The laptop is no longer a luxurious product, it becomes a must-have device for our busy lifestyle. Compact enough to carry on the shoulder or hand and capable enough to run powerful computer programs, the laptop is the best gadget for serious work or play on the road or at the home!
All laptops are not made for the same kind of works and also they are not built with the same features and configuration. So, selecting the laptop with right features is critical to serving the purpose for which you are planning to purchase a laptop.
Here are the top ten features of laptop that you should count:
#1 Battery Life
Long battery life is the feature ranked high in many laptop surveys and evaluations. The tasks you do on your laptop affect the battery life significantly. So, you shouldn’t expect the manufacturer-quoted battery life to be exactly what it says. If your work requires a lot of processing or you stream a lot of online videos regularly or if you transfer lots of files over your wireless network, then most likely your laptop battery will drain a lot sooner than what the vendor has quoted. There are some other variables that affect battery life too such as the screen brightness and the screen resolution. The power of the battery is measured in milliamp-hours (mAh) or Watt-hours (Wh). The higher these figures will be, the longer the battery will last.
#2 Keyboard & Touchpad
No matter whether you are a typing pro or a novice just started to use the laptop, you need a comfortable and good keyboard and touchpad. A comfortable keyboard could make your laptop-use-experience a lot better. It’s better to purchase a laptop with full-sized keys and some space around the arrow keys. It will help you move your fingers fast over the keys and locate them easily. Also, try to get a keyboard that has a backlight. It will help you type easily in the dim environment and in no light situation. You better look for touchpads large enough for your finger to cross the span of the screen without repeated lifting, and touchpad buttons that are easy to find and press. The touchpad buttons should have a dedicated scroll area.
#3 Processor
When it comes to CPU, it’s hard to not think of Intel’s core based CPUs available in the market at the moment – Core i3, Core i5, Core i7. If you are someone who is a multi-tasker or heavy user of multimedia content, you should purchase any of the Core i-series processors of Intel. Core i3-based notebooks are generally found in entry-level systems, while Core i5 makes up the majority of mainstream computers. Core i7-based systems are for those who want the best performance from their laptop. Basically, Core i7 is intended for people like software developers, Mobile app developers or Video and Animation developers.
#4 RAM
At current technological trend, you should get at least 4 GB of RAM. Any less than that would result in a significant performance issue. The computer programs or videos being released right now require at least 4 GB RAM. However, if you are planning to use the laptop for professional work (excluding writing emails and word documents) like video editing or graphics designing, you should go for at least 8 GB RAM. More RAM allows for more applications to be run at the same time, and for more data to be quickly accessible by the system at any one time, which comes in handy for tasks such as data analysis and online marketing.
#5 Storage Capacity
Hard Disk Drive (HDD) used to be all the rage, but these days they are mostly out of favor, especially for thin and light laptops. Now it is time for the Solid State Drive (SSD) reign. Though solid state drive is still quite a bit expensive, it offers more speed than a hard disk drive, generates lower heat, produces no noise, and can be installed in a form factor that doesn’t add too much to the weight and bulk of a laptop. If you are thinking to buy a laptop for professional work, you should pick up one with SSD. However, if storage capacity is important to you and you have a budget constraint, HDD would still be a good choice.
#6 Screen Quality
Most probably, you would be watching your laptop screen for long hours every day once you fall for it! So, you must consider the screen quality. Buy a laptop with a screen that is comfortable to look at. At present, many laptops offer touch screen facility. This means, the screen would be glossy and will create bad impact on the eyes if you keep staring at them for long hours. Look for the resolution too. Full HD or 1920×1080-pixel resolution would be best if you like to line up lots of Icons/Folders on your screen as well as watch images or videos or movies.
#7 Portability
If you move frequently and love to work from any place you feel like, you should be concerned about the portability of the laptop. You should pick up a laptop that typically has a screen size ranging from 11 to 13 inch and a weight around 1 to 1.5 KG. Typically, Ultrabooks are built to be lightweight and slim for easy movement. So, any ultrabook should match with your needs here. Business professionals are gravitating more toward laptops that are lighter in weight, and that portability has been a key marketing tool for netbook manufacturers.
#8 Build Quality & Durability
No matter how careful you are, laptops are eventually going to be accidentally dropped, bashed, stepped on, splashed, or left out in the car during extreme heat or cold. Some are ruggedized to withstand rain and dust, some are built especially for the brutal educational environments, and some even come with military-grade protection. Others can weather liquid spills and can be rinsed clean. Either way, it’s worth checking out how much testing a laptop has undergone or whether there is any kind of certification or not.
#9 Fingerprint Reader
The fingerprint reader is a very handy feature for logging into your personal and official laptop as well. The latest Windows 10 Operating System makes further use of them with its new Windows Hello system. Ultimately, people are able to guess your password, but only few can fake your fingerprint.
#10 USB Port
You should not get a laptop without a USB 3.0 port, and you should look for a laptop that has at least a couple of these ports. This is for obvious reasons such as plugging in an external hard drive to back up your laptop’s data, or for when you want to plug in a conventional mouse or a fancy keyboard.
To buy a good laptop, you should consider all the features mentioned above. Of course, you need to balance these features with your budget and your needs, and you might also have to make some compromises.
HP computers have a long tradition of excellence when it comes to any computer products. Because of the durability and reliability of HP laptops, this brand has become a household name in almost all parts of the world.
