Just like any purchase you want to make sure that you’re getting the most bang for their buck. In particular, durability (can it withstand bumps?) and mobility (is it small enough to fit in a bag) should be top priorities.
It would be worth looking into laptop screen sizes as well, because laptops are often catergorized by their screen size. It’s not a bad idea to test the laptop out instead of shopping online for one.
This way you can start typing and using the touchpad to getter sense of if it’s the best laptop for you. Ask yourself is the cursor too senstive? Is it easy to navigate? Here are some additional key features to look for when researching laptops:
Processors
Processors (also reffered to as a CPU or APU) mostly determine the performance of your laptop. Look to see if it has an AMD A series, or Intel Core i3/i5/i7. Granted these laptops with those professors are quite expensive, but the better the processor, the faster your computer can process your data.
Hard Drive
When comparing laptops, ask about the amount of space it has on its drive. A hard drive, or hard disk drive, refers to the place where data is saved. Think of it like this: your hard drive is like a book shelf. It’s the place where you store all of your books. When you need a book, you take it off of the shelf. A hard drive is where you permanently store your data, and you can “pull it off the shelf” whenever you need it.
RAM
Check to see if it has at least 2 gigabytes (GB) of memory. A gigabyte is equal to one billion bytes of memory. A computer’s memory is a lot like your short-term memory—the more memory a computer has, the more it can do at once. You want to have as much memory as you can afford.
USB Ports
Find a laptop with at least 2 USB connections/ports. USB stands for Universal Serial Bus, and it’s designed to make it easier to use other gadgets with your laptop, like a printer and a flash drive.
DVD Burner
See if it comes with a DVD burner. If you are able to burn your own DVDs, you can save class projects on compact disc or backup older files.
Wireless
Pretty much every laptop now comes with Wi-Fi, but If you plan on taking your laptop everywhere to study, it will be important to buy something that has wireless communication. Wireless communication means you’ll be able to access the Internet from any place that provides wireless Internet service (like airports, coffee shops, hotels, and your local library). If you’re in an environment where there is no Wi-Fi, then if you have a smartphone, look to see if you can share your phone’s internet connection with your laptop. This is called WiFi tethering. You can check with your service provider if you can connect internet to your laptop.
Operating System
Know if the it has either Microsoft Windows 8, 10, or if you prefer Mac see if it has Apple Mac OS X. The Mac OS X, El Captain is the latest OS for Mac laptops, so you may want to upgrade to this. Bascially, an operating system controls how memory is managed and how stuff is stored. You want to be sure you have a laptop with the latest and greatest operating systems.
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