It's "back to school" season and for some people, that means freshman year at high school, college, or university level. If this applies to you, then one of the things that you'll be needing for sure is a laptop. Laptops come in various types and for various purposes so we'll be looking at a few things you might want to look at before getting one.
No matter how many points we get, it is also important that you don't go in blind. If you can, make sure to see what you're getting before purchasing. If you'll be ordering online, make sure to do so from a reputable store and weigh your options well.
Size
If portability is what you're really looking for in a laptop, then you should probably consider getting a notebook. They have smallish designs and are perfect for easy carriage and movement. Notebooks are perfect for students studying location-based courses like architecture, structural engineering (or any other form of engineering, for that matter), etc. You can easily get it out, work on it, and put it back in your bag or pouch.
Screen Quality
As a student, there is a high probability that you will be staring directly into your laptop for many hours on stretch, so it is extremely important for you to get a laptop whose screen is quite comfortable to look at.
It is advisable that you don't get a laptop with a touchscreen. Although they may seem trendy and nice, laptops with touchscreens enabled are glossy. A glossy screen will lead to reflections, and that can damage your eye. Therefore, make sure to desist from laptops with touchscreens.
Another aspect of the screen that you should pay attention Toni's the screen resolution. If you'll be working on the go and you'll like to line up a lot of icons on your homepage for better accessibility, then a Full HD laptop will do well (Full HD laptops have a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, mind you). However, any screen resolution should do, as long as I serves you well.
Viewing angles are also very important. For the best viewing angle, it is recommended that you get a laptop that comes with IPS (in-plane-switching) technology. They offer the best viewing angle as well as comfort- definitely nice for leisure activities like watching movies and playing a few games.
Keyboard Strength
If you'll be using your laptop a lot, then the keyboard is one of the parts that will be most utilized. For your laptop to last long, its keyboard has to be of the best quality. You definitely don't want a keyboard with keys squished or bent. This can lead to a terrible user experience, especially when searching for keys like function keys (F1-F11) and arrow keys.
It is important that you get a keyboard with a very comfortable build and large enough keys. There should also be a little space between the arrow keys for better accessibility. The keys should also have quick responsiveness, both when you press them and when you let them go. It is also advisable that you get a keyboard that is backlit, so that you will have the ability to type with an easier view on the keys, even in poorly lit environments. .
CPU
CPU strength is probably the most talked about topic when comparing laptops. You can't escape that question. When looking for the perfect laptop, the CPU is definitely one of the major considerations and it goes without saying that regardless of the course you study or the purpose which the laptop will serve, the CPU has to be awesome. When buying a laptop, consider top sellers like the Intel Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7. When it comes to multitasking and performing certain multimedia and advanced functions, these CPU types are simply unchallenged. However, you should know that the Core i7, although the best-performing CPU, gives off a lot of heat. When you get a laptop with this CPU type, make sure to have that in mind and don't place the laptop on your lap for too long.
RAM
If you are to get the best out of your system, then it is advisable that you get one with a 4GB RAM (or even higher). With more RAM, your laptop will be able to multitask and run several programs seamlessly and at the same time- something that you will definitely need. It will also be able to access more data at a time and at a higher pace.
Tanvir Zafar CEO of Howpk