with all the peripherals (except DVD), just small and light. It is these advantages that will allow you to easily carry it with you every day.

Lenovo IdeaPad S110
If your requirements coincide with the requirements of the above-mentioned buyers, then you can safely purchase the models offered by them. You will never be disappointed with them. If you have special needs, then we’ll make a list of the models you like, and then, step by step, as you re-read this guide, we’ll choose the laptop that best suits these needs and, at the same time, weed out the bad options. In the end, you will be left with one worthy candidate for purchase.

Seal

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