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Buying a Laptop hasn’t been an easy task. There are many different models to choose from; as you also need to take into consideration features such a size, weight, capacity, graphics and mostly importantly price. The best thing you can do is to make a list of all the features that matter to you. The information below can serve as a useful guideline:
1. What do I need it for?
This is the most important question when it comes to buying a new computer. Most users do little more than browse the web, send emails, word-process the occasional letter, download MP3 music tracks, and store and process photographs from a digital camera. For basic internet browsing and word processing, all you need is a basic computer, you don't need anything fancy and you certainly don't need to worry about getting the very latest model. Processor speeds and hard drive sizes are virtually irrelevant if you'll do nothing but web browsing and sending emails.
If you'll be using your computer to manage music tracks on an iPod (or other MP3 players), the most important thing you need is plenty of hard disk space - but virtually any new computer will have more than you could need. (As a general rule of thumb, I suggest multiply your iPod's storage capacity by 2- 3 and aim for a hard drive that is large enough to ensure you have plenty of room for other things). When it comes to storing videos and digital photographs, storage is rather more of an issue. As a rule of thumb, a laptop with 500GB HDD or 128GB SSD will be sufficient. Even if you buy a computer with a hard disk that turns out to be too small, you can easily add an external drive at a relatively low cost to overcome the problem.
In short, as far as most home users are concerned, virtually any new off-the-shelf computer will be able to handle what you want to do. The only exception is people who like to play games (either alone or online). If you plan to do a lot of that, you'll need a computer with a fast processor and graphics: the processor speed will probably override all other considerations. If you're a games player, always buy the fastest machine (the one with the highest processor speed) you can afford.
2. What can I afford?
After deciding on what you want a laptop for, you need to ask yourself “What kind of Laptop can I afford”? These days, you can buy a usable laptop for under NGN 150,000, but if you can budget more, you'll get a system with better build quality, stronger performance, and a better display. Check out our Laptop deals - www.pointsource.ng/computers/laptops
3 Important Features:
a) Operating system: Mac, Windows, Linux, or Chrome OS?
Most laptops come with one of four operating systems: Windows, Linux, Chrome OS, or Mac OS . Choosing the right one depends on you. Here is a summary of the most popular two which are Windows and Mac OS.
Windows
Windows OS was introduced by Microsoft and it appears on many brands like HP, Lenovo, Dell, Toshiba, Samsung, Sony Viao, etc. then Linux OS, Chrome OS, or Mac OS. Windows notebooks range in price from NGN 50000 to several thousand and offer a variety of features from touch screens to fingerprint readers to dual graphics chips. Windows 10 is the latest version of Microsoft's flagship operating system which has a number of improvements over Windows 7 and 8; including the ability to switch between tablet and desktop modes. Windows has millions of desktop programs available, including the full versions of the major productivity, graphics, video, and development software.
Mac OS
Mac OS was introduced by Apple. All Apple MacBooks come with Apple's operating system, Mac OS. Overall, the operating system offers similar functionality to Windows 10, but with a different take on the interface that substitutes an app’s dock at the bottom of the screen for Microsoft's Start menu and taskbar. iPhone or iPad users will appreciate iOS-like features such as LaunchPad for your apps, superior multi-touch gestures, and the ability to take calls and text from your iPhone.
NOTE: The majority of Mac OS applications don’t work with Windows OS likewise the majority of Windows OS applications do not work with Mac OS.
b). Decide the exact type of Laptop you want.
Nowadays, many PC laptops fall into a different category, there are PC devices that can switch between normal standby mode, tablet mode, and other positions in between such as several stand modes. They generally come in two different styles: detachable with screens that come off the keyboard entirely and flexible laptops with hinges that bend back 360 degrees to change modes. Most of these systems are much better at serving one purpose than the other, with bend-backs being laptops first and detachable offering a superior tablet experience.
c). Choosing the Right Size (Inches)
After considering the two guidelines above, you need to figure out how portable you want your laptop to be. Laptops are usually categorized by their display sizes:
· 11 to 12 inches: The thinnest and lightest systems around have 11- to 12-inch screens.
· 13 to 14 inches: Provides the best balance of portability and usability.
· 15 inches: The most popular size, 15-inches laptops. Consider this size if you want a larger screen and you're not planning to carry your notebook around often.
· 17 to 18 inches: If your laptop stays on your desk all day every day, a 17- or 18-inch system could provide you with the kind of processing power you need to play high-end games or do workstation-level productivity.
4. Pick Your Specs
Specifications such as processor, hard drive, RAM and graphics chip are very important when making a choice, below are some summaries for the specs of a Laptop.
a). CPU: The "brains" of your computer, the processor has a huge influence on performance, but depending on what you want to do, even the least-expensive model may be good enough. Here's a breakdown:
· AMD A series or Intel Core i3 / i5: If you're looking for a mainstream laptop with the best combination of price and performance, get a Core i5. Core i3 is a small step down. AMD A-series CPUs are less common but promise similar performance.
· Intel Core i7: High-end performance for gaming rigs and workstations.
· AMD E Series or Intel Pentium/Celeron: Found on low-cost laptops. It provides just enough performance to enable basic tasks such as video viewing, document editing, and Web surfing.
· Intel Atom: Also found on low-cost laptops. It offers basic performance but more battery life than Celeron/Pentium.
· Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7: Low-power and low heat allow systems with these processors to go fanless. Performance is better than Celeron, but a notch below Core i3 / i5
b). RAM: Most laptops come with only 2GB of RAM, but ideally you want at least 4GB on even a budget system and 8GB if you can spend just a little more.
c). Storage Drive (aka Hard Drive): This is one important aspect that can be left out when making the right choice. Hard drive capacity varies from 120GB, 250GB, 320GB, 500GB, and 1TB. Choosing one of these is left to you to decide.
d). Display: The more pixels you have, the more content you can fit on-screen, and the sharper it will look. Most laptops have 1366 x 768 displays, but if you can afford it, we recommend paying extra for a panel that runs at 1920 x 1080, also known as full HD or 1080p. Some higher-end laptops have screens that are 2560 x 1600, 3200 x 1800, or even 3840 x 2160, which all look sharp but consume more power, lowering your battery life.
e). Touch Screen: The disadvantage of a touch screen laptop is that you will get 1 to 3 hours less battery life.
f). Graphics Chip: If you're not playing PC games, creating 3D objects, or doing high-res video editing, an integrated graphics chip (one that shares system memory) will be fine. If you have any of the above needs, though, a discrete graphics processor from AMD or Nvidia is essential. As with CPUs, there are both high- and low-end graphics chips. Nvidia maintains a list of its graphics chips from low to high end, as does AMD.
g). DVD/Blu-ray Drives: Few laptops come with optical drives, because all software and movies are downloadable. However, if you need to read/write discs and your laptop of choice doesn't come with a built-in DVD drive, you can always buy an external one that connects via USB you can get it here.
5. Don’t forget about Battery Life
If you're buying a large, bulky notebook that you'll use only on a desk near an outlet, you don't have to worry about battery life. However, if you plan to use the laptop on your lap, even if it's at home and or work, you'll want at least 6 hours of endurance, with 8+ hours being ideal. To determine a notebook's expected battery life, don't take the manufacturer's word for it. Instead, read third-party reviews
Check out laptops available in our lot keeping some of this info in this guide in mind. Click Laptops Available
